Thank you so much for reading this blog and participating in our recovery movement. One of the biggest challenges of being lost and losing what you have wanted is realizing how lost you are. Years ago, a dear friend of mine taught me someone must feel lost before they realize they need to be found. That’s what this blog is about today. If we don’t feel that what we have lost is critical and even vital to us as a person we would find no need in “taking it back“. As devastating to coming to that reality is it is necessary for us to become well. Imagine yourselves out on a boat in the ocean and you begin to drown as the boat begins to capsize. The next thing you know a rescue boat comes alongside you and offers you A life support device. If you did not think you were about to lose something there would be no reason for you to take advantage of that life support offer. Another example would be, if you did not think a part of you is dead why would you want to bring it back to life. In both examples, the life of the addicted person is addressed as we hit bottom after bottom. I want to drive home the point that if we don’t feel we have lost anything then there is nothing to take back. When we do discover that what we have lost is of great value the goal becomes how do I get it back. We need to put together a plan to isolate the thing or the things we want and then work the plan accordingly to begin bringing those pieces back one at a time. We did not lose what we are looking to regain overnight, therefore we will not take it back overnight.
We need a systematic approach that we can work daily. This plan is not only needed to take it back, but to keep it once we
have it.
Five steps to Taking It Back
- Be convinced you are done losing what you have lost
- Take a complete inventory of what was lost and what you want to get back
- Once on paper, prioritize what you want to get back
- Determine what you control independent of others vs what requires another to agree to. (if it does require someone or something else to agree and they don’t, go on to the next one)
- Don’t be surprised if what you are Taking Back comes quickly and don’t be disappointed if it takes time.
- Adjust and or rework your plan to be flexible, when needed, with various situations or opportunities
- Seek outside guidance or counsel when Taking It Back
- Keep your list of things to take back fluid.
- Celebrate every victory and learn from every challenge
- Give yourself time for these things to come back to you
When we do these things, we will not only begin Taking It Back,we will keep what we have re-taken. Check us out on Patreon to support our recovery movement. The more others help the more we can do.
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.
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