By Jeff Vickers: Guest Contributor
As a child, I loved magicians. I enjoyed their debonair clothing. And yes, I found the animals to be a bonus in any routine. And of course, I shrilled with all the other children, no matter what the trick was. But it was the evoking of a spell that fascinated me.
Put another way, I enjoyed hearing the “magic words.” The words were the “spell,” so the power to change things existed within the words. (At least that’s how my young mind understood it.)
Hello, my name is Jeff. I’m a recovering addict, enjoying a life of sobriety.
Interestingly, this boyhood obsession over powerful words persisted. Maybe it was the conspiracy theorist in me, but I felt it in my gut. I believed words had power. I believed words were “magic.”
The Bible, Torah and Koran all agree: the tongue holds the power of life and death.
But could I “bless” someone on Sunday, then “curse” the same person on Monday? Some believe this can be done in a literal sense. Maybe this is possible; maybe not.
Over the years I’ve learned that words do actually have power. They are called positive affirmations and they are magical. At least they are for me.
A quick Google search will yield an overwhelming amount of data on the subject. Aside from religious texts and classic fables, great minds have touted the power of positive speaking for some time.
Books like, “As a Man Thinketh” and “The Power of Positive Thinking,” helped shape many minds in the early and mid-20thcentury.
James Allen, the author of “As a Man Thinketh,” focused on man’s thought-life. The classic little book surmises that we have the power to create our environment by mastering our thoughts.
Norman Vincent Peale takes “…Positive Thinking,” a step further. While both authors derived their precepts from the Christian faith, it was Peale who laid out his views through ten life tenets.
Of these tenets, two were statements. These “positive affirmations” were to be verbalized with intent and purpose. Peale advised the reader to say the affirmations ten times a day.
When we verbally affirm positive energy, it’s like casting a spell. It’s like breathing life into existence. Any self-help guru or successful entrepreneur will tell you that there is indeed life and death in the tongue.
We all think in a default language. We also speak in a default language. When we think, we are essentially “talking” to ourselves. By the time we verbalize a thought, we have “spoken” it several times. Speak positive thoughts long enough in your life and watch the magic happen.
When I gave up drugs, I learned something. Recovering addicts use positive affirmations on a daily basis. We call them recovery mottos. And they have the power of life in them, as long as you believe.
Two of my favorite mottos are: “keep coming back,” and “thanks for letting me share.” Addicts all across the world know these two. Even people who aren’t in recovery have heard of these. They are ubiquitous for a reason.
In the sober community, a healthy mind is imperative. Recovering addicts are always having internal tennis matches. On any given day, the side that wins could be the difference between another clean day, a relapse or an overdose. So, having a positive self-image is crucial for our long-term success.
What we say to ourselves, molds our self-image. Positive affirmations hold that power for us. I’ve personally repeated “keep coming back” to myself on days when relapse was a feeling away. This recovery motto and others have saved my life.
Notice I said, “saved my life.” Only that which has life, has the power to save or restore life. In essence, recovery mottos are spiritual principles. Behind each of them is a message of hope, intent and purpose.
These mottos are the spiritual language, of an international community, of which I am a citizen. Recovering addicts all across the world know how important these mottos are.
I can personally attest to the power of “keep coming back.” I practically chanted this motto to myself during early recovery.
When I doubted myself, I had to “keep coming back” and remind myself that I was worthy. I also had to “keep coming back” to recovery meetings where other addicts could help me. It worked for me.
I guess you can say there’s magic in recovery mottos. Well, that’s if you believe in stuff like that.
So…ah…thanks for letting me share. Poof…..I’m gone…
Jeff Vickers
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Jeff Vickers is a content writer, copywriter, and new author.
After a 30-year battle with addiction, Jeff was transformed by embracing the power of recovery. A self-proclaimed, “sober enthusiast,” his passion is helping people grow in their sobriety.
After becoming fascinated by the power of recovery mottos, Jeff looked for books on the subject. Finding none, he decided to write one himself. The result is a series entitled, “Sober Slogans.” The first book of the series, “Recovery Mottos We Love,” will be released soon.
Jeff loves to write wearing his favorite Star Wars pajamas, while listening to Damien Escobar. When he is not writing, Jeff spends time binging on old episodes of “Shark Tank,” with his partner, Sara.
Aside from being excited about the release of his first book, Jeff says, “I’m about to get my first puppy! He is a beautiful, spotted pit bull.”
He is currently working on the second book of the series, “Sober Slogans.”
Keep in touch with Jeff here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soberslogans
Instagram: @sober_slogans
Email: soberslogans@gmail.com
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Peace and abundance,
Vince Shifflett
I love this Jeff, the is definitely power in words.
Excellent read and thank you for sharing your truth. Voices save lives. Alakazam Fam✌