More than that, he hopes readers will become interested in the abstinence program that he developed. To pique their interest, he invites them to take a self-survey about alcohol. Taking the survey entitles them to a free gift, a 40 page pdf-book about the alleged shame caused not only by alcoholism but also by sobriety. Readers are then invited to enroll in the program, and this is where cash is exchanged. Where humor asks us to not take life so seriously, humility asks us to not taker ourselves so seriously.

In active addiction, we shunned these emotions to keep them alive. Addiction stopped us from dealing with these feelings as they came up in life. You can live your life in denial of your faults, or you can begin to live with humility. Humility isn’t the same as humiliation – it’s just an attitude. With humility, you can learn to listen with an open mind. The virtues of self awareness, acceptance, and self-honesty, give us the courage and willingness to be vulnerable, to be truly humble.

How to Choose the Right Sober Living

On the interpersonal level, humility involves a stance that is other-oriented rather than self-focused. This dual definition of humility appears to resolve the paradoxical view as it forces us to see ourselves as we actually are. Each individual’s path to recovery relies on access to effective addiction treatment services and compassionate support. Getting over an addiction isn’t just about detoxing and coming up with hobbies that will keep you from drinking.

• Because I did not have the ability to see the person they saw.
• Joseph is always looking for opportunities to learn more and grow his skillset with the central goal of improving the lives of those around him.
• Lizzy has a unique ability to balance both the strategic and relational thinking required to grow and sustain a high-performing team.
• What we do know is that being able to listen with an open mind goes a long way toward promoting understanding and mutual respect.
• When you practice kindness, especially random acts of kindness you experience the fulfillment of feeling connected to other people.

Humility is a trait that most people value and admire. But how can we maintain it as we move through the recovery journey? As an addict, it’s easy to get caught up in our own problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be worried that you can’t find a place to get sober. Our doors and phone lines are open and we’re here to help you start a new way of life. And as humans, we’re all fallible, meaning we all make mistakes and we all have to be responsible for them.

Humanist Spirituality

He received a BA in Psychology, certification in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, and a Master’s in Counselor Education with a focus in Clinical Mental Health. Since then, he’s worked in multiple settings that provide diagnosis, assessment, and counseling for individuals struggling with both addiction and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. He is passionate about the work he does, and has worked towards implementing what he’s learned, to his own life for his own continued personal growth. Joseph is always looking for opportunities to learn more and grow his skillset with the central goal of improving the lives of those around him. “Truly there is no advantage, no profit, and no growth, in deceiving myself merely to escape the consequences of my own mistakes.

Here, and in no uncertain terms, the Big Book states that humility is the bedrock necessity for a successful program of recovery. The instrumentation to date represents strides in quantifying humility along the spectrum of step work. Although yet to be validated among adolescents, sober house adult, and offender populations, items from the GAATOR provide a place to start quantification of the first three modulations of humility (above). We know the least about how to assess the fourth modulation of humility, although the SOS and the DSES may provide some guidance.

Humility and Spirituality

Humility is difficult for most human beings and I doubt it can be practiced absolutely by many, if any of us. It requires a secure sincerity and integrated sense of oneself, a self-love, compassion and emotional maturity that’s often absent, particularly in those of us with a history of alcoholism and/or addiction. In relation to Twelve-Step philosophy, humility in recovery is considered a prized virtue and essential to the practice of both the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Although my primary focus is Twelve-Step philosophy, I also advocate other helpful pathways to recovery. The views and interpretations expressed on this website are my own and I don’t formally represent any particular recovery organisation. Humility creates willingness and spiritual freedom, enabling us to heal what we can, learn what we can, and be of service wherever there is a need.

My team and I partner with healthcare providers to get their patients into High Watch where we know they will receive best in class care. In sum, humility may not seem to be an obvious quality for recovery, but we doubt that anyone can maintain sobriety without cultivating it. Refusing to admit that we are powerless, to acknowledge our failures to others, or to rely on God, are the very kinds of brash self-assurance that lead to misadventure in the next drink or drug. We’ve seen this repeated so many times that we accept it as axiomatic. With all due respect to this person, and others who are trying to market and sell human pride, cavalierly urging people to model abstinence based on self-confidence seems like a losing proposition. People who are still wrapped up in themselves are unlikely to enjoy meaningful recovery.

One thought on “Humility – A Fundamental Virtue of Recovery”

He is certified as a Medical Review Officer by the AMMRO. Dr. Boris believes that guests of High Watch should receive holistic care for more than just their mental health and addiction needs. He believes that their physical health is equally important in ensuring that guests are able to manage their addiction successfully. Lauren is an experienced therapist having treated individuals struggling with substance use disorder in both residential and outpatient settings prior to her arrival at High Watch.. At High Watch she utilizes Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help guests work through their addiction.

She is certified in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Suicide Prevention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate. She is very active as a volunteer and leader in the non-profit behavioral health community and serves on the Board of Directors of the McCall Center for Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT. Janet has completed 200 hours of specialized trauma training through Spirit to Spirit to become a Certified Trauma Therapist. Kimberly has completed 200 hours of specialized trauma training through Spirit to Spirit to become a Certified Trauma Therapist.

In other words, by working on these virtues we increase our capacity to be humble in our relationship with ourselves and others. However, if we lack self-awareness and self-acceptance we will also lack self honesty and therefore fail to be humble. We’ll be unable to show our true self to others, to be vulnerable, and will lack authenticity in our relationships. To maintain long-term sobriety, it is a good idea to practice humbleness and live with modesty about yourself. Living with humility means putting the needs of others before your own alongside thinking about what you can do for others and the greater good.

• Finally, we have reviewed in brief some approaches to the measurement of humility in this context, and suggested several aims for future research.
• We view ourselves as equals to the trees, the stars, our friends, our siblings, our parents, the homeless, the rich, and everything in the universe.