Humility is best understood as being humble or having a low view of one’s own importance. When a person experiences feelings of humility, they often feel small in the large scheme of things. In recovery, it is normal to experience periods of selfishness in order to prioritize healthy habits and take the necessary time to better yourself. With that being said, humility can help you realize no one is perfect and that mistakes are an inevitable part of life. While many individuals who experience addiction suffer from low self-esteem, it is crucial to acknowledge moments of arrogance or other obstacles that negatively impact success in recovery. Humility helps to keep us sane by understanding and reflecting on necessary elements that encourage success in long-term recovery.
4 Reasons Why Humility Encourages a Sound Recovery
#1. Humility Acknowledges Acceptance
Addiction recovery encourages individuals to accept their past mistakes. If you are not encouraged to reflect and accept your mistakes, how will you persevere beyond them? You might feel like it is impossible to fix damaged relationships or feel like no one could ever understand how sorry you feel for your past. This is where humility becomes a key factor in your route to healing.
Treatment may give you the tools to understand how to move forward, but you must acknowledge your past and try to fix any damage that your addiction may have caused. By accepting that you were not able to act differently or know any better in the past, you also learn how to accept others for the mistakes they may have made that have hurt you. As painful as it may be, it is important that you acknowledge your own limitations and weaknesses and develop realistic goals for yourself to work towards. You do not live in a perfect world. If you are able to accept others for their wrongdoings, you must also accept your own mistakes and prove your growth, moving forward.
#2. Humility Fosters Forgiveness
Another way that humility encourages recovery is through the forgiveness of self and others. Yes, there is much value in accepting our past, but there is even more value in fostering forgiveness. Humility teaches you to forgive others fully and authentically for any harm or distance they may have brought into a relationship. The act of forgiveness requires a personal ability to release distressing feelings of anger, resentment, and pain through surrendering to those feelings. Sometimes forgiveness is not as important for others as it is for yourself. When you come across an experience where you are struggling to forgive someone, try to recognize why they reacted a certain way or acted the way they did. Try to be compassionate and see the world through their perspective. As we all experience life differently, it may help to understand others’ perspectives to foster genuine forgiveness.
#3. Humility Fights Arrogance
Many people who struggle with addiction have experienced moments of arrogance, such as standing up for themselves to make excuses for using a particular substance. Arrogance affects everyone from time to time because it makes you seem powerful in moments that you may feel powerless. Arrogance negatively interferes with long-term recovery. Humility gives you the ability to admit that you have a problem, ultimately motivating you to seek help. Humility also encourages you to acknowledge that you don’t have all of the answers, and could always benefit from advice or a new perspective. Humility is crucial to your recovery because even well into your recovery journey, you may need help in removing shortcomings or learning new ways to combat triggers.
#4. Humility Teaches Gratitude
Gratitude is another essential component of recovery. Gratitude teaches you to appreciate the people and things that you have while you have them. In recovery, gratitude fosters the ability to appreciate hitting milestones and making it through another day sober. It is essential to look at your recovery day by day, in order to reduce feelings of overwhelm and to keep you appreciative of every moment you experience. Humility teaches gratitude by encouraging individuals to recognize the value in starting over again if and when necessary. Recovery encourages starting anew to make lasting, healthy changes to your lifestyle.
Humility is valuable no matter where you stand in your recovery journey. Although it is crucial when you first admit powerlessness during substance treatment, it may be even more important in sustaining long-term sobriety. When you experience moments of weakness, it is necessary to admit them to yourself and those you trust. Recovery is not meant to be something that you experience alone. When you engage in humility, you might empower someone else to have the strength to admit that they need help, as well.
Humility helps keep us sane in recovery because it requires us to understand that making mistakes is a part of the human experience. No matter where you are on your journey, humility teaches us gratitude, as well as to accept our past mistakes, practice forgiveness, and fight feelings of arrogance. At Renaissance Ranch, we offer treatment services and support for any and every stage of recovery. We focus on humility as a necessary facet of your unique recovery, and believe it to be a crucial element when it comes to accepting help and support from others. Even if you have experienced treatment services before, our staff can connect you with support systems throughout the United States to help offer you accountability and engagement with long-term recovery success. It is essential that you stay connected with recovery resources well throughout your recovery journey. For more information, give us a call today at (801) 308-8898.