from A State of Grace
INTEGRITY The discovery of personal dignity and integrity has become a new standard by which we apply to our ventures. We prize a more holistic understanding of ourselves and seek to affirm this in all areas of our lives. We find that nothing short of this is fulfilling to us. — SLAA Basic Text, Page 47
Honesty and moral principles were not the focus of my attention in my acting out days. And forget about being fair. In the world of feeding my desperate desires, fairness flew out the window in favour of whatever would fulfil my needs. Honesty would just get in my way. Integrity requires internal consistency. When my addict is constantly doing battle with my healthy side, it’s impossible to find stability without my Higher Power and the 12 Step program of SLAA. Altering my beliefs was a way of life. If one of my values was getting in the way of what I wanted, I threw it under the bus. SLAA and the Twelve Steps taught me honesty at all costs. The cost of honesty only takes its toll once and gives dignity in return. But the cost of keeping a secret can only give misery for a lifetime. SLAA helped me uncover long buried moral principles and stick to them. In the past, I never thought I could live up to them, so I thought, why even try? Being a sober person today is what I desire. Finding integrity daily helps me towards that goal.
I will live in integrity today and not sell out my values for a quick fix.
From Answers in the Heart
Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.
— Sue Atchley Ebaugh
Many great creative people, such as Einstein, have made important discoveries while daydreaming. We also can tap into the energy that comes from random associations and the unconscious. Through this, a new vision becomes possible.
Perhaps when we were at school we were told to be alert and not to dream our lives away. Parents, too, may have discouraged our imaginative lives. Our culture tends to reward the rational and the pragmatic and to consider the dreamer of marginal importance.
But let’s not lose our power to dream. Our dreams can be much more than sexual fantasies born of our addiction. Our deepest wishes and hopes will often come to the surface when we are drowsing or simply letting the mind roam through life’s possibilities. Many times we stumble on the truth in our dreams. We need the energy and the vision that come with dreaming.
I welcome the gift of ideas that come to me while giving my imagination free play.
Daily Meditation Books
Answers in the Heart - daily meditations for people recovering from sex addiction
Touchstones - daily meditations for recovering men
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