I often find truth revealed in nature, and for lessons in letting go, fall is a great teacher.
Watching the leaves turn colors and fall to the ground is a perfect process that enables the tree to remain alive and vibrant through all types of harsh conditions. They truly let go in order to recharge and regenerate.
The art of letting go for family members living in both active addiction and the disease in remission is summed up in one word, detachment. Unfortunately this concept is often understandably misinterpreted. Letting go does not mean do nothing,it means do differently. The instructions for how to do differently is simply articulated in the Alanon slogan ”Keep the Focus on Myself” This means I must make a commitment to stop cleaning up the consequences of the disease and start motivating your loved one to start a treatment and recovery program that will keep the disease in remission. While this is a simple process it is not an easy one.
Families have a tremendous power that they don’t recognize. An individual family member can influence change in their loved one by changing their reaction to the person whose thoughts,behaviors and emotions have been high jacked by the disease.
In order to do this , Families need to lead by example. That is, start their own recovery program.
Love is a powerful motivator.This power when properly applied can help the person of concern and all of the family members reclaim their lives and reach their highest potential.