We feel we have no choice

We do what we always did because we feel we have no *choice. We don’t know if it will work. As a matter of fact we think it probably will not work. But we are willing to give it another try. Maybe the outcome will be different—we wish.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. We can try and battle the vortex, but why? It is too strong, it pulled us in yesterday and the day before and the day before. It will win again today and we know it, why fight a losing battle—we acquiesce.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. It calls us, even taunts us with temptation. It begs us forth like a game of truth or dare. We accept the challenge, knowing fully we will lose no matter what we do—we play anyway.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. We have settled for the idea that this is the way it will always be. We are its sweet victim and we feign contentment because we are too scared to face our demons—we pretend anyway.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. No one has helped us before; no one will help us now. We are isolated and unreachable. We have an untold story in the archives of our mind. A story you cannot bear to listen to—we cannot bear it either.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. There is no Source greater than us, if there was it would have helped us by now. Can’t it see that we are dying? If it’s so great and almighty why doesn’t it help? We wait for its help—we never notice it already answered.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. We are in acceptance of the idea that we cannot change. It is futile. One thousand or more attempts … who is so foolish to think one more attempt will matter? Maybe we will face it tomorrow. We will be stronger tomorrow—we postpone.

We do what we always did because we feel we have no choice. We have become masters at wishing, acquiescing, playing, pretending, ignoring, and postponing.

We have a choice:

  1. The road we currently travel
  2. The new road

Just because we don’t like the new road, does not mean it’s not a choice. We have a choice.

We don’t always like the scenery, highway, diner, car, landscape, street, weather, gas station, accommodations or fellow travelers. We just like where we are headed. We have a *choice.

Recovery from addiction is not a thoughtless undertaking—don’t treat it like one.

*A simple exercise for seeing the power of the subconscious mind: For this next week, brush your teeth with the opposite hand. This commitment will be for four minutes each day, morning and evening. If you start with the regular hand (by accident) switch to the opposite as soon as you remember. If it takes longer than two minutes, so be it. Do a thorough job. You will be shocked at what you’ve learned before the week is out.

***

Lisa Neumann is author of Sober Identity, a recovery and life skills coach and a recovered addict.

No Responses to “We feel we have no choice

  • Reblogged this on myrecoverydiary and commented:
    This is Lisa, my new acquired angel. Read her wise words, I’ll be talking more about her in upcoming posts.

  • Recovery from addiction is not a thoughtless undertaking—don’t treat it like one.

    Love this Lisa! And I am going to try brushing my teeth with my left hand…..

  • I’m on my third day of brushing my teeth with my left hand…I don’t think they’ve ever been so clean!

    • It’s interesting isn’t it? The purpose of that exercise is to give us a glimpse of the amount of effort that is required to change a habit. We want to change a habit (alcoholic drinking), yet we pursue it with little to no support and then wonder why we fail. We fail because we are programmed, at a subconscious level, to do it the way we have always done it. For us addicts, that means drinking even when we say we don’t want to. I have found the science of recovery incredibly beneficial in changing my unwanted habits/addictions/responses et al. After a week of that exercise many clients are actually irritated with me. Shocking how four minutes a day can give us a run for our money. Extremely glad you gave it a go– so far you’re the only one that has posted actually doing it. Brava! Every time I am working on changing something I start with the teeth brushing exercise. It still helps me remember how challenging change is — and there is still plenty for me to change. with love, lisa

  • I don’t enjoy that exercise!!! But, It reminds me to how hard change is. I brushed my
    teeth with my other hand over the last week a few times and yes… Change is difficult!!! Even with something as simple as brushing teeth!! Change… Lisa as my Life Coach you have helped and are still helping me walk through so much change. Painful change. Throughout all the pain and work you and I have been doing together… I’am becoming a stronger,better version of myself! Thank you my friend/Life Coach, for all of your Love and support!!
    Dawn

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