What is recovery?
So here’s the thing: this is the question I get asked more than any other. “What even is recovery?” And honestly, I get it. There’s this idea out there that recovery looks a certain way, like you have to be completely clean, no exceptions. But that’s not really the full picture. Recovery isn’t some black-and-white thing. It’s messy, it’s personal, and it can look different for everyone. Some people may go totally sober, while others find their way with moderation or working through other aspects of their life. So, what does recovery really mean? And do you have to give up everything to make it happen? Let’s dig into it and see what this whole recovery thing is actually about.
You know what’s kind of funny? The whole concept of “recovery” feels a little… backwards when you really think about it. Like, if the old way of living was working so well, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, right? We wouldn’t need to change anything. So here’s the thing—this isn’t about "recovering" what was lost. It’s about rebuilding something entirely new. It’s not recovery; it’s transformation. You’re not just picking up the pieces of a broken life—you’re creating something different, something stronger, from scratch. Lesson #1: Recovery sounds like fixing a broken car, but what we’re really doing is building a brand-new engine, one that doesn’t break down every time we hit a bump in the road.
Alright, lesson #2: no one’s coming to save you. I know that might sound harsh, but it’s the truth. If you’re waiting for someone to come in and fix everything, you’ll be waiting forever. This journey? It’s yours. You are the one who has to take the reins, put in the work, and make things happen. The good news is, that’s actually empowering. You get to decide what comes next. You’re the hero of your own story, and you’re stronger than you think. It’s up to you to become the version of yourself you’ve always wanted to be. So, stop waiting. You’ve got this.
And then there’s lesson #3: you can’t build a new life with the same old habits. It’s like trying to grow a garden in soil that won’t hold anything—no matter how hard you try, it’s just not going to work. If you want change, you’ve got to start with you. That means breaking out of the patterns that got you here in the first place. Sure, it’s hard, but if you’re serious about building something new, it starts with leaving behind the things that aren’t serving you anymore. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but every small step you take towards healthier habits brings you closer to the life you’re trying to build. So, let go of the old ways, and make space for the new ones.
So here’s the deal: this is my approach to "recovery." It’s not the typical, fluffy version you’ve probably heard before. It’s not about just “getting better” or “finding your way back.” It’s about building something brand new—because if the old way was working, you wouldn’t need to be here in the first place. There’s no magic fix and no one’s coming to rescue you—you’ve got to do the work. And you can’t build a new life using the same old habits that got you into trouble in the first place. This is in-your-face, no-BS stuff, and it’s designed to help you make the tough changes that you know, deep down, you have to make. It’s time to stop waiting and start creating the life you really want.
