G4 Addiction

There is nothing “fun” or enjoyable about this step. However, it is a good and needed part of the process. But do not allow these first two statements to cause you to think, “Alright then, let’s get it over with as quickly as possible.” That would be a mistake that would likely result in you missing the key information that is most important to glean from this step.Your goal in this step is to identify the unhealthy patterns of relationship that have developed in your life. Often we miss the patterns for the events; a form of missing the forest for the trees. The events (i.e., controlling-abusive behaviors, repeated intoxication of a loved one, having your opinion taken for granted, etc…) are usually things that are happening to us. They are painful and we remember them. It is right to view them as suffering. But often we assume suffering means we have no choice but to be passive and that we contribute nothing to the interaction.The patterns are the ways we relate that enable the events to continue occurring.