We listen to each other with an open mind, with an open heart and share our experience with the understanding that it is not necessary that everyone else shares it.<\/p>\n
Living Clean, Chapter 3, \u201cA Spiritual Journey\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the first things many of us notice in NA is how recovering addicts get especially real with each other at gatherings. Honesty is sometimes mistaken for weakness, especially among drug users. Showing up at recovery gatherings for the first time and seeing people willingly expose their vulnerabilities the way we do can be both shocking and gratifying. We begin to listen and open up.<\/p>\n
Being fully present and coming would be a 180 degree change from our old attitude. We were used to wearing masks, deflecting attention or adapting to what was happening around us. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we played it all the time. Not making noise was the key to our survival before we cleaned up.
\nEarly in recovery, we may find ourselves listening to others and then trying to adjust to how they share. Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves, we may make up slogans or pretend to be something we're not. One addict wrote: \u201cI adjusted my shares trying to please others, and the harder I tried, the more fake I felt (and sounded). When I just tell my own story in my own way, people seem to connect a lot more."<\/p>\n
Something inside us changes as we continue to stay clean. We prioritize honesty and authenticity over convenience, empathy over superficial connection, heartfelt honesty over adaptability. When we share, we allow ourselves and others to enjoy our experience and perception with dignity. Each of us takes responsibility to express what is happening to us. It's much harder to say things when we haven't done them. We share what we've found, what we believe, and where our uncertainties lie. The more real we are in what we share with others, the more likely they will be able to relate.<\/p>\n
As a recovering drug addict, honesty enables me to connect with others completely. Today I will be real.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-12063","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/12063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/spad"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}