Because of my recovery program….

Because of my recovery program, amazing things have happened in my life.   Not just the promises coming true – although those have happened.  But other things that I never dreamed could be part of my life.   Some are HUGE and some are subtle yet powerful shifts that ripple through my daily walk on this earth.

25 ways my life has changed because of my recovery program:

1. Because of the program I have a relationship with a higher power that I am proud of and can talk about.
2. Because of the program I have a circle of friends.
3. Because of the program I can enjoy time alone for the first time in my life.   A day with no family, no boyfriend, no children, no colleagues is no longer a day in a sketchy neighborhood alone in my head.
4. Because of the program I can appreciate my body for how it is and not try to change it to attract or manipulate others.
5. Because of the program I meditate (occasionally).
6. Because of the program I rather like myself now and certainly don’t hate myself anymore.
7. Because of the program I am emotionally regulated as I walk through my day.   I don’t feel like a ping pong ball constantly crashing from mania to depression.
8. Because of the program love is a thoughtful committed decision rather than a feeling I am chasing.
9. Because of the program I can say no.  No to people.  No to requests.  No to my family.  No to things that my inner critic tells me I “should” say yes to.  No to things that don’t serve a higher purpose.
10. Because of the program I don’t freak out when things don’t go the way I want them to.  I can take a moment to collect myself and figure out what I need in a situation rather than what I want.
11. Because of the program I have helped others get to treatment when they needed it.
12. Because of the program I can enjoy a phone conversation with my mother.
13. Because of the program I have energy and love to give beyond myself.
14. Because of the program I have gone over 8 years without engaging in physical self harm.
15. Because of the program I have a voice that I can use in a right sized manner.
16. Because of the program I have helped other people walk through grief with compassion, empathy and love.
17. Because of the program I can discern when my reactions are hysterical and that there’s probably a historical element I need to address.
18. Because of the program I can love with detachment.
19. Because of the program I am a good co-parent with my ex-spouse.
20. Because of the program I have been willing to try different modalities of self care and learned that personally I love yoga and acupressure but can take it or leave it with reiki and breath work.
21. Because of the program I have a journal from my first 5 years of sobriety that seems priceless to me.
22. Because of the program intensity is not a drug I chase anymore.  I crave intimacy and vulnerability in its place.
23. Because of the program I am willing to sit and listen.   One hour at a time I have learned to be present and really listen to what others have to say.  I have learned not to prepare my response in my head as the other person is talking.   I have learned to search for similarities and not worry so much about what doesn’t apply.
24. Because of the program I can live in line with the 4 agreements:  Be Impeccable with your Word, Don’t take things personally, Don’t Make Assumptions and Always do your Best.
25. Because of the program I am a better parent, friend and person than I ever imagined I could be before I walked in that door.

The promises are worth working for.

P.S. A cool twist on the 30 day gratitude challenge is to text 3 ways your life has changed because of the program with someone you want to know better.

Leave comments below and tell us about ways that your life has changed because of recovery.

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