The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 2

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W., presents Part 2 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies.

The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, has said that “the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.”  For those of us sufferers of addiction, the first step in the Journey to Sobriety may seem more like “a giant leap for mankind.”  Few of us are able to take that step without great difficulty and without many, many mis-steps.  The step to commit ourselves to the pursuit of a sober life can actually be the most difficult one in our lives.

In the concept of the Hero’s Journey, as it is known in literary and psychical circles, the first step results from a very poignant internal “call to adventure.”  It is the call to pursue a journey to gain some desperately needed boon for one’s self, for one’s family or for one’s community. For the addictive personality, mired in the terror of mindless consumptive or behavioral activity, this call is a deep internal cry for help.  When that cry finally hits us as unavoidable and impossible to ignore, we finally begin the journey…we enter the “rooms.”

We may have begun this before, perhaps many times. In the Hero’s Journey, there is a phase called “refusing the call,” where intense fear of the journey causes hesitation and procrastination.   For we sufferers of the diseases of addiction, the required admission of powerlessness to begin the journey can be elusive. Each time, the ability to reject the notion that the substance or behavior pattern that consumes us is too “valuable” to relinquish, looms as impossible.  Each prior time we couldn’t make that leap.  But then something hits us, that internal call to “adventure,” the call to pursue the life we see more clearly as absolutely necessary, strikes deep in our soul…and we begin. We embrace all the women and men who are standing by to help. We open our ears and we finally begin to listen. It still hurts, it still pains us to live each moment, each day without the drug…but we do, because we must, because to not do so is, eventually, to die.

…and, by doing so, by beginning, by surrendering, by just listening, we slowly but surely start to grow….

The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 1

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 1 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a PhD. in mythological studies.

For those of us who suffer from the incurable disease of alcoholism, in all its forms, whether the compulsive consumption of various mind-numbing substances or the penchant for aberrant, dangerous behaviors, the quest for sobriety – physical, emotional, and psychological sobriety – is a life-long exercise.  Our genetic make-up or our early life traumas doom us to a lifetime of dealing with this disease.

But the quest for sobriety, a deep seated commitment to pursue the multitudinous avenues to change our behavior, can make for a life of true joy and contentment, despite the remnants of the disease that never go away.  In point of fact, our life in sobriety can turn out to be measurably better than that for those who have never experienced this disease.

This is what is to be explored in these notes….for it is clear to the thousands of us who are successfully traversing this path that the life of an ongoing quest for sobriety has no rival in the experience of man.

The pursuit of sobriety is truly a spiritual quest…not unlike the quest for the Holy Grail by Percival and Gawain and the Knights of the Round Table.  The commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve and maintain a sober state, the acceptance of our powerlessness to deal with all that happens around us, the embrace of the processes to connect with a higher power in and around us, and the will to deal with people, places and things in a commitment to service, sets us out on a quest to connect with the world in a truly glorious manner.

The Journey is one of choices and discovery…and it mirrors the idea of a Hero’s Journey in very close parallel.  From the calling to cross the threshold, a meeting room threshold or a line in the sand signifying the initial commitment, to the journey through an underworld of discoveries and realizations, to the gradual awakening of what the pursuit of sobriety can bring, this Journey is real, personal for each and every one of us, and mythic in its ramifications for us and those around us.

So this note, the first of many, begins a mythic quest of understanding for all of us…what are the elements of a truly deep seated quest for sobriety that will allow for a lifetime of joy and contentment we may never have experienced before, one whose energies and characteristics might resemble the majestic quests of mythology.

Relapse & Renewal Clinic’s Key to Success: Recovery Support Consultants

New sobriety can be a challenging and lonely time. Even after inpatient treatment or attendance of Twelve Step meetings, resisting relapse can be difficult without proper guidance. The Council on Recovery’s Relapse & Renewal Clinic provides that guidance and personalized one-on-one assistance through its innovative use of Recovery Support Consultants.

Continue reading “Relapse & Renewal Clinic’s Key to Success: Recovery Support Consultants” →

“Wonder Woman” Lynda Carter to Inspire and Entertain with Her Heroic Story of Personal Recovery from Addiction

The Council on Recovery will feature beloved All-American celebrity Lynda Carter as keynote speaker at the Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series’ 2016 Fall Luncheon, presented by the Wayne Duddlesten Foundation.  The Luncheon takes place Friday, October 28, 2016, at the Hilton Americas – Houston Hotel.

Known to millions as Wonder Woman, actress Lynda Carter also produced and starred in five highly-rated network television specials, several of which were Emmy-nominated. She launched an equally successful singing career, performing for sell-out crowds, earning rave reviews, and appearing on stage with entertainment legends, including Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, and Bob Hope. Lynda continues to share her success with people in need as a committed community volunteer and philanthropist. She served as Grand Marshall for the DC AIDS Walk and generously supports many charitable organizations.

Most importantly, Lynda Carter is committed to her recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Her recovery story, and its message of hope, is directed to every member of the family. It’s a strong reminder that family support can make a huge difference to a recovering addict or alcoholic.   Lynda credits her husband’s intervention for her ultimate acceptance of personal powerlessness over alcoholism: “After 18 years of recovery, I live every day with immense gratitude. I am forever thankful for my family and friends who stood by me and encouraged me… and for those who helped me heal.” Through her inspiring story, Lynda reveals the power and grace of vulnerability, faith, and surrender that nourish lasting recovery.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear Lynda Carter’s story at our Fall Luncheon, October 28th!

**SPECIAL OFFER**  Sponsor a Luncheon table at the Benefactor or Platinum Partner level and receive 2 passes to the Green Room to meet Lynda Carter in person (with a great photo opp)! Sponsor a table at the Event Super Star level and receive 4 Green Room passes. Click here reserve your table!