Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

October 9, 2017

“A thorn, however tiny, can cause the traveler to halt.” –Paulo Coelho

Spotting and addressing the obvious issues that get in the way of sobriety and recovery is important.  These issues typically involve the most prominent sexually compulsive behaviors, lying or denying addictive behaviors, and isolation.  However, looking for and addressing the more subtle impediments to sobriety and recovery is equally important.  If you stop paying for sex but continue masturbating daily, you are not making progress.  If you stop looking at porn but start looking at “not” porn, you are not making progress.  If you acknowledge your addictive sexual urges but never discuss financial manipulations, you are not making progress.  Address all of the issues, even the ones that you rationalize as “small.”

What subtle impediments to my sobriety and recovery have I ignored?  What has been the consequence of ignoring these impediments?  What gifts await me as I start to look for and address the subtle as well as the obvious impediments to my sobriety and recovery?