It doesn’t matter how long we have been clean and sober we are, there are moments in our recovery where we may lose faith in our recovery. While those moments can be overwhelming and even a bit frightening to experience, we can rely on our life and coping skills to get through those darker hours. Drawing strength from inspiring recovery quotes and sayings is a common trick that is used to reignite motivation and confidence. It can sound a bit silly to some, but when we are working to maintain our hard-fought sobriety, we need to use every tool we can think of to stay on the path.
The following are 8 examples of recovery quotes that can help you refocus on your recovery.
1. “Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.”
This quote from author Aldous Huxley can remind those who are in recovery that our time of active addiction doesn’t have to define us. Rather, we can take those experiences, learn from them, and with the proper guidance and support we can grow wiser from those experiences. We can take what we have gone through to help others who may be experiencing similar struggles to our own.
2. “Recovery is an ongoing process, for both the addict and his or her family. In recovery there is hope. And hope is a wonderful thing.”
The biggest stumbling block in anyone’s recovery is having the mindset that recovery is defined in a singular event or in a specific time period. This quote from Dean Dauphinais reminds us that like our lives, recovery is an ongoing process. In that process, we will find out new things about ourselves, we will stumble occasionally, and we will find strength, courage and love that we never thought we possessed.
3. “Relax. Breathe. It takes time, but there is great joy to be had in moments of every day. Just remember, you’re learning new steps, a new dance.”
This quote by Lisa Fredricksen builds from the second quote in the fact that recovery is a lifelong process and that you will learn something new everyday. It takes time to put into place the life and coping skills you have learned while in treatment in your daily life. There will be times of frustration, but once you cope with those moments in a proactive manner and accept them for what they are, you will grow in your recovery and as a person.
4. “Use the 24-hour plan.”
This common AA quote can be seen as a corollary quote to the common quote one day at a time that has been a staple around the tables of all 12-step meetings. The underlying message of this quote is simple: keep your focus on the present and on what you can handle right now.
5. “When all else fails, follow directions.”
There may be times when we get stuck in our recovery and all the tools we have at our disposal will not work to get us free. Instead of throwing up your hands, this step reminds us to go back to the Twelve Steps and to the tables. The Twelve Steps provide the template to get you unstuck and your peers around the tables provide their experiences, feedback and support.
6. “Positive thoughts and prayer have been the best means available, since the beginning of time, to transform darkness to light.”
SImply put, this quote’s message is to keep the faith no matter how bad things may get. The triggers and temptations to use drugs and alcohol are ever present and can take over our minds when we are vulnerable. In those times, we in recovery need to keep working our program to the best of our ability and stay positive, for as they often say it too shall pass.
7. “Be as enthusiastic about recovery as you were about your addiction.”
In order to get the most happiness and serenity in your recovery, you must be fully engaged and enthusiastic as you were when you were actively using drugs and alcohol. Jump in with both feet and embrace recovery and do all that you can to stay on the path to sobriety.
8. “You are not alone.”
When we are deep in our substance abuse, our behaviors drove a wedge between us and those that we love and care about. We may feel a great deal of guilt and shame when we first get into recovery, but we soon realize there are others just like us that are going through similar things. Through encouragement and support, we in recovery can overcome addiction day by day.
Are you looking for the motivation and inspiration to beat substance abuse once and for all? SoCal Detox is your first step in that journey and our quality detox programs are proven to work for all addicts. Call us toll-free right now!
