There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not encouraged, inspired and empowered by those in our New Life Program as they go through the process of getting free from Drugs, Alcohol and Abuse.
The challenges they face seem insurmountable to them when they first enter the program, but soon they are doing seeing a whole new world of possibility, a world without the pain and slavery of addiction, opening up to them.
Unforunately, I’ve also lived long enough to see many who return to their addiction and drop out of the program to return to the streets.
Is there a common denominator, a key ingredient to those that succeed as opposed to those who drop out? Is it will-power? How about intelligence? No, it’s neither of those things.
Without a doubt there are common attitudes and key actions that help people succeed in recovery.
In my opinion, one of the key ingredients of success in recovery is…GRATITUDE.
The world of addiction is a world of selfishness. You cannot succeed in recovery without addressing your past selfish behavior, but it’s more than that, you must abandon it completely. You must cultivate an attitude of GRATITUDE.
Just as gratitude is a common attitude among those who succeed, so bitterness is common among those who relapse. “It’s your fault”, “If only you would have…” and “I never got what I needed…” are common phrases I hear from those who leave in bitterness.
Always be grateful. Grateful for those who walk along side of you and give you correction and direction, grateful for those who have helped you along the way, those to whom you may have taken advantage of the in the past. Grateful for a second chance. Grateful for housing, food, health, friends, clean water, and safety. Be grateful for everything.
Don’t let bitterness take root in your heart. It will lead to relapse and pain.
David Curry
