If you feel sexual guilt or shame, what is that about? For some, it could be religious, but for others, it may be about violating one’s conscience. When a person sets a goal to stop a particular harmful behavior, such as compulsive sexual behaviors, and it continues with regularity, it can impact a person’s sense of self. They may feel hopeless, give up, and feel contempt for themselves.

In addiction recovery, very rarely is it 100 percent sobriety starting from day one. Instead, slips can occur. What’s needed is a balance of accountability and forgiveness of self, but also a need to discover (or rediscover) self-respect.

Self-respect isn’t the same as respecting who you are based on your job title, degree, or secular achievements. While those can add to your sense of self, I’m referring more to the foundational aspects of our core: integrity, character, and being a person of your word. When you........

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