Honesty

How can honesty affect your recovery?

Sobriety requires us to change the way we live, to adopt a lifestyle that requires rigorous honesty. While in active addition, most addicts and alcoholics are far from honest. They live in a world of deceit and denial. Recovery demands that they be honest with themselves first, but also with their families, their friends in recovery, and those they have harmed. The Big Book states, “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. . . . They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty.”

Honesty means speaking the truth to yourself and others. At times, however, it needs to be tempered with compassion. Never use honesty to purposefully hurt someone. Practicing honesty makes it apparent that wisdom is also needed. When you are struggling with an issue of honesty, talk about it with your sponsor or recovery support group.

Learning how to be honest after living dishonestly takes focused effort and it requires the help of your Higher Power. Making small, daily choices to be honest will help you grow and develop spiritually.