Sometimes I relapse in my emotional sobriety, often at work. I binge on worry, anger, or feeling victimized by circumstances and people. When that happens, sometimes it feels like I’m getting an F in my program. Shouldn’t I be doing better by now?

Today, if I’m trying to pull myself out of an emotional relapse, I won’t belabor the process by passing judgment on it. I’ll ask my Higher Power to show me what I need now, what tool I can use to work through this. Maybe it’s a tool I’ve used before, like a Fourth Step. Or maybe there’s something new for me to learn. That might be why this difficulty is in my path in the first place.

As I’ve heard people say in recovery, sometimes old behavior returns, but it doesn’t have to stay for long. An old tool can work again, or a new tool can point me in a new direction.