How to Recognize the “Great Turning Point in Our Lives” – Step 7

8 Directional Signs in a desert, pointing toward far-flung destinations on Earth w/ sfz title

“A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted; rather than as something we must have.” (12 & 12, p. 75)

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What has been the most memorable turning point you’ve experienced on your recovery journey?

OR

How can you tell when a moment in your life is a true turning point?

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The Crossroads – Bone Thug-n-Harmony (4:37)

Krishnamurti Speaks on the “the Turning Points” (10:42)

Hypnotic Deep Guided Meditation (5:46)

English Analysis

In The Basic Text, recovery appears as a moment of regained freedom and conscious choice. The addict reaches agency, moving beyond compulsion, which echoes Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl argued that freedom lies in the gap between stimulus and response. Similarly, recovery requires awareness of choice and responsibility.

The 12 & 12 emphasizes humility as a desire, not a burden. Here, humility opens transformation, shifting recovery from struggle to surrender. Søren Kierkegaard, in The Sickness Unto Death, described despair as the refusal to accept dependence on God. Recovery, therefore, mirrors faith through humility, replacing arrogance with grace and freedom with responsibility.

Finally, Paulo Coelho’s reflection on pilgrimage introduces mystery as an enduring element of life. In The Alchemist, he affirmed that truth is discovered in journeys, not concealed in secrets. This insight deepens recovery by showing that wisdom comes through living, not controlling. Mystery requires humility, and humility sustains freedom.

Together, these texts reveal that freedom, humility, and mystery shape turning points. Each thinker illuminates recovery as more than abstinence; it is a renewed philosophy of living. By embracing freedom, practicing humility, and honoring mystery, individuals step into authentic transformation.


Citas en Español

“Un adicto, que de cualquier forma pueda perder, aunque sea por un tiempo, la necesidad o el deseo de consumir, y tenga libre elección sobre el pensamiento impulsivo y la acción compulsiva, ha llegado a un punto de inflexión que puede ser el factor decisivo en su recuperación. La sensación de verdadera independencia y libertad cuelga aquí a veces en la balanza.” (The Basic Text, p. 77)

“Un gran punto de inflexión en nuestras vidas llegó cuando buscamos la humildad como algo que realmente queríamos, más que como algo que debíamos tener.” (12 & 12, p. 75)

“Mi punto de inflexión fue mi peregrinación a Santiago de Compostela. Fue entonces cuando yo, que había dedicado la mayor parte de mi vida a penetrar los ‘secretos’ del universo, me di cuenta de que no hay secretos. La vida es y siempre será un misterio.” – Paulo Coelho (1947 – ) Filósofo y autor brasileño


Análisis en Español

En The Basic Text, la recuperación aparece como un momento de libertad recuperada y elección consciente. El adicto alcanza agencia, superando la compulsión, lo que refleja El hombre en busca de sentido de Viktor Frankl. Frankl sostuvo que la libertad se encuentra en el espacio entre estímulo y respuesta. De manera similar, la recuperación exige conciencia de elección y responsabilidad.

El 12 & 12 enfatiza la humildad como un deseo, no como una carga. Aquí, la humildad abre la transformación, cambiando la recuperación de lucha a rendición. Søren Kierkegaard, en La enfermedad mortal, describió la desesperación como la negativa a aceptar la dependencia de Dios. La recuperación, por lo tanto, refleja la fe a través de la humildad, reemplazando la arrogancia con gracia y la libertad con responsabilidad.

Finalmente, la reflexión de Paulo Coelho sobre la peregrinación introduce el misterio como un elemento perdurable de la vida. En El alquimista, afirmó que la verdad se descubre en los viajes, no oculta en secretos. Esta visión profundiza la recuperación al mostrar que la sabiduría llega a través de vivir, no de controlar. El misterio requiere humildad, y la humildad sostiene la libertad.

En conjunto, estos textos revelan que la libertad, la humildad y el misterio moldean los puntos de inflexión. Cada pensador ilumina la recuperación como más que abstinencia; es una filosofía renovada de vivir.

Pregunta: ¿Cómo puedes saber cuándo un momento en tu vida es un verdadero punto de inflexión?

Zonr logo on the turning point

Comments

4 responses to “How to Recognize the “Great Turning Point in Our Lives” – Step 7”

  1. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    There has been a few memorable turning points, first and foremost the Eaton Canyon fire on January 8th. I was faced with a choice after losing everything I’ve worked for for 40 years either start drinking again, or face everything and and recover get the ball rolling stay sober and help another person who also lost everything.

  2. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    Subtly. Sometimes change comes in on cats feet. The slow, gentle approach, recognized just after it has appeared. Just as addiction doesn’t destroy life instantly, neither does recovery happen all at once.

    I am blessed with the curse of much knowledge, I know a lot of stuff. Yet it is what I do that matters in life and not what I do. I reference this because early in treatment, as in other areas of life, I generally know the answer before the question is asked. Yet, here I am in recovery. It is not what what I know but what I do.

    And so it is in my recovery that over time I notice the Subtle shifts in attitude, behavior, personality, mindset. By the grace of my HP recovery happens on its own time, gently and with all the dexterity of a cat navigating a mine field.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

  3. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

    The most memorable turnin’ point for me was when startin’ out I started gettin’ anywhere from 3 weeks to a month with nothin’ in my system at all of substances i no longer wanted to use. I sometimes would get upset though that I couldn’t at least get months, but still i never gave up at least, and I was just grateful on the journey my mindset has been changin’ more and more to wantin’ complete abstinence. My endurance and stamina have been increasin’ while I block almost forced mental temptation everywhere. My guard continually has to stay up, and I should let just about nothin’ stand in the way of the goals I set out to complete.

  4. Bodhi Baba Avatar
    Bodhi Baba

    FEATURED POST FROM THE ZONR VAULT – “I find that I am now in the hold of compulsion where food is concerned. I may always be in the state of compulsion, but I learn to pray when I begin to obsess. I cannot feed by spirit by feeding my body.” (Margot, 10/18/2011)

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