Begin a good plan in the right direction

Achieving your goal for any undertaking is always easier if your plan has a good start.

You will not see a sailboat race begin on a windless morning, with fifty boats waiting for the breeze to blow. Sometimes we have to find the wind that will fill our sails, but we must locate and align with it in order to begin.

The true thinkers of our time, from Plato to Gates, have had the visions. They “saw” the future of education and communication. Having such a clear vision leaves only the job of building the project to get to the end result.

Very often we cannot see the end result at the beginning of our plan. This is quite true with addicts and alcoholics. Those stuck in the violent, dark world of this kind of suffering cannot even visualize stopping, never mind the ability to see such a radically new life. No, the vision has to be different for addicts. Even a “what if…” thought doesn’t cut it. This is like those 50 sailboats waiting for the chance of some kind of a breeze to happen.

Getting away vs. Going towards

“Escape”! This is the buzzword that has moved mountains of alcoholics and addicts over the years. Other key screams have worked as well, such as “Stop!”, “Change” and “Get me out of this life I am living!” And don’t forget that hopeless, beaten cry of “Help”.

Yes, the only clear desire for the addict and the alcoholic is to get away from a life that is killing them. Nothing else matters at this point of impending doom.

The future is not visible.

“Hope” is not a vision; it is only a condition of possibility.

Run away… run as hard as you can. Crawl into that detox, rehab, 12-step meeting, or whatever you need to in order to escape next drink or drug. What happens next won’t really matter for those who are desperate enough. That is where the “hope” comes in.

“I hope this will give me some kind of a new life”, or “Maybe I can be a better parent”. These are a couple of the hopes available, but they are mild breezes at this point in time. They will not sail the ship.

Make a good start and the wind should blow your way.

About the Author: 

Dave Innis, CRC, is an independent certified recovery sober coach and companion. He works with recovering alcoholics and addicts globally, either in person, via Skype sessions, phone or email. Dave Innis began as a counselor in late 1994 and has worked in the field both in the southwest and eastern US. Dave operates in the US as well as globally, and lives in Chicopee, Ma. and will work with individuals, families, employers or recovery agencies upon request.