Beyond Rehab

As I approach the passing of yet another calendar year free of alcohol and all the pains that accompanied its consumption, I am beginning to explore—as only an alert, lucid, toxin free mind can do—the feelings of self-acceptance. Quite grand, I must say, because with the understanding of self-acceptance, there comes a feeling of great relief.

Self-acceptance is different from self-esteem or self-confidence. Self-acceptance means trusting in one’s ideas and impulses, in our true-self—that core sweetness of each of us that allowed for us as children to create freely, confidently, without fear.

So with that in mind, I have a few updates…. My book is still on the way. If I do not secure a proper agent*/publisher within my self-imposed deadline I will be self-publishing. The book is valuable and I sincerely wish it to be available for anyone it might help. So hang on for that, it’s around the corner sometime soon.

The next thing is that I am back in school and because I have been so heavily involved with that, I have not been posting here as frequently as in the past. But I’m still around and still receive emails from this blog if you would like to comment.

The last thing to note is that as I have been discovering the structural value of experiencing genuine self-acceptance, I have been noticing examples of self-acceptance appearing in ways that expand my understanding of it.  For example, the other night I was sitting with a singer who had been seriously struggling with his voice for years now. But suddenly, as he plugged in his guitar, switched on his amp, and launched into the most devoted love song, which just happened to be addressed to me, I was amazed to hear him give his best performance ever. How was it that in the blink of an eye he could improve so dramatically? I happen to know  in that moment he had settled into such a state of self-acceptance that he was able to express himself without fear of judgment.  He was comfortable trusting himself to express his love in song. In that moment he had attained self-acceptance—permission to trust the ideas and impulses of his true-self.

For any of you who still struggle with your addictions, continue, as always, to seek hope. But today I am adding something more to that. I am asking you to remember this: remember self-acceptance, remember your core sweetness, remember your true-self. Your true-self thrives on gentle care, love, and being heard—not drugs, alcohol, shame or fear. That you have awareness and feelings of love is what your true-self desires for you most.

*Update: I’ve acquired an agent,12/09 ~ publishing up next.