We talk a lot around here about the importance of community. It’s safe to say at Live Free we believe what helps us recover and find freedom is having others who know the truth about our story and aren’t afraid to walk with us or call us out when we lose focus.
The choices we make shape the direction of our recovery. Whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual—recovery is not something that happens to us, but something we actively pursue. Even in moments of darkness, the decision to keep going, to try again, to believe in healing—that’s what gradually turns recovery into transformation.
The Bible and science offer evidence that our minds can be transformed. But, it takes intentionality. Some things that are helpful are:
- Catching the thought before you act
- Considering other ways to respond
- Clinging to your goals of how you want to be
- Changing how you behave
The process is slower than we’d like. I remember thinking early on in my recovery and new path to freedom I could make changes in a matter of weeks. They say it takes 21 days to create a new habit, right? Well, some of my thoughts and reactions were embedded since childhood. So, it took longer than 21 days. In fact, I still sometimes catch myself heading down a wrong road. Now I stay on that road for less time than I did in the beginning. Remember progress is better than perfection. Growth is growth.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you get tired trying to do things differently:
- What am I feeling right now?
- Who do I call when I sense I’m going off course?
- What can I do differently this time to feel better about my choice?
It’s hard to bear your soul and speak the truth of your story to someone else. Sharing our burdens is a great strategy to achieve freedom. Speaking the truth of how you think and feel to a safe person releases its power to isolate you. I began meeting with a therapist who opened my eyes to the unhelpful way I handled pain and challenges. I’d created walls and patterns prohibiting the freedom I longed for. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience.
Learning from women in my small group helped me discover new ways to deal with difficulties. They also helped me learn to identify and express my feelings which gave me freedom I’d been unable to attain alone. I learned to stop and really think about how to react or manage the stressors. It’s easy to fall into habits we accept as “just the way we are” and expect those around us to change to accommodate our unhealthy coping mechanisms. Change requires awareness, humility and courage.
What helped me grow most:
- Finding a small group going through a similar experience
- Telling the truth about myself and my situation to safe people
- Owning my decisions, good or bad
- Intentionally choosing differently, often saying those words out loud to myself
Don’t let shame, failure, or fear throw you off course. None of us are perfect. Our choices contribute to our progress or setbacks. We must realize that we have control over what we think about, how we respond, and what we do with our time. Even in moments of darkness, the decision to keep going, to try again, to believe in healing—that’s what gradually turns recovery into transformation.
Our priorities and the people we trust form our level of healing and recovery. Live Free offers support through our website, blog, resources, and our Small Groups Online.
You are not alone. Join the thousands of men and women who found healing and freedom. Help and freedom with a healing community are just a click away. As our founder Carl Thomas often says, “let’s live free.”