Recovery Is A Personal Journey

“My recovery must come first so that everything I love in life doesn’t have to come last“- Anonymous  

Recovery is a deeply personal journey that has led to self-discovery and growth in all aspects of my life. The process of recovery is not a linear journey, it is a path marked by successes, setbacks, and continuous learning. It has taught me so much about patience, self-compassion, forgiveness, humility, and selflessness. I have learned that progress is more important than perfection, and that being right is not as important as being content. As a result, I can be more present in the daily lives of my wife, our three children, and in my practice as a therapist.   

The most important part of recovery for me was understanding that I needed help because I could no longer handle my addiction on my own. There is victory in defeat from our disease when we can fully surrender and accept help from others who have been down a similar road. Once I could put down the bottle and become willing, open-minded, and honest, I could begin working on some of the causes and conditions that led to my destructive behaviors. This is where the work started, and I was able to begin looking at all the different things in my life that were blocking me from who God intended me to be. I had to do more than just not drink, I had to change my perception about how I saw everything. I discovered in recovery that I was not a bad person who needed to be good, I was spiritually sick and needed to get well. The way to get well was for me to begin taking responsibility for my life without blaming people, places, and things for my problems. To do that I had to trust the process, do what was suggested, and to begin being of service to my family, community, and others in need.  

Because of my journey, I have empathy and understanding for those who are trying to navigate the frightening early days of sobriety, the difficulty of rebuilding broken relationships, learning how to forgive oneself and others, and exploring purpose and meaning through spirituality. Through my own recovery I know what it is like trying to let go of resentments, overcoming fears, and facing character defects that often trigger the obsession to use. I feel I can bring the principles I learned in recovery into therapy to help clients find their path through these new and challenging terrains. 

Recovery is a process of continuous learning that is about staying curious and open to new ideas and approaches. For me, this means being committed to lifelong learning, both professionally and personally, to better serve my clients and understand the human condition. Recovery also builds resiliency and hope. It is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity. As a therapist, I plan to carry this message of hope into the therapeutic relationship and inspire clients to believe in their own capacity for change and growth. 

Author: John Hinson