An interesting study was conducted, which revealed the degree to which most of us overestimate our own abilities. Participants were given a series of words to spell. After the test, each person was asked how many words they thought they had spelled correctly. Several participants said they thought they had gotten 100 percent of the words right. But among this subgroup, on average, they only got 80 percent of the words right.
A similar test was given with True/False answers. Of those who thought they had gotten every question right, on average, again, they were only right 80 percent of the time.
In recovery, we make a little progress, then we overestimate how far we have come. George Carlin said it as only he could: “Just because you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.”
If you have achieved a few months of sobriety; if you are no longer viewing porn; if masturbation is in your past, congratulations! You have gotten the monkey off your back. But that doesn’t mean the circus has left town. There is still much work to be done.
Recovery Step: “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40).
