“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson |

I’ve been sober for almost a decade, but this Emerson quote reminds me of early recovery and the many times I relapsed before I stayed clean. I don’t see relapse as a failure, though.

But this quote reminds me of the wild rollercoaster of emotion early recovery brings as we adapt to our new lives and selves.

Recovery is a time to rediscover ourselves, reconnect with our passions and purpose, and remember who we are at our core. Recovery frees us to live as our authentic selves. But first, we must adapt to a life where we no longer have drugs or alcohol as our crutch.

Sobriety feels scary at first, but often, we find we’re stronger than we realized.

So, if you’ve relapsed or are struggling in your recovery, know this: relapse happens, and you aren’t alone. And relapse doesn’t have to mean failure. Instead, let it teach you. Let it inspire you to do better, to be better. Consider what you can gain from it, how you can grow from it.

Don’t let relapse take you back to the dark times that almost destroyed you, and don’t let it prevent you from living the fulfilling life you were meant to live. Instead, when you get stuck in your head, as many of us do, think about how you can reach out and help someone else who’s struggling.

Find meaning in the hard times and let your sense of purpose guide you and propel you forward. Let it be your wind.

Best wishes and stay hopeful.

Other Resources

Download our urge-tracker worksheet and see more relapse prevention tools by the Addiction Center.