The H.O.W. of Self Help Techniques

The H.O.W. Of Recovery - is a recovery approach used by many self help groups world wide. Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness to change, are three important requirements to maintain some level of self help to overcome your gambling problem.

Honesty

Honesty is staying aware to the truth of the matter. To admit, accept, and respond to the truth of what is. Self-honesty is about being honest with yourself - being objective and rational. It is being with your true self. It is putting aside all that you wish about yourself, so that you can get a clearer picture of the current real you.

Self-honesty is self-acknowledgment (self-realisation, self-respect, self-understanding). It is when a person accepts, and confirms to themselves, the true nature of their person.

Open-Mindedness

Open-mindedness is allowing yourself to be receptive to new ideas (inputs). It is having an element/attitude of inquiry. Being open-minded is not the same as being broad-minded: Broad-minded - is being open-minded only to things accepted to you. Open-minded - is having a mind receptive to new ideas - an attitude of inquiry. This cannot be done 100% - but you can work towards full inquiry.

Open-mindedness is allowing other than self to infiltrate the person you are. Open your mind to other than just yourself. Include yourself into the whole picture, or scheme, of things. Being open-minded allows you to become more aware of what you need to do. It allows you look for more options, choices, and resources.
Open Mind

Open-mindedness plus Self honesty produces an element of self-enquiry. This helps you to become more aware of yourself as a person in recovery - a person who engages in self help techniques.

Willingness

Willingness is being ready, to voluntarily change - to give it a go. It is being ready to take a healthy risk - to experiment with change. It is being willing to change your focus from ‘wanting’ to not-change to a ‘needing’ to change. (e.g.. Am I willing to think other than gambling?)

Willingness to change simply means to become more aware of yourself as a person in recovery. A person who needs to change from the old to the new ways of dealing with the problem. To be willing, allows you to become more open-minded and honest with yourself.

Willingness and Self-Honesty play an equal part in becoming open-minded enough to receive the truth of the matter - your true self in the scheme of things.

It works if you work at it !