Menu
The “Just for Today” meditation for January 13th delves into a fundamental principle of recovery: the concept of surrendering to win. The Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text speaks to the heart of this paradoxical idea, stating that help for addicts begins only when we can admit complete defeat. This concept of complete defeat suggests a total surrender – a cessation of the fight against addiction and an acknowledgment of our powerlessness over it.
Surrender in the context of recovery is not about giving up on life; it’s about giving up the illusion of control over our addiction. It’s a moment of profound honesty where we acknowledge that our addiction has us defeated and that we are unable to manage it on our own. This admission, often first voiced at a meeting, marks the beginning of our journey to a drug-free life. It’s the First Step, admitting we are powerless over our addiction, that sets us free from the relentless cycle of substance abuse.
What makes surrender so powerful in recovery is the paradox it represents: in admitting our defeat, we actually start to win. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of strength. It allows us to break free from the chains of addiction and opens the door to a new way of living. By surrendering, we gain access to a greater power, one that can guide us and sustain us on our journey to recovery.
In this act of surrender, we find the strength to live each day without the need to use. It’s a daily practice, a commitment to acknowledging our powerlessness and finding strength in that admission.