For most people, confrontations bring up the image of an altercation, aggression and there being a definitive winner and loser. That, of course, can be true and plays out in many couples. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Accountability, what does it mean to you? It’s a term that has several connotations. The first is of negative consequence; the attribution of blame for having made an error.
Although addictions can often be debilitating and prevent from leading a functional life, so many worm their way into our daily routine. We grant them permission, and build our lives around them, ignoring the detrimental effects they have on our health and social life. Rarely do we stop to question our habits.
Social media is the elephant in the room we can no longer ignore. There’s no escaping its presence. And although it can most definitely be a force for good, connecting like-minded people from far-flung pockets of the world, its drawbacks have become a blight on our modern culture. The countless memes portraying friends ‘socialising’ at the dinner table, transfixed with their devices is a damning but altogether accurate piece of satire.
When people talk about leading a happy life, the usual clichés are rolled out of living in the moment, letting go and practicing mindfulness. And while there is truth to these sayings – they’re clichés for a reason – they don’t offer much concrete advice. They remain somewhat intangible.
As children, many us were encouraged to come out of our shells, to engage and get in thick of the action; to put ourselves out there. And while kids do need coaxing, there’s a balance to be struck. We aren’t all cut out to be social dynamos. The shell might appear restrictive to some, but for others, it’s exactly what we crave. Quiet, security and a place to allow our thoughts to meander through endless scenarios of what ifs and could bes.
In recovery, the focus is usually on the process, steps, environment and execution. The idea of belief isn’t paid nearly as much attention. It is, however, where the healing begins. Not only that, but it also dictates how successful any course of treatment or intervention will be.
