What if your inner voice, not the critic but the kinder, more gentle supportive inner voice, were to say this entire statement to you...
"I see you sitting there, dear one. Perhaps staring at your phone in a social media-medicated state. Or glaring at your bills piling up as you try to keep up with the disaster that your spouse has created for your family. Or perhaps you are waiting for the phone to ring to tell you that you don't have an STD from acting out(nor does your partner). Or, you have some solid recovery time from your primary addiction but can't quite kick your smoking or drinking or over-eating habit (or co-addiction).
I am here to tell you, you can do it. You Got This. When every day life tries to pull you down, it is just a test. The universe (or whatever you want to call it) has a masterful (and sometimes frustrating or even sickly humorous) way of putting experiences in front of us to see how strong we are, if we are ready to take on the challenge, if we have the strength and fortitude to get through the next 24 hours.
You do. You are wrapped in enough support by people around you (your therapist, group, friends, family, recovery members, sponsor) that if you allow yourself to feel it, you will feel the unconditional love, safety and protection as you continue trekking along what can feel like a daunting and very steep climb.
You deserve to feel loved. You were born feeling love, loved, and love-able. You too, dear one, deserve to feel that. If someone in your past has made you feel otherwise, know that it is not about you. We cannot fully love another person if we do not love ourselves. This may have been your "love story" from childhood. Mother or father may not have loved you the way you deserved. The reality is they didn't love themselves therefore they couldn't show up in the way you needed them.
Regardless of what the story is that you are in when you enter this difficult, challenging, yet extremely rewarding life track called "recovery", YOU CAN DO IT. YOU GOT THIS.
Don't let anyone or anything get you down, especially that little voice inside that wakes you up at 3 a.m. to should on yourself. Instead, breathe in deeply and say, 'I got this.' May sound oversimplified, may sound ridiculous. But you do. And if you ever feel like you can't handle today, I am here inside you cheering you on."
Much love for you dear ones. You are so worth it.
Namasté,
Candice