Recovery of Connection: Be of Service What is Recovery?
Volunteer, do work that helps others, or even find a creative pursuit that contributes something of beauty to It is recovering that state of oneness with the Universal life the Universe. force that is our natural state. It is recovering the
awareness of that Connection - whether we call it God, the Do NOT confuse service with sacrifice. Sacrifice takes away Higgs Field, or Nature – that is innate in our beings. We all from ourselves in an attempt to control another’s suffering. sprang from the Source of Creation. We breathe air that Service enhances others’ lives and yes, may certainly every living thing on the planet has breathed since the relieve suffering, while enhancing our own lives through dawn of time. We drink water that has been recycled awareness of Connection. Sacrifice denies Connection through every living being that lived on earth. Our DNA since it implies suffering on the part of the giver and then contains the codes of more than one species. Our genes the receiver, if Connected, would suffer from that.
carry the memories of our ancestors. Here is a simple example: My husband and Recovery is awareness of this Connection and I like very different foods. If we discuss recovering from the loss of it. going to a restaurant with something he likes and I don’t, then there is the For many people, the word “Recovery” possibility of either service or sacrifice. signifies recovery from addiction. If we Service means that I can choose to go to look at addiction as a state of his restaurant of choice and enjoy the disconnection, as I do in my book, experience of being with him and Addict America: The Lost Connection, of him enjoying his meal and the two then Recovery is living in a state of of us being in Connection. Sacrifice Connection and recovering from the would mean that I am going to suffer losses we experienced in our lives that by going to his chosen restaurant and led us to a fear Connection. I’m only doing it to “make” him happy How do we live in Recovery? With (think Serenity Prayer). He will either be awareness of Connection, we can let disconnected and enjoy his meal in spite go of our egos and recognize that of my suffering or, more likely, he will not giving our physical and emotional enjoy the meal because I am not happy.
energy to others and our creative energy Make a decision each day: Addiction or Recovery? to the Universe is an evolutionary step to wholeness and Disconnection or Connection? health. When we are focused on others, we are not aware of our selves and the imperfections we attribute to ourselves. Written By: Dr. Carol Clark, LMHC When we are focused on relieving our own pain, making Dr. Carol Clark is a practicing sex and ourselves feel good, or even giving ourselves positive addiction therapist. She is the founder and affirmations, we are turning our energy inwards and that is director of a PhD program in Clinical Sexology not recovery. and of several training institutes where therapists and other healthcare professionals receive advanced Service in recovery means that you turn your energy training in a variety of fields. Her books, Addict America: outwards and experience the awareness of being in The Lost Connection and My Pocket Therapist: 12 Tools Connection. Service can take many forms and all you need for Living in Connection, will help everyone to live in do is open yourself to it. The opportunities are there. connection with themselves, others, and the universe.
62
October 2021 InSession | FMHCA.org
