Topic: maintaining sobriety

Changing how we live isn’t easy to accomplish, even with step-by-step instructions.

We can “turn it over,” not because we believe there is a God who will do something for us or to us, but because we understand that recovering from addiction depends on outside help.

Many of the suggestions are counterintuitive (did you know that mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce cravings?), but all of the suggestions are grounded in science.

Plenty of addicts and alcoholics starting the journey of recovery from addictive disease can’t bring themselves to accept the spiritual program that’s helped so many. There are other options.

There may be new practices specifically to support recovery — taking up yoga or meditation, a sport or hobby, or making important changes in diet or exercise.

Seek outside advice. Good advice, that is. Not the sort from the guy on the next bar stool.

Sponsors, the saying goes, carry the message, not the alcoholic.

The more we exert ourselves to help those with problems like ours, the more concrete benefits we receive from AA.

Learning financial responsibility forces us to address and change behaviors and habits associated with our addictions.

Too often our own hopes, dreams, and aspirations have been shunted aside.