My addictionist often asks me at my appointments whether I have Hope. Hope is a vital component in any healthy Recovery. It is essential for recovering addicts/alcoholics.
Hope (as opposed to Faith) is something that agnostics/atheists in Recovery can practice successfully every day.
As addicts/alcoholics, we tend to demand immediate gratification. Hope teaches us to be patient.
Hope is keeping the glass half full, believing good will come, even when things aren’t going well. Consider the saying: “This too shall pass.”
Hope has everything to do with the fellowship of Recovery, knowing that we need never be alone again. “A problem shared is a problem halved.”
Hope is knowing that as long as we diligently work the program of Recovery, time is on our side.
Hope is thoroughly understanding Step 3, doing our very best in our actions, yet giving up control of the outcome. In other words, hope means practicing the Serenity Prayer on a daily basis.
Hope is believing in ourselves with the help of others.
Finally, we need to share this Hope we have acquired. We need to share it with someone (in or out of the Program) who has lost Hope.
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