Advantages of my Secular Recovery
 

• With online meetings, it is much easier to find a meeting when I want one...at work, in class.
• I can pull out my workbook anytime, any place and work on recovery...while everyone thinks I'm working on my school work.
• When I feel myself slipping into negative thought I post a thread and soon get some good opinions on how to avoid that crazy thinking
• The ideas work on all parts of my life outside of recovery (stressful situation...do a CBA)

Anyone else want to share a few quick positives of their recovery?

These things are pluses for me, although certainly not exclusive to secular recovery.

* I went more the rational recovery route...so one advantage for me is no meetings at all. This is actually a good thing for me since I am afflicted with social phobias. Sitting in meetings and classrooms really makes me hugely uncomfortable.

* I've gotten myself back. All of the true emotional range and depth, the joy for living- those things were lost to me while I was using.

* I feel that I am more available to family and friends- I've regained real relationships.

* My artistic inspiration has returned. Rather than sparking creativity, drinking squelched it.

* I revel in the joy of physical movement- I have renewed energy and love working out, hiking and other activities.

* A sense of pride in creating my own program...something that works well for me.

* I don't have to bow down to any entity.

Like Alera, I work on recovery all the time, whenever I want. A hike is my meeting, or reading a book of somebody's story. All of the above mentioned things contribute to my continued sobriety.

I'm secular, but have done the steps and worked with a sponsor through AA. Here's one of my best positives:

Going to therapy costs a fortune. Working with a sponsor is free, and it was better for me than therapy!

i've just started to recover again, but what i've always liked with the secular ones are the many choices and tools to be used and evaluated by the person