Sobriety and Creativity
Jun 9, 09- (by Richard H.)
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- Sober Salon
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- Richard G. Hartnett
Several years ago a psychologist asked me whether or not I thought using alcohol or drugs enhanced creativity. I replied that while they may lower our inhibitions for a while, in the long term I found sobriety enabled much better contact with the ultimate Source of our creativity. Mood changers may shift our perspective, but they also fog our minds and impair our judgment.
The key to sobriety is learning to follow our Healthy Self. This is the voice of our inner Guide, as distinguished from the inner Tyrant or the inner Addict. Each one of these subpersonalities has its own characteristics, and we all need to learn how to tell them apart and align ourselves with the healing and creative one.
The Healthy Self speaks to us through other recovering people, through intuitions and twilight dreaming, through inspirational readings, and through contact with nature. We need to listen and become receptive to its influence. Such a change constitutes a major transformation in our identity, for we are no longer running the show (as if we ever were!).
Our Healthy Self will inspire us to heal by becoming creative. Actually we already do this much more than we realize. We use our ingenuity to solve problems all day long, and we convey our inspirations when we share at a 12 Step meeting.
I have been attracted to The Second Road because it provides an opportunity for so many to be creative. From the original work by Melissa, Ginger, Alix and others to construct the site to the participation of all the members who share their experience, strength and hope here, I feel the Healthy Self has found an outlet for all its constructive energy. All we have to do is cooperate with it and it will take care of us all.
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