When Will I – He – She Be Better?
Recovery is an experience resulting from being in active recovery. Symptoms of active recovery include manageability, emotional maturity, openness of spirit, dignity and integrity.
Experienced persons in active recovery will stress the following.
“It is the journey, not the destination”.
So, whatever you may be doing, be active in recovery today, right now. Look to your recovery principles, guides, rules and boundaries with gratitude and application.
Family, friends, colleagues may have high expectations of recovery. I recent family member was explaining huge disappointment at a loved ones low mood since they left treatment a fortnight earlier. The family was benchmarking this persons progress against everyone who had not just completed a life changing 12 week residential program. They were busy in their own lives and had not been to Al-Anon, did not regard addiction as a progressive illness, nor recovery as a challenging life change.
I implore addicts and families of addicts to be in active recovery, such that they may not fall into the traps of complacency, disappointment and perceived failure. As long as you are improving, then you are in recovery.