Sometimes, you just need a little boost. And what better way to add to your sobriety rituals than with daily positivity and motivation? We all benefit from having regular reminders that our deliberate choices make a difference, so quotes, affirmations, and pick-me-ups often have real impact.
How Do You Improve Motivation?
In her research, author and psychologist Carol S. Dweck discovered that shifting your mindset to focus on the effort—or the journey—to reach your goals, rather than simply the end goal itself, contributes more to continued success. While the outcome is certainly important (and people in sobriety understand this better than most) incremental growth and increased motivation comes from steady, progressive effort. Sounds a little like the 12-Steps, doesn’t it?
Quotes, affirmations, prayers, positive vibes, and other tools add to your motivation because they help:
- Build confidence
- Relieve stress
- Reduce negativity
Uplifting words also help reinforce coping methods you might have learned in cognitive behavioral therapy, such as:
- Thought replacement with positive thinking, so as you try to reduce negative thinking, you’re ready to supplement that approach with a more affirming perspective.
- Scheduled time to deal with unwanted thoughts, which allows you to address troublesome aspects on your terms and with a clearer mind.
- Mindfulness, so you can make the most of the present moment and channel more rewarding energy.
Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations
Whether you want a reminder to pop up on your phone or to stick notes to your bathroom mirror, hopefully you’ll find the list below helpful to avoid recovery burnout.
Quotes Guiding Your Journey
Whether it’s a nudge in the right direction or a consistent reminder, these and other elevating quotes define your personal power.
- “I chose sober because I wanted a better life. I stay sober because I got one.” ~ Anonymous
- “You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” ~ Martin Luther King
- “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.” ~ Bucky Sinister
- “Being in recovery has given me everything of value that I have in my life. Integrity, honesty, fearlessness, faith, a relationship with God, and most of all gratitude. Sobriety was the best gift I ever gave myself.” ~ Rob Lowe
- “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” ~ Tony Robbins
- “I approach sobriety with the same mentality I approached sports with. You’re going to put in the time. You’ve got to suit up, show up, and keep your eyes on the win.” ~ Molly Bloom
- “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day. When I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on the problem, the problem increases. If I focus on the answer, the answer increases.” ~ Alcoholics Anonymous
- “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” ~ JK Rowlings
- “We have all had to learn painful lessons. We are all recovering from some mistake, loss, betrayal, abuse, injustice or misfortune. All of life is a process of recovery that never ends. We each must find ways to accept and move through the pain and to pick ourselves back up. Be patient with yourself.” ~ Bryant McGill
- “Breakthroughs don’t get planned, they are prepared for.” ~ Goitsemang Mvula
- “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, only that you do not stop.” ~ Confucius
- “F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” ~ Zig Ziglar
- “When I got sober, I thought giving up was saying goodbye to all the fun and all the sparkle, and it turned out to be just the opposite. That’s when the sparkle started for me.” ~ Mary Karr
- “Somebody once asked me how I define sobriety and my response was ‘liberation from dependence’.” ~ Leslie Jamison
- “Above anything else—above family or job—the main thing is staying sober. That’s because without being sober, I don’t have a family or a job.” ~ William Regal
- “One day, you’ll tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” ~ Brene Brown
Affirmations for Every Day
We love these examples from The Good Trade, and think you’ll discover many more if you look.
- “I affirm and encourage others, as I do myself.”
- “I am capable of balancing ease and effort in my life.”
- “I am worthy of investing in myself.”
- “Asking for help is a sign of self-respect and self-awareness.”
- “I grow towards my interests, like a plant reaching for the sun.”
- “I do not have to linger in dark places; there is help for me here.”
- “I am open. I am healing. I am happy.”
- “I am growing, and I am going at my own pace.”
- “I release the fears that do not serve me.”
- “I celebrate the good qualities in others and myself.”
- “I invite art and music into my life.”
- “I can hold two opposing feelings at once; it means I am processing.”
- “I nourish myself with kind words and joyful foods.”
- “I am proof enough of who I am and what I deserve.”
The Greater Good Science Center also recommends that whenever you feel defensive, overwhelmed, or threatened that you take 15 minutes to affirm your core values. Here’s how to do it.
Find Your Way at Willingway
Our goal is to provide you with all the tools necessary to find joy and purpose in sobriety. If you or a loved one is ready for this life, reach out to a member of our admissions team today. Let our team in Statesboro, GA, affirm your right to live fully.
