The Power of Inspirational Quotes in Recovery

To get through my time behind bars, I relied on a lot of things to maintain my sanity: running the track, venting to cellmates, getting lost in a good book. But mostly, personal pep-talks and inspiration quotes were my go-to. Things like, If God brings you to it, He’ll see you through it and What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger played on a continuous loop in my head. Most of the time they helped me pause and get a grip over the situation.

Finding Strength in Words

Once I was released and it was time to focus on my sobriety amidst all the temptation and triggers, I turned again to the same tactic that brought me strength for all those years: inspirational quotes. Below are just a few that have helped me maintain my sobriety long-term:

• “Let go, and let God.” I have a habit of worrying about what could happen and this tendency has caused me a lot of unnecessary fear and concern about the future – feelings that could spike a relapse if I’m not careful. Acknowledging that worry doesn’t accomplish anything and that I’m not in control about most circumstances in my life gives me perspective and peace of mind, allowing me to focus on what really matters: my sobriety.
• “Tough times don’t last – tough people do.” I’ve had quite a few curveballs thrown my way over the years, and at times life got so hard that I didn’t know how or if I was going to come out the other end. But no matter what the circumstance, I’m confident in the strength I have within and have never given up – not on my sobriety and not on myself.
• “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Sobriety is a choice and it’s ultimately up to you and you, alone. By putting forth the hard work and the dedication, I’ve attained the life I always envisioned I’d have.

The Work is Worth It

My conviction and subsequent sobriety has been the most challenging time of my life; yet it has been the most rewarding. No longer am I the ungrateful and entitled woman I used to be, but now one who appreciates what I have and what all I’ve been given.

And being sober has strengthened my life in other areas, as well. I’m healthier and in better shape than I’ve ever been in, have more positive relationships with others, and I don’t have to worry about waking up to embarrassing memories of what happened the night before.

I’m in control of my actions and am completely satisfied with where I’m at in my life now – all thanks to getting clean and sober.

A Look at Your Responses

Recovery.org set out to curate other words of encouragement from our social media friends. We asked “What gives you hope in your recovery?”

Here’s how people responded:

Images: iStock