Finding Your Moral Compass

Moral Compass For those of us in recovery, finding our moral and spiritual footing can be a struggle. Here are some tools to help you make life decisions in the pursuit of good. These are universally accepted principles, paired as positive and negative counterparts that guide behavior. They challenge you to take responsibility for being a force for good by applying these principles to your daily life: show empathy, be of service to others, and make the choice to stop being an agent of harm.

Chaos / Discipline

12/21/2011

In Greek mythology, Chaos was the dark abyss from which everything came—a beginning point, not a place of refuge.

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Cynicism / Gratitude

12/7/2011

Cynicism is looking at everything and seeing only (or mostly) its negative qualities. Gratitude is an acceptance of, and a rejoicing in, what is inside and around us. It is an acknowledgment that love and hope exist and can be found in the everyday.

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Perfectionism / Excellence

11/23/2011

When we demand perfection, we only frustrate ourselves and hurt others. Excellence, on the other hand, is striving to do our best and to be of greatest service.

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Willfulness / Willingness

11/8/2011

Each of us has been given a will, a source of personal energy that is ours and ours alone. This energy gives us a sense of power and uniqueness, as well as the ability and responsibility to make choices.

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Refusal to Learn / Wisdom

10/25/2011

Learning is much more than simply acquiring information. ... Information needs to be transformed into knowledge, then knowledge must be transformed into action, and then again into wisdom. ... Wisdom is not a state of accumulated knowledge ...

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These principles are based on the book, Finding Your Moral Compass, by Craig Nakken. Nakken is the author of several Hazelden titles, including the perennial bestseller The Addictive Personality. He is a popular public speaker and a highly respected private practice counselor, with years of working in the frontlines in a number of treatment facilities. To purchase a copy, go to Hazelden's bookstore. Sober24 members can a 20% discount by entering the Promo Code CLUB20 at checkout.

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