Recovery involves a personal recognition of the need for change and transformation.

Recovery is a process through which we gradually achieve greater balance of mind, body and spirit in relation to other aspects of life, including family, work and community.

Each person’s recovery process is unique and impacted by cultural beliefs and traditions. Our cultural experience often shapes the recovery path that is right for us.

The take-away here is that no one single thing is enough to focus on, not the abstinence, not the trauma, not the nutrition and not the spiritual aspects of connecting with self, others and God.

Recovery is complex and requires us to focus on all aspects simultaneously in order to get all the legs on the stool stable.

We need that, in order to have a stable fundament to go about life ahead without going back towards our self-destructive ways.

It is my firm belief that it is the lack of one of the legs on the stool which is the major player in creating a fundament that is weak and one in which one can easily sink back into when times are rough.

So ask yourself which of the following dimensions that you might need to focus on more too cement your fundament solid:

Social connection
Spiritual dimension and surrender
Nutritional healing
Trauma release
Giving back - being of service

One of the most fundamental lessons in recovery is that we need to begin giving before we are ready to give.

Giving our time, our help, our money or whatever shape or form we are able to start giving, we must start giving to create movement that can kickstart a snowball-like accumulative effect in life.

Faith, courage and strength come about in times when we choose to do more than we think we can.

Few of us like to do what is required, and thus many of us stay stuck in our lives - and our addictions.