Getting High on Recovery

Recovery is not simply regaining what once was, it is about creating what can be.

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Powerless: it is a word that is lonely, cold and frightened.

Power-less is how a person feels when they have been abused. Abuse robs a person of life, of freedom and of their very selves. It would make sense that the path to recovery means regaining power, but it does not.

Recovery is about so much more than just power. It means that we re-take what has been stolen. Recovery is about the courage to heal, to believe. Recovery means that we open up and see ourselves as having something to give to others.

We don’t own healing as if it were a possession to be hoarded. Healing is like nature, owned by no one and designed to be shared and spread freely.

Abuse is about power, recovery is about life. Abuse reduces life to power, control, and dominance. Recovery expands life and embraces hope, love, and potential. Abuse dominates, recovery stands together. Abuse shrinks life and fixates. Recovery creates, it expands and it gives joy.

Recovery is a declaration:

We declare that there is no future in the past, no hope in living from yesterday. We are awake and today we live our lives.

Recovery is about ownership and regaining a life, a whole life. Recovery declares that you are the owner of your body, your mind, and your spirit. You reclaim your energy to support your purpose and needs.

Recovery begins out of nothing. It may have been promoted by the devastation of relationships, or health, or mental health, or financial life. Recovery begins in emptiness. Emptiness allows you to create something new. Recovery is not simply regaining what once was, it is about creating what can be.

Powerlessness takes a little more from you every day. Recovery restores your confidence. Abuse keeps secrets and keeps you quiet. Recovery tells your story and speaks up.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. Marianne Williamson

Today is a day to re-take your life. Tell your story. Speak up. You are worth it and know that you are powerful beyond measure.

If you resonated with this piece, you may want to read more about healing here in my piece called “Your Healing Manifesto.” You may also want to read more about my story of how Depression is like a terrorist, here. 

I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and best of my writing.

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Keep it Real

Photo by Ben Salter