WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

FAKING IT, AND THEN MAKING IT.

Finding the Spirit of the Thing


We’re sometimes advised to “fake it until you make it.” But how can

anything false really lead us to recovery? Aren’t we told that this is

an honest program?


We’re not being dishonest by pushing ourselves to become actively

involved in AA. The self-help movements have told us for years that we

have to form an image of what we want to be in order to reach our goals.

We are forming an image that corresponds to the sober people we want to

be. We are actually rehearsing sober living and working to accept a

picture of sobriety in our heart of hearts.



There’s also much to be said for “faking it” enough to attend meetings

and try to benefit from association with people – even those we

don’t like. This puts us in line for the change we really need.



A lot of members say that they “white-knuckled it” during the first

months or years of sobriety. If this worked to bring recovery, it had to

be the right approach.


Even if there is rebellion within, today I’ll talk and act like the

sober person I want to be.




© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved.

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