We all need a bit of inspiration now and then, and sometimes recovery can feel like a never ending, uphill battle. Whether you’ve been in recovery for 3 months or 3 years, you’re going to have bad days – as Forbes Magazine notes, self-doubt can creep in and cause us to put up unnecessary walls that hinder our growth in recovery. We may become more reserved, less participatory in recovery activities, more anxious and depressed and less impacted by the tools we learn in therapy. If we don’t stay motivated, we’re bound to slip back into old habits – and perseverance is the driving factor behind sobriety maintenance. If you’re ready to feel inspired today, check out these three incredibly wise sayings:
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint’, then by all means, paint, and shatter that voice.”
This quote is said to have been spoken by Van Gogh, and it rings true on so many levels for addiction recovery. Rather than allowing yourself to fall victim to the negative thoughts that are spinning around, prove yourself otherwise. Embrace recovery and take steps to become stronger than you ever thought you could be.
“What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a symptom, a signal of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.”
Alice Miller understood the pain of addiction – but far too often we spend time thinking of how resentful we are that it happened, rather than what our mind, body and spirit is trying to tell us. The next time you’re feeling depressed or anxious, or if you’re getting headaches, etc., ask yourself, “What is my body trying to tell me?”
If we take a look at the bigger picture, we can see that yes, addiction can cause so much despair – but there are lessons to be learned from it, and if we take these lessons and channel them into our recovery, we can become unstoppable.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of 2 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
