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Recovery is a lifelong pursuit built upon patience and persistence. During this process, you will face challenges that may leave you feeling “stuck” and as if you can’t move forward on your journey. One significant factor that might be keeping you from moving forward in your recovery is your ego. While many people struggling with addiction have low self-esteem and always think less of themselves, many also experience ego.
Ego is the false sense of self. It is not the “real” you but rather what you believe you are. Ego in addiction has to do with the concept that the world revolves around “me.” It is the perception that everyone around you reflects something better or worse than you are. Therefore, everything bad that happens is personal and directed toward you; likewise, everything good that happens is of the same ideology. In recovery, such thoughts can consume you to the point where no one else seems to matter. These thoughts directly threaten your recovery and need to be addressed.
The Risks of Complacency
Having too much pride can cause you to become complacent. When you reach a state of complacency, you might begin to feel as though you have no room for improvement. However, this belief leaves you susceptible to being attacked by unexpected threats that may repel those achievements. Complacency can also breed a lack of positive attitude, missing important meetings, or dismissing doctors, therapists, and trusted friends and family, thus leading you to isolate.
Recovery is about opening yourself up to continue growing and learning from the people and places around you. With this will come the need to practice humility. If you are becoming complacent, the first thing to do is admit that you have grown complacent. Remember, there is no point in the recovery process where your addiction becomes cured; therefore, just because you feel like you have reached a place to stop moving forward doesn't mean your addiction has. Continue to work on ways to improve yourself, keep growing your network of support, and stay ahead of your addiction.
Experiencing Obliviousness
Too inflated of ego can make you oblivious or unaware of what is happening around you. When your pride begins to make you feel like you are above everyone else, you might start to believe that other people don't deserve your time and attention. Becoming oblivious can inhibit you from preparing for unforeseen things, and it might lead you to make big mistakes.
If you feel as though your pride has caused you to become oblivious, then it is time to act. Practice meditation or mindfulness to challenge your ideas about yourself. Avoid taking yourself too seriously. Always stay connected with your support system. Talking with others helps to remind you that you are not unique or superior to the process of recovery. Reaching such awareness helps you become more objective about your thoughts and behaviors. It will also help you continue to grow in a healthy direction necessary for your recovery.
Becoming Careless
Among the more dangerous effects the ego can have on you is making you careless; this is when you feel as though you have mastered your recovery. When carelessness takes over, it affects all facets of your recovery from making decisions – big or small – to tracking your progress, pursuing hobbies, maintaining a good sleep and nutrition schedule; everything begins to suffer. Carelessness also negates all the sense of triumph and achievement you may have felt earlier on in your sobriety.
To avoid the slippery-slope of carelessness, start by evaluating your past choices. Look at whether you have made any careless decisions that led to undesirable results. During this process, it is essential to check your ego at the door – don't rationalize or make excuses for what happened. Being honest will help you understand your choices; knowing why you made a particular decision enables you to avoid making this decision in the future. Apologize to anyone you might have hurt; remember forgiveness and humility are essential in recovery. Finally, focus on the present, don't dwell on the past, and continue to move forward.
The Danger of Alienation
You might have an inflated sense of ego, and it also might reduce your support network to the company of one. The danger of alienating yourself from others is not solely in disconnecting from others; alienation might sow the false belief that others are inferior to you. Having a perceived pool of unworthy people can include those who do not share your achievements or possessions. Ultimately, acting this way is bound to leave you with little to no support and encouragement in times of need during your recovery.
Beating alienation first takes “getting off that high horse” to remembering where you came from and how much you have endured. The essence of sustaining recovery lies in giving back and keeping the recovery community strong. Giving back not only helps you exercise what you have learned, but it continues to keep you accepting of yourself and others. It also leads to more opportunities for success and growth. If you think you are above everyone else, this is the point where you need support more than ever.
Ego can hinder your recovery. When you act on your ego, you risk experiencing complacency, obliviousness, carelessness, and alienation. Remember, humility always counteracts ego by making you think of others' needs, too. At START UP RECOVERY, we offer a supportive environment that can help deplete your ego, making your recovery journey less complicated. Our ability to create a network that motivates you personally and professionally will help set you up for lifelong sobriety. START UP RECOVERY is not about treatment; we are about transformation because we believe in pursuing each individual to continue growing and moving forward to achieve their best success. It all begins with taking the first step toward getting help. With 24/7 admissions, there is never a wrong time to reach out. Remember, every journey starts with the first step. To learn more, reach out to START UP RECOVERY today by calling us at (310) 773-3809.