Why do I want success? Do I think it will mean I don’t have to worry anymore? Do I think I’m supposed to have achieved something in particular by a certain age? Do I secretly think my real life will begin once I’ve reached a certain level in my career?

All of these thoughts fail to account for a reality that’s often expressed in the rooms of recovery: that nothing is wasted. The most tangled weeds left by my disease can yield to new life.

So I don’t have to be afraid of failure, because failure can serve a purpose. I can learn from it and gain experience, and someday that experience might allow me to help someone else.

Today, if I’m chasing success, I will remember that success is not really that important. If I fail, my Higher Power can make use of that experience.