I’m not a student of Albert Einstein, nor do I have evidence that he battled addictions. But he said something that every addict should embrace. It is one of the most important principles in recovery from any addiction or destructive habit.
“A problem cannot be solved,” said Einstein, “from the same level of consciousness that created it.”
As you hear it said in recovery groups, “It is your stinking thinking that got you here.” We will never find sobriety until we reverse this approach.
The prophet warned, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes” (Isaiah 5:21).
So how, exactly, do we move beyond our own flawed thinking and embrace a new way of life? I suggest three things.
- Be pliable.
- Be teachable.
- Be breakable.
Recovery Step: As you embark on a new year, be pliable, teachable, and breakable. The result will be a lasting sobriety you have never known.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
