Pride - Recovered 956

Pride is a massive stumbling block for people struggling with drug, alcohol and other addictions, something that can prevent them from ever being able to sustain a lasting recovery, until they are willing to give it up.

Overconfidence is one of the number one causes for relapse. Overconfidence is the attitude that causes addicts to say to themselves, “I am not as sick as those other addicts. So I don’t need to work as hard.”

We may feel pride in our work, our education, or other accomplishments that mean something to us. That said, we do not have the right to lord our accomplishments over others in an attempt to make them feel inferior. This is when pride becomes a problem for us. We may hope that by belittling others’ accomplishments, we will feel more superior in embracing our own achievements.

This seldom works. And as it fails time and time again, we will actually start to feel inferior ad self conscience. The danger is that we just may turn to drugs and alcohol to dull the pain. When we have excessive pride, we will find ourselves falling deep into negative emotions such as anger and depression, which just may cause us to abuse our substance of choice with increased frequency.

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PRIDE: An over high opinion of oneself; exaggerated self-esteem; conceit, arrogance, vanity, self-satisfaction.

First thoughts on this topic?

Why is pride bad for your recovery?
When is pride good?
When does pride cross the line from something that is ok to something that threatens sobriety?
How do you know when pride is moving into dangerous territory for you recovery?

What is the relationship between thankfulness, comparing, pride, and envy?

12 and 12, step 4.
Pages 42-49
Bill Wilson Talks about basic instincts of life as they relate to pride.

I oaraphrase…
“Creation gave us instincts for a purpose. Without them we wouldn't be complete human beings. So these desires are necessary for existence. Nearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct. Now, Our instincts have become a liability

Bill then goes on to talk about the Seven Deadly Sins

It is not by accident that Pride leads the list of 7 deadly sins. For pride leads to self-justification and is spurred on by fear. Pride lures us into making demands upon ourselves and others which cannot be met. When satisfaction of our instincts becomes the sole object of our lives, then pride steps in
to justify our excesses.

You thoughts on this reading from the 12 and 12?
What is the relationship between humility and pride?

Is talking about yourself bad?
When is talking about someone else bad for your recovery?

Is downgrading yourself bad for your recovery?
When is excessive humility a form of pride in reverse?

Why is bragging dangerous?
How does fear and pride relate?

What parts of the program help to combat pride?
Humility
Service
Prayer
Fellowship
Sponsorship
Steps
What else?

What would you say to the new person about Pride?

After a time I returned to the hospital. This was the finish, the curtain, it seemed to me. My weary and despairing wife was informed that it would all end with heart failure during delirium tremens, or I would develop a wet brain, perhaps within a year. She would soon have to give me over to the undertaker or the asylum. They did not need to tell me. I knew, and almost welcomed the idea. It was a devastating blow to my pride. I, who had thought so well of myself and my abilities, of my capacity to surmount obstacles, was cornered at last.

There is a solution. Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful consummation.