5 Inspirational Quotes About Addiction and Recovery

Surviving addiction and staying on the path of recovery are by no means easy to accomplish. As many addicts attest, you will never be a non-alcoholic, but always a recovering alcoholic. It is a lifelong process. But you aren’t the first one to go through it and you certainly won’t be the last. So if you’re looking for a little inspiration to see you through the hard times, here are just a few quotes that can help you to clarify your thinking and solidify your resolve.

1. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Excerpted and adapted from ‘The Serenity Prayer’ by Reinhold Niebuhr. Every recovering addict knows the serenity prayer, or at least the first segment, as it is recited at the end of nearly every AA, NA, or other anonymous-style meeting. Many an addict has found meaning in this mantra, which speaks to the courage, strength, and wisdom that many must find throughout the difficult recovery process. It provides an affirmation that can act as a touchstone in times of temptation and despair.
2. “Things do not change; we change.” – Henry David Thoreau. It’s important to remember that when you leave rehabilitation or some other kind of assisted recovery program, the alcohol, drugs, and other things you were addicted to are still going to be out there. You need to accept this so that you can change the way you approach the substances that once held sway over your life. You cannot stop drugs from being made and sold, but you can find ways to change your own behavior in regards to them.
3. “More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them.” – Harold J. Smith. It is said that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. And the recovery process forces you to relive every mistake, take ownership, forgive yourself, and then ask forgiveness of the people you’ve hurt along the way. This is the only way to absolve guilt and get a clean slate so that you can move forward with your new, sober existence.
4. “Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let the light in.” – Groucho Marx. It’s important to remember sometimes that you are who you are, flaws and all, and that you are special in your own way. If we live long enough, all of us have cracks. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have something to contribute to society. You may have to deal with people who are intent on devaluing you simply because you have been an addict. But you have to keep in mind that you have displayed courage and strength in setting aside your addiction and reinventing yourself. Most people just float through life – you fought your way back to it.
5. “Don’t reinvent the wheel, just realign it.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo. As inspirational quotesgo, this may be one of the most important for recovering addicts. It’s a reminder that you are not alone, that there is help available, and that other people have done it before you. This means that you, too, can live clean and sober.