Personal Identity

4. The capacity to keep going, rebuild, and grow through difficulty — a core recovery strength
10. Being open about struggle — Brené Brown found this is the birthplace of connection, not weakness
11. Brené Brown's term for people who live with full engagement — believing they are enough
15. A type of recovery narrative in which suffering leads to growth, purpose, and new meaning
16. The qualities, skills, and survival capacities that belong to you beyond your substance use history
18. Being true to your genuine values and self rather than performing what others expect

1. The beliefs and principles that define what matters most to you — a foundation of recovery identity
2. The ways you contribute to and belong to things larger than yourself — parent, mentor, neighbor, survivor
3. The ongoing process of reclaiming roles, rebuilding values, and constructing a new identity
5. The story format of identity — researchers describe recovery as building a new life story with meaning
6. The feeling that 'I DID something bad' — associated with motivation to change, unlike shame
7. The moment when recovery identity replaces using identity as the primary way you see yourself
8. When one role or label (like 'addict') swallows all other parts of a person's identity
9. The belief that you deserve connection and a good life — a key predictor of long-term recovery
12. The ongoing story you tell yourself about who you are — values, roles, and sense of belonging
13. The belief that 'I AM bad' — Brené Brown found this blocks connection and reinforces using identity
14. The social label placed on addiction that, when internalized, becomes 'I am less than'
17. The sense of being accepted and valued in community — Brené Brown calls this essential to wholehearted living