Dallas Bragg explains why criticism stings in early recovery: you're unconsciously agreeing with the negative belief behind it. Instead of fighting the trigger, treat the person criticizing you as a mirror showing you what needs healing inside.
You are in early recovery and getting triggered a lot by the things other people are saying to you. Maybe another person in recovery says that you're lazy, or a family member says that you don't try hard enough, or maybe your boss comments that you don't manage your time well enough. All not enough, right? You take the observations from others and you escalate them. You catastrophize and you find yourself trapped in anger, defeat, and listing all the ways you hate that person. When you react that way, it is because deep down you agree with what they're saying. It wouldn't bother you if you didn't resonate with it internally, because if you knew what they were saying was— where it was completely untrue, you could just brush it off and chalk it up to their limited understanding of you. But if You remain in negative emotion, allowing them to steal your joy. You allow them to inhibit your growth. You allow them to drain your energy because they are the asshole, right? In reality, they are your savior. They are pointing you toward the inward healing that, if addressed, will level up your recovery journey and bring out the best and highest version of yourself. They are showing you the bullshit beliefs you carry about yourself. They are a gift. Be grateful for them. Work on yourself and create the life of your dreams.
