During my own recovery, I have found C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters to be particularly useful in navigating the emotional fallout from a relapse as well as an aid during periods of temptation. The Screwtape Letters is a fictional work detailing a collection of...
Within recovery, we rely on various metaphors, idioms, and analogies as helpful tools. For example, there is the “ladder” that one must “climb” toward sobriety. Likewise, there are “battles” that must be “fought.” And then there is the “circle plan,” which is popular...
Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. The ninth step meant something quite different to me during my first attempt to work the steps. And as a result of my insane thinking and lack of...
Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Step 10 is considered the maintenance step for good reason. It’s imperative to sustaining quality sobriety and drawing us to closer communion with God, ourselves, and others....
When I stop and look back through the years of my recovery, I can see without a doubt how God has been with me, gently nudging me, pushing me further away from my own desires and toward His desires for me. A life of sobriety brings forth many new adventures. Though,...
Is your heart breaking and do you feel helpless from watching a family member or someone you love struggle with active addiction? Are you struggling to cope with the negative consequences that their addiction had brought into your life and theirs? If so, you are not...
With proper preparation, winter is a time to get cozy and a time to indulge in all sorts of things: comfort food, delicious treats, and open fires. Winter can also offer us more time. We can develop new skills, sharpen old ones, and prepare for the following year. But...
We learn to live sober through the Twelve Steps. In doing so we find God. And in finding God we find ourselves. Miracles occur when we finally surrender everything to God and take action. One of the biggest miracles is realizing we can actually live without drugs and...
We all do it. The blame game. We tend to blame others for our faults. We start when we are quite young, blaming a sibling or even the dog for the broken lamp. This is so common that almost everyone can recall either blaming someone else or being the one getting blamed...
From the military to sports to the spiritual life, routine is critical for success. However, maintaining a routine can seem boring, rigid, and stifling. I admittedly shared this view for several years. But for addicts who truly wish to be successful in their recovery,...