Sharing the Message of Hope. When we come into recovery we come in without much hope. Many of us have been on the losing side of life for some time. We are battered, bruised and beaten. As time goes on (providing we are participating in recovery) things begin to look differently. We slowly begin to view our life as one whereby we might have what we see others enjoy. Now, we develop a sense of hope.
We now have a message of hope to share with others. Matter of fact, I would go so far as to say we have an obligation to share this message of hope with those who lack hope and encourage those who do. Those who lack hope will see us and think maybe; just maybe I might find hope. When we share our hope with someone who has found hope both their hope and ours is bound to grow.
How do we find hope in what might appear to be hopeless?
- If we are clean and or sober today, we have hope.
As John Maxwell says “If there is Hope in the future there is power in the present.” We want to hope to help elevate us to greater things.
- Is my life getting better even by a small margin?
Life gets better one day at a time. My life improves incrementally not by leaps and bounds. Remember, the race between the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise won the race.
- Are we finding new friends in meetings we attend?
Changing old playgrounds and old playmates are foundational to our early sobriety. We are in new playgrounds (meetings) now we just need to make friends (other addicts).
- Do we identify with others who are like us?
Let’s learn to set aside denial and understand that if we are in the rooms of recovery we are more like others than we are different.
- Have we begun to recognize what our Higher Power has done for us?
Developing a relationship with a power greater than ourselves is the cornerstone from which our recovery will be built. Without this relationship, whatever we build will come crashing down in time.
If we find the above is not happening in our lives can we look in the mirror and honestly say we are working the program of recovery. If the answer is yes, then keep working and it will occur. If the answer is no, then do not be surprised by the lack of results.
Let us all find hope in our life, day and our recovery then make an honest effort to share that message of hope with someone else.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
All posts by Robert Pardon