I hope that wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
We are people in Recovery who love what is familiar—the habits, our families, and the groups that give us a sense of belonging. We are deeply connected to our early experiences, both the good and the difficult. Recovery begins a work within us. It is not something we create on our own. Our human and spiritual experiences are not separate parts of our lives. Recovery is not simply about self-improvement because we do not do this work alone. No, Recovery is directing us.
Many of us do not leave the safety and security of our home base until we have to. This is not about the physical structure of our home. Rather, it is the inner comfort and security we find in our minds and hearts. Recovery encourages us, again and again, to leave that inner place of security. If we never move beyond what feels comfortable, we may think we are healing. However, we may be missing the freedom that comes with mature Recovery.
As we practice Recovery, we may long for the “good old days” when we felt on top of our lives, secure, confident, and sure of ourselves. I am not easily influenced by this idea because I have learned that those “good old days” were not always so good for many of us. We can see this in people who are just beginning their journey of Recovery. They may long for what once felt familiar, even when that familiar place was not healthy.
I remember the early years of my own Recovery and how deeply I was connected to the security of my past. My heart had become hardened because of the suffering I had experienced. Two things helped me feel safe and secure. First, I held on to anger and bitterness toward my parents. Second, I had closed my heart to God’s grace and mercy.
Over time, I discovered the deeper roots of my suffering and eventually gave them to God. This was not easy, but it opened my heart to healing and allowed Recovery to do its work within me.
Recovery reminds us that we are not doing this alone. It is important not to confuse a bad day with the end of Recovery’s work in us. A difficult day does not mean we have failed or that our healing has stopped.
Let us remain hopeful. Let us have faith that God is working within us, even when we cannot see it. We may not understand where the journey is taking us, but we can trust that we are right where we need to be.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.