Jul 3, 2015 | By Tim Powers

Paying It Forward in Recovery: Where is Your Passion?

Recovery

Being a blogger for Sober Nation is such a gift and a realization of a dream. Ever since I was a sawed-off half pint with skinned knees I have had two dreams: being a musician and being able to write what comes from my soul and have people respond to what I write.

Well, I may not be headlining Madison Square Garden, and I may not be sitting in a pressed suit across from Oprah throwing down my promo game for my new bestseller, but that don’t matter–I am living my dream.

I get to play bass and be a weekend rock star on stages throughout the Upper Midwest, and I get to make a living writing about addiction and recovery. Being able to realize these dreams after all the tears, hard work and white knuckle rides that I have experienced in recovery has been nothing short of a blessing.

Yet, there are days I feel uninspired and stuck, and I know that is no man’s land for those in recovery.

Feeling Stuck? Sometimes Inspiration Comes From Unexpected Places

This week has been a tough one.

It hasn’t been tough in the sense that I feel like picking up the bottle again and want to roll hellbent down the slippery slope towards relapse. I have hit one of those patches in my journey of recovery where I feel uninspired, and if I were to shake my soul like a Magic 8-Ball it would probably come up as MEH.

For those in recovery, being sober and stuck can be dangerous. If you stay too long in Stucksville, your focus becomes more scattered and it allows those old thoughts and feelings to slide in the proverbial backdoor. While those moments provide anxiety, the inspiration you need to get that kick you need can come from somewhere unexpected.

For me, that kick in the ass came from Bernie Sanders.

Last night, I watched the live stream of his speech in Madison, Wisconsin and for an hour and 45 minutes I couldn’t help but hang on his every word. It wasn’t his talking points and platform that got my attention–it was the way he spoke and his passion.

The way he was able to connect the dots with his audience and speak from the heart gave me the kick I needed to move the needle in my groove and I realized why I was stuck.

I wasn’t working hard enough in regards to paying it forward in recovery.

Paying It Forward In Recovery: Good For You, Good For Others, and Needed for You to Grow

We have all heard the term paying it forward and know its basic meaning. It is often said that recovery is selfish in the fact that we need to put our energies and focus on ourselves in rebuilding our body, mind and soul.

That transition from addict to recovering addict allows us to jettison the soul-sucking junk and we learn to truly see who we are as beings and can embrace our beauty and the beauty of our world no matter the flaws.

Once we understand and truly appreciate what recovery does in our lives, it is our duty to share that love and humanity with those who may be struggling in their own recovery. It helps deepen our recovery and allows us to move beyond what defined us in the past and allows others to see us what we are now and what we will continue to be.

How Can You Pay It Forward in Recovery?

The ways that you can pay it forward in your recovery are only limited by your imagination. You can volunteer for a local organization or a drop-in center for those who are in recovery. You can also become more involved in your 12-step group and become a sponsor once you have achieved some good clean and sober time.

You can also become an advocate and be a voice for recovery rights and join a local, state or national addiction and recovery organization. You can lend your writing, artistic or musical talents to a variety of causes. You can be a recovery blogger or even launch your own podcast. Take a risk, take the plunge and put your recovery into active practice.

The concept of paying it forward in recovery is important to us at Sober Nation. We strive to provide you with the information, support and encouragement you need to combat the chronic and progressive disease of addiction.

Sober Nation is doing its part to spread awareness and start meaningful conversations on the topic of addiction and recovery and help in the fight to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with substance abuse.

Be a part of that movement.