“Recovery”: the process of healing that takes place when we stop acting out our addiction and pick up the tools of a 12-Step Program.

“Tools” are those things we receive upon entering treatment that, if we are willing to use them, will help us maintain our recovery. Sometimes we aren’t always completely willing to do what is suggested, especially early on in our recovery and we might still have that “I can do it myself” attitude and aren’t always ready to listen to what others have to suggest that we can do to move into recovery and maintain our sobriety. There comes a point in our recovery, either very early on, or sometime down the road that we make that decision to listen to what others are giving us and decide that maybe the tools that have worked so well for others may do the same for us. So, we pick up those tools and start putting into practice what we have learned.

I asked one of my Continuing Care groups one night “What are the tools you use for your recovery?” and some of the responses were:

• One Day At A Time – I need to focus on what needs to be done today.
• “24 Hours A Day” – Reading this book on a daily basis helps my recovery.
• Spirituality – Working daily on my relationship with my Higher Power.
• Sponsor – Being in contact daily with my sponsor helps me stay centered.
• Choice – I make a conscience choice every day to stay clean/sober and try to always remain positive.
• “Let Go/Let God” – I have to remember that I can’t do everything.
• Support – It is important for me to reach out and use the support of others.

There are so very many “tools” that can help us in our recovery if we are willing to use them on a daily basis. What tools did you use today to stay clean/sober???