Meditations on "Denial"

Life in recovery is a journey of recognizing the self-centered ways we have lived, and then seeking God and mentors to teach us how to live considerately and kindly towards others.

In certain situations, when our behaviour is challenged, we are quick to try to justify ourselves because we are unwilling to see the exact nature of our wrongs. Self-justification is rooted in the thinking that we are better human beings than we truly are. It’s time to admit that wrong is wrong, and that we are guilty of wrong thinking and wrong doing.

Life has its ups and downs and does not always treat us fairly.

Addicts tell lies. We tell ourselves we need our substance of choice to deal with the day.

A healthy foundation for life with God in recovery includes seeking truth in all our affairs.

In recovery meetings we’ve heard some people tell “war stories” that made us cringe and which may have triggered something negative in those who were listening.

One of the coping mechanisms many of us use when dealing with low self-esteem and the humiliation of our past failures is the mask of arrogance.

Life has its ups and downs and doesn’t always treat us fairly.

A healthy foundation for life with God in recovery includes seeking truth in all our affairs.

Trying to be self-reliant and seeking to sort out life on our own took many of us into lifestyles of isolation, addiction, denial, and destructive behaviour.

The longer we live in sobriety the more we recognize that we have lots to learn.

Denial is described as a refusal to admit the truth or reality of a situation.