What's the most important component of good, healthy, long-term sobriety?
Hint - it's not abstinence.
It's also not self-care, boundaries, or good communication.
It has something to do with self-reflection, self-awareness, and community.
In this episode, I say that forgiveness and confession are the most vital components of sobriety.
This tends to be true of the spiritual life as well.
If I can forgive, and move on from bitterness, and let go of resentments, then I am free from how others burden me.
If I can take ownership of my actions and their impact on others, and confess my sins, and disclose my secrets, and declare in the open how I have harmed others, then I am free from the paralysis of having to stay shamefully hidden, and I am empowered to repair what I broke, reconnect with people, and move on toward thriving.
In this episode, I also muse on the concept of Self-Forgiveness. At this point in my life and career, I don't believe "Self-Forgiveness" is a viable concept, at least not in the Orthodox Christian Church. There is forgiveness of others, and there is confession of one's own sin, which then invites the forgiveness of others. In this, forgiveness assumes a community, and cannot be effectively done by a individual.
If this sort of discussion is helpful for you, please join the community at patreon.com/outercircle. You can also follow me on instagram at @newpatterncounseling.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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