I hope wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
Recovery offers us seven foundational virtues that become the cornerstone of our healing. This foundation includes the mythical virtues—faith, hope, and love—and the four human virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.
The mythical virtues help free us from self-centeredness. They protect us from the greatest bad habit—pride—and help us live in a close relationship with Recovery. The human virtues help us grow in self-control. They give us the strength to make wise choices and become people who love well. They shape our desires and guide our actions in keeping with the 12 Steps of Recovery.
Virtues are at the heart of lasting Recovery. We often become like the five people we spend the most time with. Are those five people living lives of virtue? If not, it may be time to make a change.
You may be thinking, “I can’t make a change. The people in my life are already set, and they are not living with virtue.”
But remember what Recovery has taught us. Don’t let what you can’t do keep you from doing what you can do. Recovery helps us focus on what is possible. It opens the door to new, healthy relationships that encourage us to grow.
I am grateful to have five people in my life whom I believe live with virtue: Jesus, my wife, a mentor, a friend, and my father-in-law. I spend time with them because they help me become a better person. When I lose my way because of pride or self-centeredness, I turn to them for wisdom, correction, and encouragement.
My wife gently reminds me when I become too judgmental of family or friends, especially when I have little evidence to support my thoughts. She encourages me to love first, to seek the truth, and to avoid making unfair assumptions. Her wisdom helps me respond with greater compassion and grace.
Virtue helps us become better people. It strengthens our relationships, deepens our peace, and supports lasting Recovery. The more time we spend practicing the 12 Steps, the more these virtues take root in our hearts and shape the way we live e
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.