Once in addiction recovery we feel so much better. We have energy and begin to take an interest in the world around us and in ourselves. We are no longer caught up in the prison of our addiction.
However, we have to recognise that as the journey downhill into full blown addiction took us (in most cases) some months and years to achieve, so the journey into recovery is neither one giant leap nor a sprint to reach our destination. ‘Rome was not built in a day’ is another appropriate if annoying phrase to bear in mind – patience.
Spiritual Awakening
First of all, when we come into recovery we can usually feel the difference within us (some people call this a spiritual awakening). We truly believe that this time it will be different, we are not just stopping for a few days, that this is for the longer term. But how do our partners and families know that? They have heard it all before and it is not surprising if they are a little more cynical. It takes actions not words and we have to forgive them if they need us to prove over time that this period of sobriety is different and long lasting. Who can blame them?
Similarly our friends and work colleagues / boss may need time to believe us and to actually see the difference. We may have been a bit unreliable or not performing at the top of our game. Time will prove that we really have turned a corner. If we were doing a pretty good job when we were drinking or using – watch out – we can be even better now we are not!
Patience
We also have to be patient with ourselves. Getting clean and sober is not always a walk in the park. There will be days when it can be a struggle. We will have to face the same ups and downs of life as we would if drinking or using. Bad things will happen. The difference is now that we will not have to have a drink or drug in order to cope. In fact, we will know that blurring our feelings with these substances will make nothing better – and everything worse.
As recovering alcoholics and addicts we are used to wanting a quick fix – that is exactly why we drank or used as we did. We have to learn to deal with the here and now. We live in the day, and try not to worry too much about tomorrow. By doing the right thing today we are living our life on as good a term as we can and are keeping our recovery on a firm path. We turn up to places on time, spend quality time with our family, go to a meeting with other recovering alcoholics and addicts etc.
Do the Right Thing
Each day we do the right thing, we are adding a brick towards building our future. Eventually we will realise that from nothing we have something – it is trust from those we love and who love us, and a good healthy, clean and sober life. Just a little patience.