Quit Saying "I Got This"

Know what’s missing in recovery? Humility – the craft of becoming a person who admits, “maybe I don’t got this, but I might someday, and I’m cool with that for now.”

Who climbs into the Octagon with an 0-and-whatever record and takes on an MMA champ? A lunatic who’s about to lose some teeth and forget his kids’ names, that’s who!

So stop it. There’s nothing wrong with vigilance – being on our guard and preparing for challenges before we face them or, even better, until they’re less of a challenge to us than they once were.

What a thought! We can actually avoid slip-ups by becoming people who don’t slip up in the ways we have in the past.

And how does that happen? Slowly. Over time. With patience and (here it is again) humility.

By all means, work out your recovery with optimism and hope and a commitment to developing a more steadfast and resilient character. But don’t forget how easy it is not to be that sort of person.

Who knows? With a little caution and self-awareness, we might actually get this!