If we're honest in dealing with our feelings -
Getting to know our own feelings. Bringing them into the open by talking about them. Taking positive action when necessary to resolve situations that we find painful.
These are real LIFE SKILLS.
They're based on being honest with ourselves and with other people about how we feel.
If we use these skills we can give ourselves a healthy emotional life. We can respect ourselves and we can build good relationships with our family and friends based on honest communication.
Being honest about our feelings doesn't mean that everything in our life will turn up roses. But it does mean that we're better equipped to deal with situations where we feel humiliated, or angry, or abused . . . etc.
We can take responsibility for our own feelings and - if necessary - take positive action to deal with painful situations. This is being FREE. It's taking charge of our own lives.
But what about being free of drugs?
Many individuals abuse drugs because drugs can change the way that people feel. Drug or alcohol abuse can be used to avoid uncomfortable feelings such as fear, loneliness, anger, humiliation etc.
By accepting our feelings and bringing them out into the open, we take the power out of them.
We no longer need to run away. There's nothing to run away from anymore!
So we don't need to abuse drugs to try to change how we feel.
If we're honest in dealing with our feelings -
We don't need to abuse drugs.
If we don't abuse drugs -
Then - WE'RE FREE.
We're free to do anything we choose - as we're no longer held in the vicious trap of trying to suppress feelings of unhappiness or conflict etc. Always looking for the next drug - or next drink. Always trying to find something that's missing from our lives. And never finding it.
That's trying to run away from ourselves!
And we all know deep inside that - no matter how far or how hard we run - we can never run away from ourselves.
So - let's face it - face the feelings - accept them - and be free.
