Daily Meditation

"The false self is the adult child personality expressed in the 14 traits of the Laundry List." BRB p. 7

While growing up, we unknowingly used the survival technique of developing a false self, a disguise, the mask we used to cover the codependent and addictive traits we learned from our dysfunctional families. We feared and were controlled by other people. We based our feelings on our parents' behaviors. We did so because we were not allowed to express our personal feelings; there were consequences for doing so.

The Laundry List is an important tool we use to identify our ACA characteristics. It guides us in taking our blameless inventory, thus revealing our True Self and affirming our worthiness. We learn what behaviors we want to change in order to move from our false self to our True Self.

In recovery, we begin to understand that in order to grow it is important to accept, and not deny, all of our feelings. Some of us use the slogan, "There is no healing without feeling" almost as a mantra. Gradually, our True Self emerges as we reach out to others in the fellowship and as we learn the language of ACA.

On this day, as I remove the mask of my false self, I am free to make healthy decisions about the revelation of my True Self.