Per Wickstrom's Phrases That Will Remind You to Stay on the Right Path

The path to recovery is often littered with potential stumbling blocks that can send you right back into your old ways with a relapse at any given moment, if you let them. Luckily, we operate in a reality that allows us to use our own “free will” to make decisions for ourselves and commit actions based on our own priorities and choices. In other words, you don't have to trip on every stumbling block in your path; you can go over it, go around it, kick it out of the way, or even pick it up and polish it.

Sadly, when certain temptations trigger addictive impulses it can be difficult to regain your sense of logic and stop yourself from doing something stupid that you're going to regret. We recently interviewed, Per Wickstrom, founder and CEO of Serenity Point Recovery, to see what his favorite anti-addiction inspirational quotes are. These were his top 5 choices followed by his explanations of why:

1. “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking” - Zen Proverb

This is a great one for reminding yourself that you're on the right path when you're about to give up. Even though you haven't reached your intended destination yet, there's comfort and reassurance in knowing that you're headed there as long as you don't stray from the path you're on.

2. “If things go wrong, don't go with them” - Roger Babson

This simple, yet powerful statement has a lot to say in such a small amount of words. When everything seems like it’s not going your way, this phrase helps you regain balance and composure. At Serenity Point Recovery we remind people that external influences should not influence their internal will power and intentions.

3. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier

One of the hardest parts of fighting addiction is just making it through the time it takes to reach each milestone, from 60 days clean to 120 and so on. Remembering that the whole process consists of a bunch of simple baby steps really makes it easier to dispel doubt.

4. “If you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime.” - Benjamin Alire Saenz

When you need something to remind you of the drive and ambition you had when you first quit, and to remind you of the purpose that you were operating with on that day, this saying does that and a lot more if you stop to ruminate on it.

5. Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” - Robert Louis Stevenson

This is another excellent phrase to recall when you need something to remind you that your efforts are not for naught. It will also help you look for new ways to improve, even if the improvement might take some time to materialize itself.

Digesting Motivational Material to Develop Stronger Resolve

Obviously, the five quotes above only touch the tip of the iceberg when it comes to inspirational quotes. Per concluded our interview with a powerful recommendation, saying: “Make it a daily habit to read at least a page or two of motivational content per day to enrich yourself with knowledge of wise proverbs and sayings. I've found that doing this has made me a better person overall along my journey, and it helps me make others better by equipping me with great tidbits to share.”