10 Inspirational Quotes To Stay Positive And Sober

At times, it can be challenging to stay motivated to stay the course on the journey of sobriety. These inspirational quotations may help you or a loved one to maintain a positive attitude on what will be a lifetime process:

1. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. – Robert Collier

2. The best way out is always through.- Robert Frost

3. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Confucius

4. “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.” – Bucky Sinister, Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos

5. “I personally believe this: We have only today; yesterday’s gone and tomorrow is uncertain. That’s why they call it the present. And sobriety really is a gift… for those who are willing to receive it.” – Ace Frehley, No Regrets: A Rock’n Roll Memoir

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6. “There is no better high than discovery.” – Edward O. Wilson

7. “Be grateful. These feelings, no matter how painful, are part of living. Today, we are alive—not anesthetized, not sedated, not passed out. Take control of your feelings and through action you can change. Today, as every day of sober living, we have a choice.” – Ann D. Clark, Women & Recovery: Sex, Sobriety & Stepping Up: Practical Suggestions for Quality Living in Recovery

8. “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day. When I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on the problem, the problem increases. If I focus on the answer, the answer increases. “-Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

9. “Change your behaviors and your feelings will follow.” – Susan McManhon

10. “Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals.” –Henry Ford

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Even the best recovery program will not be effective without follow-up care and support for the client. A person who has struggled with addiction is never “recovered” but being “in recovery” is something that he or she will need to work on every day. Family and friends can provide encouragement to stay sober after the alcohol or drug addiction treatment program has been completed. The person in recovery will need to use every resource at his or her disposal to maintain this positive new way of living, but it will definitely be worth it.

Have you struggled with drugs like opiates, cocaine, meth, or other substances? Maybe staying away from alcohol is a battle for you. You’re not alone! If you’re having a hard time staying clean and sober, that doesn’t mean that your recovery is over. If you’ve stumbled and need to get back on track, we really want to help you. Reach out to us a non-judgemental, motivating member of our team will contact you to help get you back on the road to the life you want and deserve.

Call us at (877) 574-0177 or submit this quick form. 

What Life Are You Chasing?

Direction in life

A thought provoking question that I’m sure arises from time to time and makes you think. What life are you chasing and what direction are you headed?

Work on painting a clear picture about what you want and put your focus where it matters most. When you start to take those initial steps on what you want, the how will take care of itself.

 

 

Staying Sober In Any Situation

“So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties. To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic, this may seem like tempting Providence, but it isn’t.  You will note that we made and important qualification. Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, “Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places?” If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. Go or stay away, whichever seems best. But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it. But if you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead!”-from the chapter  “ Working With Others”

– from The Big Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous

Even though we are receiving addiction recovery this does not mean that we avoid living our life and going out into society. In fact it is encouraged that we go out and enjoy ourselves and our lives to the fullest. While it is smart to be cautious about the scenes we are hanging out in like bars, clubs, and parties if we are spiritually fit we can go anywhere and do anything. We got sober in order to be happy and functioning not isolate and be shut off from the world. When we go to detox, AA, or Above It All drug rehab we receive the tools necessary for dealing with different situations, and live life on life’s terms. Through taking our recovery one day and even one situation at a time we can become happy, healthy functioning members of society. If we are diligent about doing the work we will be able to stay sober through anything.

Step Ten: Inventory

“This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.”

-from the chapter “Working with others” from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous…

Taking the Next Step

As alcoholics in the middle of receiving 12 step treatment it can be hard for us to get used to the idea of taking inventory. It is part of the cleaning house process. We must be diligent about keeping our side of the street clean so that we can be of maximum service to others. When we are able to trust in god, clean house, and work with others the rest just kind of falls into place. In a detox, AA, or at Above It All Treatment Center we learn how to become functioning members of society again. Through doing this work we can begin to heal and become happily and usefully whole. We will know a new freedom and a new happiness, and be able to achieve long-term sobriety.

Character Building

“But in other instances only the closest scrutiny will reveal what our true motives were. There are cases where our ancient enemy, rationalization, has stepped in and has justified conduct which was really wrong. The temptation here is to imagine that we had good motives and reasons when we really didn’t. We ‘constructively criticized’ someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. Or, the person concerned not being present; we thought we were helping others to understand him, when in actuality our true motive was to feel superior by pulling him down. We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be ‘taught a lesson,’ when we really want to punish. We were depressed and complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom. This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness can underlie the smallest act or thought. Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and good living. An honest regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for blessings received, and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow will be the permanent assets we shall seek.”

-from the chapter on Step Ten from the AA Twelve and Twelve.

Putting What We Learn Into Practice

Most of us at some point and time both during the height of our using, and even after receiving addiction treatment, have had a hard time taking care of ourselves and the relationships we have had with others. Many of us know all too well what it’s like to sacrifice doing the healthy and right thing in order to continue feeling okay in the moment. This leads to the punishing, and harmful cycles it talks about in the excerpt above. If we do not get help, and we remain spiritually sick, then we will continue these behaviors as well as continue rationalizing them. Through a drug addiction detox, AA or 30-90 day rehab facilities we can begin to learn how to take care of ourselves and live an honest life.

It is through this as well as continuing to strive for personal growth that we can begin to heal and become happily and usefully whole.

The Simplicity of The 12 Steps

“We represent no particular faith or denomination. We are dealing only with general principles common to most denominations. Outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to pass this on to him plays a vital part in your recovery. Actually, he may be helping you more than you are helping him. Make it plain he is under no obligation to you, that you hope only that he will try to help other alcoholics when he escapes his own difficulties. Suggest how important it is that he places the welfare of other people ahead of his own.” – pg. 93 Working with Others from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

When first receiving alcohol addiction help and reading something like this from the big book may seem somewhat confusing. After a while when it is broken down for us we can actually see how simple this program is. Where it talks about outlining the program of action it is referring to the steps and everything involved in doing the step whether we go to a 30 day rehab program, AA, or an affordable rehab these are all a part of our personal program of action. When it talks about a self- appraisal it is talking about the work we do to identify our side of the street and the work needed to improve on many different things such as character defects, resentments, relationships etc. particularly by doing our inventory. Finally it goes on to talk about sponsorship and how we can’t keep our recovery if we don’t give it away. Many of us are baffled by these things when we are newly sober but over time we will be able to comprehend this way of life and we will become happily and usefully whole.

The Importance of Openness in Sobriety

“If we cannot or would rather not do this, we search our acquaintance for a close-mouthed, understanding friend perhaps our doctor or psychologist will be the person. It may be one of our own family, but we cannot disclose anything to our wives or our parents which will hurt them and make them unhappy. We have no right to save our own skin at another person’s expense. Such parts of our story we tell to someone who will understand, yet be unaffected. The rule is we must hard on ourselves, but always considerate of others. Notwithstanding the great necessity for discussing ourselves with someone, it may be one is so situated that there is no suitable person available. If that is so, this step may be postponed, only, however if we hold ourselves in complete readiness to go through with it at the first opportunity.” – pg. 73-74 Into Action from The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

When we decide we are ready to receive alcohol addiction help and do the work in order to stay sober it is important that we decide to do the work with someone that matches the criteria talked about in this excerpt from the big book. It is important that we feel safe and know that whatever is talked about is discussed in confidence. That way it will be easier for us to proceed with abandoned. Regardless of if we decide to do the work through a 30 day rehab program, AA, drug addiction detox, or through a friend we need to know in matters regarding the steps that our confidence is not going to be betrayed for this could potentially leave a bad taste in our mouth as far as sobriety is concerned and could lead us to drink. When the time is right we will find the right person to take us through the steps, be shown a way to recover, and as a result of the step work have a spiritual experience. If we find the right person it can truly be a beautiful process.

The Importance of a Truly Fearless and Thorough Inventory in Sobriety

“The best reason first: If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking. Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives. Trying to avoid this humbling experience, they have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell. We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock. They only thought they had humbled themselves. But they had not learned enough or humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all their life story. More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character.”- pg. 73 Into Action from The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

When it comes to our step work, it is important that we are thorough and fearless from the very start if we are going to stay sober Through going to an affordable rehab, AA, or drug addiction detox we can be shown precisely how to recover as well as get the tools needed to achieve lasting recovery. If we are not honest and we cut corners in our inventory no matter how tempting or scary it is then our work would have been for nothing. The alcohol addiction help that is available to us only works if we do it with complete abandon and honesty. If we are able to walk through our fears by taking contrary action then we will be rewarded and be blessed with a life full of peace, love, serenity, and happiness amongst many other things.

The Miracle of Change in Sobriety

“It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery hope is that when this chip of a book is launched on the world tide of alcoholism, defeated drinkers will seize upon it to follow its suggestions. Many we are sure will rise to their feet and march on.” – pg. 153 A Vision For You from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

For many years AA as well as 30 day rehab programs, sober livings, and other drug addiction detox programs have had high success rates in regards to people seeking alcohol addiction help. Time and time again you see people go through these programs, sober up, and turn their lives around. We become happy, joyous, free, and usefully whole once again. We are filled with gratitude because we are able to do things, and form relationships we never expected to form. Our new life in sobriety is a far cry from when we were out using and drinking. Most of us had become shut off from the world, unable to function in society, spiritually bankrupt, and left feeling helpless/hopeless. When we get sober and do the work all of those problems seem to vanish. We become a productive and some may even say valuable asset to society. We begin to think about what we can bring to a situation rather than what we can take from it and as a result we reap the blessings and benefits.

A Spiritual Experience or a Spiritual Awakening?

“The terms “spiritual experience” and “spiritual awakening” are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.  Yet it is true that our first printing gave many readers the impression that these personality changes, or religious experiences, must be in the nature of sudden and spectacular upheavals. Happily for everyone, this conclusion is erroneous. In the first few chapters a number of sudden revolutionary changes are described. Though it was not our intention to create such an impression, many alcoholics have nevertheless concluded that in order to recover they must acquire an immediate and overwhelming  “God-consciousness” followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook. Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule.” Appendix ll Spiritual Experience from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

While a spiritual experience is necessary the first place to start is by seeking alcohol addiction help and working the steps. When we go to a 30 day rehab program, AA, or drug addiction detox we are given the tools necessary to do the work required of us in order to have a spiritual experience and stay sober. Many alcoholics in recovery are waiting for that burning bush experience. Sometimes when we are new and hear the word spiritual experience we expect that we will be smacked down with spirituality and fixed. That is not the case. Have there been some people who have claimed to have that experience? Yes! But there is also the spiritual experience of the subtle variety. The fact that over time we get better in itself is amazing. At some point in our recovery we are able to look back at the changes that have occurred in our lives, the emotional recovery, and an entire psychic change that has happened to us all of this combined is a spiritual experience. If you stick around you too will be able to have one and share in the gifts, joy, happiness, and freedom that comes from this life.