Small, consistent changes are the key to significant results.

How can you expect different results if you keep doing the same thing over and over again? Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.” Very similarly, in recovery, we can’t expect to do the things we did in our addiction to find recovery and healing.

If life is excellent, don’t change anything; keep doing what you’re doing. But if you’re like most people and want to change things, you need to focus on your choices. Otherwise, you’re doing the same thing but expecting different results.

During a particularly challenging phase of my recovery, I found myself neglecting the very things that had been helping me. I wasn’t attending meetings, reaching out to my support network, or actively participating in my recovery program. During a conversation with a friend who hadn’t seen me in a while, I was confronted with a simple question: 'Why do you expect anything to change if you’re not doing things you should be doing?'

He was right; nothing changes if nothing changes.

While many of our habits may be deeply ingrained, we must remember that we are not set in stone. Yes, altering our patterns can be a challenge, but it's a challenge we can overcome. We must change our behavior, habits, and mindset to see progress in our recovery journey. Simply put, continuing with the same patterns and expecting different results is futile. This expression serves as a powerful reminder to take active steps towards change.

You can do it.