There are magic moments where a word or phrase perfectly defines our feelings, gives voice to our thoughts, or embodies our soul’s journey. Finding these words or combination of words can be extremely affirming. Knowing that someone else has been in a similar place validates our own experience.
Starting From the Beginning
When first setting out on the journey toward recovery, hearing encouraging words is extremely helpful. The fear, anxiety, and physical withdrawal symptoms when entering a rehab center like St. Gregory can be almost overwhelming. Comfort can be found in knowing that you are not alone.
Whether you read encouraging stories of others’ survival of withdrawal or take refuge in inspirational quotes to focus your mind on the positive outcome, the result is the same. A peace can grow in your spirit and bolster your desire for a better life.
- “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’” ~Audrey Hepburn
- “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” ~Albert Einstein
- “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” ~Georgia O’Keeffe
- “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” ~Muhammad Ali
- “Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” ~Anne Frank
Rebuilding and Relearning
So much of the path toward recovery is learning how to do things differently and finding a good support system to help your forward progress. There can be a lot of guilt to overcome for things done (and left undone) as well as bridges to rebuild with loved ones.
Rebuilding those relationships and lines of communication is imperative for forgiveness and repairing lost trust. Relearning how to handle stress and triggers without turning to substance use takes time and dedication. Finding alternative methods for de-stressing, taking good care of your physical and mental health, and spending time on positive/constructive things to take the place of time once spent using substances will prove invaluable to a sober future.
- “My recovery must come first so that everything I love in life doesn’t have to come last.” ~Anonymous
- “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world… as in being able to remake ourselves.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
- “If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” ~Vincent Van Gogh
- “You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” ~Johnny Cash
One Day at a Time
Forgiving yourself and remembering your worth isn’t easy. As mentioned before, there can be a lot of guilt and hurt associated with substance use – both for the person in recovery and their loved ones. There is also a lot of pressure to be successful. But what really is success in this case?
It is important to remember the human aspect in all of this. We are living, breathing people with all the highs and lows associated with life. We are not perfect, and nothing is foolproof. There is a high chance that in some way, shape, or form relapse will happen. How we handle these moments of failure in our lives is truly what defines us. Motivation is the key to this resilience.
- “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but human connection.” ~Johann Hari
- “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
- “Recovery is an ongoing process, for both the addict and his or her family. In recovery, there is hope. And hope is a wonderful thing.” ~Dean Dauphinais
- “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” ~Zig Ziglar
The wonderful thing about beginning your recovery at St. Gregory Recovery Center in Iowa is that there is no lack of inspiration or support. Through every aspect of your rehabilitation, the staff is capable and motivated to help you develop your best self and safely leave substance use disorder behind.