A huge contributor to our addictions and mental health issues is our lack of self-worth. We feel insecure about who we are, about our illnesses, about where we are in our lives. We feel ashamed of ourselves. Our shame and lack of self-worth make us think we don’t deserve to be happy or experience the best life has to offer. When we don’t value ourselves, we’re more likely to settle for habits, behaviors and relationships that aren’t healthy for us. We’re more likely to demean ourselves and make choices that aren’t in our best interest. In order to heal from our addictions, we’ll need to do more than abstain from our drugs of choice. We’ll also need to heal our self-image, the way we view ourselves, how we feel about ourselves. Without feeling worthy, it’s impossible to be at peace within ourselves, and without peace, we can’t heal. How can we increase our feelings of self-worth so that we can find peace and clear away everything holding us back in our recovery?
Our lack of self-worth comes from the limiting beliefs that we’ve been fed over the years, that we’ve absorbed from our families and culture, and that we’ve created for ourselves. Sometimes our limiting beliefs are our attempt to protect ourselves. If we limit ourselves and keep ourselves small, we’ll take fewer risks. We won’t put ourselves out there and stretch ourselves. We won’t push ourselves or strive to be better, happier or healthier. We hold onto our limiting beliefs thinking they’re keeping us safe, when actually they’re holding us back and stifling our potential. Our beliefs around our self-worth tell us that we’re not good enough, that we don’t measure up to other people, that we are destined for failure, that we can’t heal ourselves. We believe we’re inadequate, inferior, undeserving and unworthy. These harmful beliefs, like any thought patterns, are not permanent and can be changed. We don’t have to hold ourselves to any belief, especially the ones that are bringing us down.
To change our beliefs, we want to give energy to new, empowering beliefs rather than fighting the old ones. Whenever we fight thoughts or resist them, we give them more power over us. We embolden and strengthen them. Instead, we want to build up our new thought patterns by practicing and repeating them until they’ve become solidified in our minds and hearts. “I am worthy. I am valuable. I am deserving. I love myself. I am loved. I value myself. I appreciate myself. I am at peace within myself.”
At Bayview Recovery, we believe in you and your ability to recover. Call us today for more information on our treatment programs: 888-570-7154.
