Self-acceptance
“The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is through applying the
Twelve Steps of recovery.”
IP No. 19, “Self-Acceptance”
Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance. We looked
at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we loathed ourselves. We
had difficulty accepting our past and the self-image produced by it.
Self-acceptance comes more quickly when we first accept that we have a disease
called addiction, because it’s easier to accept ourselves as sick people than as bad
people. And the easier it is to accept ourselves, the easier it becomes to accept
responsibility for ourselves.
We achieve self-acceptance through the process of ongoing recovery. Working the
Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous teaches us to accept ourselves and our lives.
Spiritual principles like surrender, honesty, faith, and humility help relieve us of the
burden of our past mistakes. Our attitude changes with the application of these
principles in our daily lives. Self-acceptance grows as we grow in recovery.
Just for today: Self-acceptance is a process set in motion by the Twelve Steps.
Today, I will trust the process, practice the steps, and learn to better accept myself.