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Ron's Example
Schizophrenia

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This happened last week while at work. I was loading a vehicle to do some deliveries and my boss saw that there was some kind of leak from the gas tank. He got real mad and starting swearing at me. This is when I began to work myself up.

I felt like saying something nasty to him. I wished he'd get sick so he'd have to leave work. I felt tense.

I spotted it was average for bosses to get mad and swear. I know I can't control outer environment, and he is my outer environment. I spotted that I had the will to bear discomfort and I endorsed myself for doing this.

Before Recovery, Inc., I would have worked myself up and it would have bothered me so much that I would probably go home and sleep and not get up. I wouldn't do anything then. It might also start up some old symptoms which brought me into Recovery, Inc., like hearing voices and seeing colors. I would wonder why I was always getting sick, but now I feel like I am more in charge and have tools to deal with my illness.

Further Spotting!

Joe-- Ron shows that he has had a lot of past practice. I like the way he put his boss in outer environment by spotting that he couldn't control what he (his boss) said.

Ann-- This event was a triviality and Ron was able to not turn it into an emergency because he did some good spotting.

Lee-- I liked the way he endorsed himself for having the will to bear discomfort. It's hard to have some one yell at you, let alone swear at you, but Ron must know that his mental health is more important than going for a symbolic victory over his boss.

What does that mean?

outer environment-- Our outer environment is all that is outside of ourselves. We learn in Recovery, Inc. that we cannot control outer environment. Ron's boss was his outer environment.

symbolic victory-- A symbolic victory is hollow compared to the real victory Ron experienced by controlling his muscles not to speak and bearing his own discomfort. If Ron had said something "nasty" and "gotten back" at his boss it might make him feel "victorious" for a moment, but it would not be a real or lasting victory.

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