______________________
The effort we put into our recovery is similar to someone walking in the forest who has determined that the deer paths, which offer easy travel, actually lead nowhere. Having learned that it is unwise to continue walking the paths she has traveled, she undertakes the hard work of creating her own path. A part of her effort moving forward will be devoted to abstaining from the well-worn paths to nowhere; another part of her effort will be devoted to blazing a new trail. She will need a lot of energy. The work will be relentless. She must be as well. With each day that she abstains from walking the old deer trails, they become more overgrown, offering her less and less of a temptation. With each day that she walks her new trails, they become increasingly smooth and wide.
In this section we will look closely at the role effort plays in the spiritual traditions that can support your recovery.