I hope wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
Everything we have been talking about in Recovery—about falling so we can rise—is not a new idea. This truth has been shared for centuries through the stories and myths of men and women who discovered themselves on the journey of Recovery.
Over time, many of these healing stories have been replaced with less helpful ones. Today, we often hear messages about consumerism, success, and constant achievement. These stories shape how we see the world and influence what we believe is important.
A myth is not valuable because every detail is historically exact. It is valuable because it points us to a deeper truth. Think of the story of “Honest Abe,” who chopped wood, worked hard, and educated himself. Whether every detail happened exactly that way is not the point. The story reminds us of the values of honesty, perseverance, and hard work. That is why myths have such lasting power.
Recovery brings together both the explainable and the unexplainable parts of life. It helps us hold reason and mystery, joy and suffering, faith and healing, all in the same heart. Recovery connects truths that our rational minds cannot fully understand on their own.
Healing stories also help us make sense of emotions that once felt confusing. They bring light where there was darkness and clarity where there was uncertainty. In this way, myths are true because they help us grow. A sacred story keeps us healthy, hopeful, and whole—even in the middle of suffering.
When I was writing my first book, SuperHuman Being, I remembered several events from my childhood that I believed happened a certain way. Later, I asked my father what he remembered. To my surprise, his memories were different from mine.
Did that mean one of us was dishonest? I do not believe so. Memory is often bigger than facts alone. Love, pain, childhood experiences, suffering, God, and Recovery all shape the way we remember our lives. My father and I remembered some events differently, yet both of our stories held truth. Accepting that allowed healing to grow between us.
The greatest Recovery and spiritual teachers invite us to welcome both love and suffering into our hearts instead of running from them, denying them, or blaming others for them. They encourage us to let these experiences transform us. Recovery also helps us recognize the unhealthy stories we have believed about ourselves. As our eyes are opened, we begin to see the healing stories God has been telling all along. These sacred stories lead us toward peace, hope, and a deeper, more wholehearted life.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.