No one would disagree with the notion that humans are flawed creatures. We make mistakes. Even the brightest, best of us make mistakes. We are in no way perfect. We do not do everything right; we fall, we blunder, we are living our lives without a clear path on what to do next. We are all just doing the best we can.
That doesn’t stop us from pretending. It is a worldwide phenomenon where we compete and pretend that our lives are amazing and fabulous, and much better than anyone else’s. It’s a point of pride. Our egos are placating us that it doesn’t matter how much you might dislike yourself, your job, or your life if it’s still better than someone else’s. As soon as someone else is envious of us, we feel validated.
It’s just a front, though. Social media has amplified this habit of showcases our best selves to the world, often at the cost of our true selves. We have become so disconnected from who we really are, in our attempt at becoming the best and most perfect version of ourselves, that we forget the pain that comes with perfection.
Somewhere down the line, we might have forgotten how to be happy.
So, we turn to a vice. Something that makes us feel better in our mad dash to be the best, or, at least, just to seem like we’re fine. Being “fine” is in many ways far more damaging to our mental, emotional, and physical selves than accepting that something is wrong. Running from a problem is the first action. Dealing with it only comes after taking a long, hard look at yourself.
To some, alcohol is what they turn to after a hard day at work. Or a stressful social outing. Or perhaps it has become a habit so deeply ingrained in you that it’s the only way to cope. When you reach the point where you hear the word “addiction” and think “that’s me,” you might balk at the thought of admitting your weaknesses to others. Hitting bottom is sometimes the only way to get out of the pit you’ve made for yourself, and admitting your faults is one rung on the ladder out.
AA Meetings offer support for you, and people like you. You’re not really that different. No one is going to demonize you because you aren’t what you projected yourself to be. Maintaining your image is hurting you, because it is not you. It takes a brave person to find themselves. It takes a braver person to realize that they might not like who they really are. It takes courage to face the parts of you that you have been running from.
It takes courage to search “find AA Meetings near me”. It is not shameful to go. You are confronting demons that you have been scared to face. The anonymous aspect of these meetings means you can’t go with your titles or your career or anyone other than you. Only the real you can recover, and a strong support group of others just like you is how you’ll get through it.
