March 10, 2026 “Three Antidotes for the Obstacles of Recovery!”

Yesterday, I used the image of a cross to show how suffering can connect us to Recovery. Today I want to share some antidotes that help us face life’s challenges and bring a spring to our step. But first, we should look at the obstacles that can get in the way of our Recovery.

Each time we suffer, it can make us stronger for challenges we cannot yet see. When we accept our crosses, we begin to overcome the barriers to Recovery. Three common obstacles are deception, temptation, and fear.

Deception is when we mislead others, or even ourselves, by hiding the truth. For example, when someone asks how I am doing, I may say, “Good.” But that may not be the whole truth. My stomach might be upset, and I may feel depressed. Saying “good” can hide what is really going on inside me.

Temptation is the desire to do something that may be wrong, unwise, or harmful. One challenge for me is making time for prayer and quiet reflection. Instead, I sometimes choose things that bring quick pleasure, like scrolling through Facebook or doing a puzzle.

Fear is the feeling we have when we face real or imagined danger, suffering, or loss. Fear can act like a crowbar in our lives. It tries to pry us away from courage. We may become cowards, give in, or choose to face our fears with courage. One of my greatest fears is that I will not overcome my stomach problems.

So how do we respond to these obstacles?

Three antidotes help us move forward in Recovery.

First, prayer or reflection. Each day, set aside time to be quiet, pray, or reflect. This helps calm our hearts and focus our minds.

Second, check in with ourselves. Take time to look at our day. Where did things go well? Where did we fall short? When needed, we can seek reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercy.

Third, serve others. Ask yourself, “How can I make life a little better for someone today?” Service helps us look beyond ourselves and bring hope to others.

I try to practice these steps each day. I spend time in personal prayer. Once a week, I sit quietly with Jesus in church. My wife and I also pray together each day.

I also review my actions. I ask myself if I have been deceitful, given in to temptation, or allowed fear to guide me. Recently, a friend asked me a question. My answer left out some facts. I feared that if I told the whole truth, they might reject me. I like being liked. I brought this to a priest, who represents Jesus to me, and I asked for mercy and forgiveness.

I also try to serve others. I use my writing to encourage people in Recovery. I have written two books, led a support group, and written a daily blog. Home – SuperHuman Being These are small ways I try to offer hope, inspiration, and tools for those facing mental health and substance misuse challenges.

Recovery asks us to surrender and make sacrifices. It invites us to share our brokenness, seek healing, and renew our lives. This is possible for all of us, in both big and small ways.

Recovery asks us to open the door to the crosses in our lives. Through suffering, we learn to love ourselves and serve others. Within our families, friendships, and communities, we can help build each other up.

When we respond to others with kindness, we bring a little more grace and love into the world.