Some people may be afraid to admit they are powerless. After all we are at the top of the food chain and to admit such a thing is a blow to our ego. There is however a paradox of powerlessness. The paradox is we can admit powerlessness over our addictions and compulsive behaviors and still find the power to go on.
When we admit that we are powerless we see that our old ways of dealing with life and our very best decisions thus far….have not worked so well. So, having come to this conclusion we can only assume that we are out of control and cannot overcome our addictions and compulsive behaviors by ourselves. We need help. Recovery is a journey not to be traveled alone.
The paradox is in admitting that we are powerless and then asking for and receiving help from a Higher Power (mine is Jesus), and the help from those who have been down this road before us who can help us navigate through all the bumps, curves, and detours that are on the road to recovery.
I love the Bible verse Proverbs 27:17 as it sums up the whole concept of having a good support network set up. The verse says “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. This is why even though we admit powerlessness, those that are truly in recovery; find the power to go on. They are being “sharpened” by others in recovery. They are being sharpened by treatment providers, counselors, pastors, 12-step meetings, and other people in their lives that are “iron”.
All of us have people in our lives that do one of two things. They either add to our lives, or take away from it. Hang with the ones that add to your life in a positive way and that sharpen you. Re-evaluate the relationships that take away from your life. The “iron” in our lives, will always see us through our toughest times.
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