In his fascinating book, Exactly What to Say, Phil M. Jones writes, “The real world tells us that people will work far harder to avoid a potential loss than they will to achieve a potential gain.”
This is exactly why most addicts don’t seek help until they hit bottom. Their greater motivator is not the life they can now have, but the loss they can now avoid.
I’m often asked, “Is getting caught a good motivator for getting well?”
I answer, “Any motivation that gets you started in recovery is a good one. But if you only get into recovery because of your pain or loss, it will not last. Staying in recovery requires a far greater commitment than entering recovery.”
Ever heard of relapse? That’s what happens when you get sober for anyone or any cause other than yourself.
Recovery Step: You can find lasting recovery if your motivation is pure. “Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
