Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

September 11, 2017

Finish the race!

Because recovery builds on itself, it is sometimes referred to as “many races, one after another.”  A cardinal sin of recovery is not finishing the race.  This might be recognizing obvious relapse patterns but not looking for more subtle contributors, completing a therapeutic disclosure to your partner but not following through on tasks that will support relationship healing, or enjoying intimacy and reconnection with your partner but approaching sex and seduction the same as you did in your addiction.  This is why you will rarely hear the word “recovered” from an individual in solid recovery.  “Recovered” implies they are done.  However, regardless of how many recovery races we have finished, there is always the current race we are in.  Granted, our recovery races generally get easier with extended sobriety and recovery but, even so, we should be ready for challenging races to show up out of the blue.  If you pretend you are no longer in a race, you set yourself up to fail.  Finish the race!

When have I stopped focusing on my current recovery work and coasted?  What have been the consequences of not finishing the race?  What gifts await me as I accept that there is always something in recovery for me to address, maintain my focus, and finish the race?