The Pursuit of Perfection

Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always loved cars. Early on it was Corvettes. They were just so sleek and cool. There used to be a Corvette collector show in the plaza right up the street from where I lived and in the summer and I enjoyed going there and fantasizing about which one I was going to get when I grew up.

And then as I got older, my taste changed. I began to admire the Mercedes Benz and Jaguar models. Mind you, these are WAY beyond my means to the point that I don’t fantasize about owning one; my 2009 Honda Accord is good enough for me.

But there is one brand of automobile that comes to mind when I think of the slogan, “The Pursuit of Perfection” and that is Lexus. Lexus has been around since its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in 1989 and has a solid foothold in the luxury car market. But, they haven’t yet achieved the perfection they are so actively seeking. But who has?

This is something I think about in my own life, and especially in the area of my recovery from addiction and bipolar disorder. I’ve been around the block a few times and I have garnered the tools to help me continue on this journey called life. I have actively worked with a sponsor and been in intensive therapy. I have gone through periods of introspection only to find that no matter how I cut it, I will never achieve the pinnacle of perfection that is seemingly exhibited by those by those around us (especially in the celebrity media) but in reality are no closer to perfection than the rest of us.

This whole idea fills me with a profound sense of humility. No matter how much I seem to achieve on the outside and no matter how much I even develop internally, there is always room for growth. It’s like peeling the onion layer by layer and discovering what lies underneath. I’m often reminded about my imperfections and this does create a sense of unease. But in the end, I have to remember that I am loved by our Creator just as I am. This doesn’t mean I have the freedom to act out irresponsibly and not expect any negative repercussions. If anything, I have to acknowledge the concept of karma; what is otherwise known as cause and effect.

In scientific terms let’s look at Newton’s Third Law of Motion:

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

I’m no rocket scientist but I do realize that this law of physics applies to our lives as well. For instance, when I used substances, I typically suffered some type of ill effect, whether it be a major hangover or in worst cases, hospitalization. Not everyone has such a severe reaction however there is typically some degree of this law associated with the things we do daily. Recognizing that this law does exist, I can choose, by my own will, to either act in a manner that will produce positive results or the other way around.

Which brings us back to the concept of perfection. If, for instance, I was perfect, what would the point be of going any further? I have come to realize that in my recovery, that this is never achievable. Like I previously stated, this can be a painful process. There are times when I look inside and I’m not thrilled with what I see. But despite this attitude of self-loathing, I have a Higher Power that is willing to welcome me with loving arms.

Recovery is a journey, this is true. And I believe that we are all on this earth to learn whatever lessons we are meant to in order to allow us to grow as people in this ever- challenging world. The unfortunate thing is that there are some who suffer for any number of reasons, addiction and mental health challenges included. For those of us who have found ourselves in such death dealing situations sometimes the best we can do is try to take things one day at a time and work to alleviate any pain we are experiencing.

But through all this, I do find solace in the following scripture passage:

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness’

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

While I have come to accept my imperfections, I know that through the grace of our Lord I am strengthened. In my early recovery, I developed the practice of prayer which includes the following:

“Thank you for blessing me today.

Help me to face every challenge that comes before me

with the best of my ability and potential.”

It is through this solemn plea that I find the strength every day to walk through this earthly existence and remain of sound mind, body and spirit. While I will never have been, nor do I ever want to be perfect, I can rest assured that I can be accepted as I am – a child of God.

Be well.

http://www.justin-m-davis.com

The Power of Friendship

One thing I’ve come to learn is that for those living with mental health conditions, isolation can be just as debilitating as the disorder itself. The idea of being alone is hard enough for anyone to deal with but when you combine that with a mental health challenge then the problem is magnified.

I’ve experienced this. I recall coming home from the hospital after my first manic episode. My old high school friends were far and few between. It took time to re-establish those connections. Much of this was due to my own sense of low self-esteem and misunderstanding of what I was going through. The other part was a result of the lack of understanding my friends had. I think they just didn’t know what to say or how to react seeing me as debilitated as I was.

But with time things did improve. One friend, Doug, took the opportunity to connect with me whenever he came home from college. In retrospect, I believe he too didn’t know quite what to make of my circumstance but this didn’t deter him from reaching out. But I’m truly grateful for his companionship. We still remain friends today.

“Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lay down his life for his friends”

John 15:13

The Bible

During the course of my active addiction I did develop some friendships, however the vast majority were based around the mutual desire to find and use substances. The result was multiple bipolar relapses and subsequent hospitalizations.

“A good friend is a tower of strength;

to find one is a treasure”

Apocrypha: Ben Sira

The Torah

This all changed when I got into my addiction recovery program. It was here that I began to develop healthy relationships. It was so refreshing to be with people with whom I could truly be myself. All those years prior I was always trying to be someone else to just fit in. I had found people who accepted me just as I was. With this acceptance also came trust. I was able to open up and become vulnerable and know that I was still safe. My circle of friends has grown over the years. I would describe it metaphorically like rings. I have my inner circle and then from there different levels of friendships; intimate, social, work-related and yes, even Facebook. But it is the totality of these friendships that gives me the greatest sense of security and satisfaction. Despite all of the ups and downs of bipolar disorder and addiction I’ve endured, I have been fortunate to have friends to support me.

"The genuine friend, who is affected with the joys and sorrows of another,

is a medicinal cordial, the sanctuary of the heart,

the delight of the eyes, and worthy of confidence."

Hindu Proverb

I do know, however that many people living with mental health conditions are not as fortunate. For some individuals, this has come as a result not of their own choosing. They may have lost family and friends due to these individuals’ unwillingness to accept the person’s condition, whether it be the behaviors they produce or simply a lack of knowledge and understanding of what the person is going through. What it all comes down to is empathy; the unspoken language of care and compassion. If more people practiced empathy I think our world would be a much kinder place.

Imam Hassan (as) Says:

"Befriend people in the same manner

 you would like them to befriend you."

The Holy Quran

Currently I work for two organizations, the Mental Health Association of Erie County, which provides a number of services to assist members of the local community with obtaining services as well as providing specific programs to address the needs of those living with mental health concerns.

The other agency is Compeer. Compeer is a mentoring organization that has been in existence for over 40 years. There are Compeer programs in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. It’s an evidence-based program, meaning that it has the research to back up its efficacy. We serve youth, adults, older adults and the local veterans community. It is a very simple concept: volunteers spend one hour per week with their Compeer friend. This small, but profound gesture has helped literally thousands of people over the years to have a better quality of life. Research has shown that those who are served in our program are less likely to require higher levels of care, like emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays.

I have a Compeer friend with whom I’ve been connected with since May of last year. We’ve done all kinds of things together such as going to Buffalo Bisons games, visiting the local waterfront in the summer, and even hanging out at my house watching comedy movies like Blazing Saddles. These activities are mutually beneficial in that they help my friend to be more socially connected and I get the reward of knowing that I too have a new friend with whom I can share these kinds of special experiences.

I also recently became a mentor for two students at Erie Community College. This opportunity is allowing me to share my experience, strength and hope with these young people to help shape their future. This is a profoundly humbling experience, especially taking into consideration where I was at at their age; mentally unstable and addicted.

“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike;

each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”

Buddha

You see, friendship is universal. Whether you believe in a Higher Power or not, you can benefit by offering a hand in friendship to someone in need. There all kinds of mentoring programs in the U.S. as well as throughout the world. All it takes is just a little bit of your time. The benefits are immense.

If you’d like to learn more about the Compeer program click here.

Be well!

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