Part IV: Emotional Intelligence: The Missing Link in Recovery

Text and Be Heard Emotional intelligence transforms recovery from a daily struggle into a journey of self-discovery and healing. Most of us enter recovery as emotional children in adult bodies, capable of identifying only the most basic feelings while missing the complex emotional landscape that defines the human experience. For years, I operated as an eight-year-old emotionally, despite being a thirty-year-old man when I entered my first 12-step meeting. I could recognize anxiety, distinguish between happiness and sadness, and feel excitement—but that limited emotional vocabulary left me unable to process the deeper hurts driving my addiction. This emotional stunting isn"t unique; it"s epidemic among those struggling with substance use disorders and recognized by the American Medical Association as a disease in itself. The path forward requires asking ourselves daily: "How do I feel?" While this seems simple, it"s revolutionary for those who"ve spent decades disconnected from their emotional reality. As my therapist explained during seven years of emotional education, "A child has one feeling at a time. An adult has multiple feelings all the time." This distinction marks the difference between emotional immaturity and the awareness needed for lasting recovery. When we can identify multiple emotions simultaneously—recognizing that hurt often underlies anger, that gratitude can coexist with sadness—we begin developing the emotional intelligence that connects us to ourselves, our spiritual nature, and others in genuinely intimate relationships. Ready to transform your recovery through emotional intelligence? Join our Recovery Freedom Circle on Facebook where we explore the steps, ask important questions, and create a community of emotional growth and healing. Life truly becomes wonderful when you finally know how you feel. Support the show Recovery is Beautiful. Go Live Your Best Life!! Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook Your EQ is Your IQ YouTube - Life Is Wonderful Hugo V Recovery Freedom Circle The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character and Helps People Have Better Relationships. A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks www.lifeiswonderful.love Instagram - Lifeiswonderful.Love TikTok - Lifeiswonderful.Love Pinterest - Lifeiswonderful.Love Twitter - LifeWonderLove LinkedIn - Hugo Vrsalovic Life Is Wonderful.Love