Contrary Action: Growing Spiritually

Contrary Action, in recovery terms, means taking positive action rather than resorting to habitual, self-destructive behaviors. It is the way to break patterns that keep recovering people stuck and discontent. Basically, Contrary Action is a way to grow spiritually.

Abstinence is taking Contrary Action in early recovery, but Contrary Action also means doing things differently in other areas of life as well. With Contrary Action, a host of feelings will undoubtedly surface! Some you may label good (like peaceful, for instance) and some you might categorize as not-so-good (like rejected). But that's okay. In recovery, feeling feelings is doable and part of being human. All feelings just are. We all have feelings. And feelings can be especially intense if we aren't used to allowing ourselves to experience them in all their beauty and might.

Let's back up, though, and look at a real example of Contrary Action so this makes practical sense.

I know someone who took Contrary Action by sharing his deepest secrets with his sponsor (in a Twelve Step program). This person initially did not want to do get this honest. He felt anxious at first, but after, relieved. This self-affirming act of revealing himself to a fellow addict (who had a trustworthy record) bore many benefits, one being that he grew in his ability to tolerate his own anxiety around being honest. The experience helped him feel heard and known, which is what all of us want, and many of us crave.

This above is just one simple example, but each one of us can take Contrary Action every day and grow spiritually. Maybe reaching out to another human in recovery would be Contrary Action for you. Maybe you might help this someone feel heard and known. Maybe you would feel anxious, or loving, doing it. In my book, it doesn't get more spiritual than that.