How to Connect With Your Inner Wisdom And Grit

The power of combining modern and traditional approaches to recovery is undeniable. By combining Alcoholics Anonymous’ Twelve Steps to Recovery, Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ Women Who Run with the Wolves, and Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, we can build a strong foundation for our journey of self-improvement, growth, and fulfillment. Let’s embrace this opportunity to re-enchant our relationship with ourselves and build a culture of resilience and fulfillment.

The Power of Combining Modern and Traditional Approaches to Recovery

Starting a journey of recovery and self-improvement can be an overwhelming experience. However, there is no better place to begin than by combining the time-tested wisdom of Alcoholics Anonymous’ Twelve Steps to Recovery with the modern, empowering perspectives of Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ Women Who Run with the Wolves and Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Each of these sources offers invaluable insights and lessons into the power of personal agency, understanding our deepest needs, and accessing resilience for a life of fulfillment and growth.

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Connecting with Your Inner Wisdom

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes engages with many of the same concepts as the 12 Steps to Recovery, but through the lens of connecting to one’s creativity, strength, and inner wisdom. Unlike the highly structured 12 steps, Estes suggests re-enchanting our relationship with ourselves by exploring the archetypes of the wild woman, the grandmother stories, and the wise woman within. This book serves as a powerful reminder to tap into the depths of our unconscious, reclaim our intuition, and move away from the comforts of passivity in order to access our full potential.

Connecting with your inner wisdom is an essential part of recovery, as it allows you to tap into your intuition and make decisions that align with your values and beliefs. Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ Women Who Run with the Wolves highlights the importance of connecting with your inner wisdom and intuition. Here are some additional measurable steps you can take to connect with your inner wisdom:

Journaling: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationship with alcohol or drugs.
Meditation: Practice mindfulness meditation to help you focus on the present moment and quiet your mind.
Creative activities: Engage in creative activities that allow you to tap into your inner voice, such as painting, drawing, or writing.
Time in nature: Spend time in nature to connect with your inner wisdom and find peace and tranquility.
Seek guidance from mentors or spiritual leaders: Find someone you trust who can offer guidance and support as you connect with your inner wisdom.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance speaks to the difficult aspects of personal growth and encourages its readers to hold onto their ambitions and work towards making them real. Duckworth’s main argument is that dedication, perseverance, hard work, and resilience are essential elements of success, and this is true for any journey of growth and recovery. She suggests that grit is a learned skill, and provides strategies to improve one’s mindset and develop a more resilient self.

Grit is defined as having the perseverance and determination to achieve a goal, even when faced with obstacles and challenges. Angela Duckworth’s work on grit highlights the importance of having a growth mindset and the power of perseverance. To develop a mindset of grit, it is essential to set achievable goals and focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t. Here are some additional measurable steps you can take to develop a mindset of grit:

Identify your long-term goals: Write down what you want to achieve in the next six months, one year, and five years.
Break down your long-term goals into smaller, achievable tasks: This will help you see the progress you’re making and give you a sense of accomplishment.
Stay motivated: Encourage yourself with positive self-talk, and surround yourself with positive people who will support your goals.
Embrace challenges: Look at challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than obstacles to your success.
Celebrate your successes: Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This will help boost your confidence and motivation to continue on your journey.

A Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

By combining these three pieces of literature, we can understand the foundations of recovery, gain practical advice, and access the wisdom of the wild, all with the aim of re-enchanting our relationship with ourselves and igniting a culture of resilience. This approach helps us grow clearer on our personal boundaries, access our full potential, and ultimately live as the version of ourselves that we have always wanted to be. It’s a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, one that requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance, but one that is ultimately fulfilling and life-changing.

Angela Duckworth is a psychologist and researcher who is best known for her work on the concept of ‘grit’. She believes that grit, which she defines as a combination of perseverance, passion, and determination, is a key factor in achieving success and overcoming obstacles. According to Duckworth, people with high levels of grit are more likely to persist in the face of difficulties and setbacks, and are more likely to reach their goals.

On the other hand, Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a psychologist, psychoanalyst, and poet who has written extensively on the importance of connecting with one’s inner wisdom and emotions. She is particularly known for her work on the concept of the Wild Woman, which she describes as the untamed, instinctual side of a woman’s personality that is often suppressed by societal norms and expectations. Estes believes that by reconnecting with this inner wisdom and embracing one’s emotions, women can gain a sense of personal power and agency, and can overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives.

When it comes to recovery, both of these philosophies can be useful in helping individuals form healthy habits and maintain sobriety. For example, the concept of grit can provide individuals with the determination and perseverance they need to stay committed to their sobriety, even in the face of challenges and temptations. Similarly, the idea of connecting with one’s inner wisdom and emotions can help individuals understand their motivations and triggers, and can give them the insight and self-awareness they need to make positive changes in their lives.

To blend these philosophies and apply them in one’s own recovery journey, one could start by setting a clear and achievable goal for their sobriety, such as maintaining sobriety for a certain period of time or attending a certain number of support group meetings. Next, they could focus on developing grit and determination by engaging in activities that challenge them and help them build resilience, such as exercise, meditation, or volunteering. Finally, they could work on connecting with their inner wisdom and emotions by journaling, meditating, or seeking therapy, in order to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their motivations.

By following these steps and incorporating the philosophies of both Angela Duckworth and Clarissa Pinkola Estes, individuals in early recovery can gain a sense of hope, peace, and purpose that may have previously seemed out of reach, and can increase their chances of achieving long-term sobriety and personal growth.

Counter Argument & Risks

While the theories of Angela Duckworth and Clarissa Pinkola Estes offer valuable insights into the importance of grit and connecting with one’s inner wisdom, respectively, there are also potential risks and counterarguments to consider when applying these concepts to recovery.

One potential risk of Duckworth’s focus on grit is that it can lead to a narrow focus on perseverance and determination, at the expense of other important aspects of recovery such as self-care and support from others. Additionally, the idea of grit can be misleading, as some people may interpret it to mean that they must push through challenges without considering their own limits or the possibility of seeking help.

Similarly, Estes’ emphasis on connecting with one’s inner wisdom can also have risks, particularly if individuals use it as a way to avoid seeking professional help or engaging with outside perspectives. Furthermore, some people may struggle to access their inner wisdom, especially if they have experienced trauma or other life events that have disrupted their sense of self.

It’s important to keep in mind that while grit and inner wisdom are valuable components of recovery, they are not the only factors that play a role. A well-rounded recovery plan should also include a strong support network, healthy coping strategies, and a focus on self-care, in addition to grit and inner wisdom.

Ultimately, it’s crucial to approach recovery with an open mind and a willingness to consider multiple perspectives and strategies, rather than relying solely on any one theory or approach. A diverse and holistic approach to recovery will provide the best chance for long-term success and fulfillment.