The Goal of Working the 12 Steps

Perfection is exhausting. Progress is invigorating.

We all have goals for recovery, and we all will inevitably fall short of those goals. This is just fine. It’s not only acceptable, it’s expected. We are not saints when we arrive, and we do not miraculously become saints just because we’re working a program of recovery. Sometimes it helps to understand that as recovering addicts, our real goal is to live sober lives one day at a time and to do that a little bit better today than we did it yesterday. In this way, we see that true recovery is more about progress than perfection.

Task for Today
Think of ways in which you’ve fallen short of your goals even though you tried. Then pat yourself on the back for trying. And then try again.