The relationship between sponsor and sponsee if one of immense trust. We take into account a variety of factors before choosing someone with whom we will develop this relationship. However, there may come a time on our journey when we feel that we are no longer growing in our sober lives, or we may meet someone who we feel would be a better fit for use a sponsor. It’s important to remember that choosing a sponsor does not lock us into a permanent relationship. Before we decide to change sponsors, we should thoroughly examine our motivation for the potential change. Through the course of working the 12 steps, our sponsor helps us face unpleasant truths about ourselves. This is a necessary part of the process, and any resentment toward our sponsor based on these truths should not be reason to look elsewhere. We do not want to be coddled, we are on a mission of self-examination that requires our sponsor to help us face ourselves, however discomforting that may be. We have to remember that we chose our sponsor because we wanted the kind of happiness in sobriety that they possess, and we are asking them to guide us through the program to achieve what they have. However, we may find a potential sponsor that we feel, for whatever reason, would be better able to take us through the program of recovery. We should not worry about hurting our sponsor’s feelings by choosing someone else. Alcoholics Anonymous recognizes this and tell us, in their pamphlet “Questions and Answers about Sponsorship”, “We are always free to select another sponsor with whom we feel more comfortable, particularly if we believe this member will be more helpful to our growth in A.A.” Members of 12-Step recovery programs are aware that the process of recovery requires the best possible sponsorship. A sponsor will always be supportive of the decision to change sponsorship if someone else is in a position to give a sponsee the trust and comfort they need to engage in the program fearlessly and honestly. We need to keep in mind that our journey toward recovery is about achieving sobriety through the process of spiritual growth. Our growth in 12-Step recovery is dependent on our ability to thoroughly examine our past behavior, no matter how ugly or hurtful it may have been. We cannot grow in this manner if we feel unable to place our full trust in our sponsor as they take us through this process of self-examination. If we find someone on our path toward recovery who seems better able to guide us in our development, we should not be afraid to make the change. Our recovery comes first and foremost, and any opportunity to enhance our possibility of permanent sobriety should be embraced without hesitation.
You can make the choice to change the story of your life. Oceanfront Recovery is a treatment center with a professional and compassionate staff of detoxification specialists dedicated to making the process as comfortable as possible. For more information about Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs or other treatment options, please call: (877) 279-1777
