Early recovery can be challenging.
For so many months or years,
We've used drugs and alcohol to soothe us.
It has been our medicine,
Sometimes feeling like the only thing that gets us through,
To be present with life on life's terms,
With our anxieties,
Our fears,
Our past trauma that comes up to haunt us.
It is so hard to live a present,
Clear,
And sober life.
It takes so much courage.
But what can help you move through those moments in your day is remembering that the feelings that you're feeling are ever-changing,
That if you allow yourself to be present with your experience,
To trust and know the fear will fade,
The anxiety will lessen,
The craving will go away.
It is when we attach ourselves to the story,
I want to use,
I want to use,
I want to use,
I can't feel this way,
I can't feel this way,
I can't feel this way,
When we become taken over by fear and story,
We get to a place where we feel we must have relief,
That we can't go on,
We can't feel this way.
But if we can bring ourselves into a place of trust,
In a place of knowing,
In a place of courage,
In working that muscle of resilience,
If you can be with your feeling,
Not the story,
If you can use a tool to get you through that moment,
Whether that be your breath,
Calling somebody who is here to support you,
Going to a recovery meeting,
Exercising.
If you're at work and you feel like you're trapped and there's nowhere to go,
And there's nothing you can do,
Maybe you can find someone to be of service to.
You can move through your cravings.
You can learn to be with anxiety.
You can learn to be with fear.
And what you will receive is coming out on the other side into a new feeling.
The only thing that can keep you trapped in anxiety,
Fear,
Disaster mind,
Depression,
Is your attention being on that thing.
So this is your reminder today.
To surrender,
To trust that the universe supports you in this clarity,
In this choice to heal,
To deeply know and love yourself,
And to grow,
And to allow yourself to expand and take space up in this world and be who you are meant to be.
You have one life here to create whatever you want.
You have that power.
But what you don't have power over is what happens when you drink and use.
It disconnects you to your most highest self,
To the people around you,
And it keeps you stuck.
So if you're having a moment or you're fearing having a moment that you will use or do something to help yourself that is actually going to cause harm later,
I want you to remember that whatever you're feeling is going to pass.
So find a tool.
Get through the next minute,
Five minutes or 30.
Do not allow those stories to take you out.
They are not your truth.
And you are here doing something different for a reason because you felt called.
So do not forget that anyone,
No matter what,
Has the capacity to be present through challenging times and come out the other side.
You are fully loved and supported.
Don't give up.
Keep going.
