Simple Truth, Massive Shift: Why Recovery Is Built on Mindset, Not the Method

If you're in recovery, you're in a game...a high-stakes game of transformation. Not by accident. Not by force. But by design.

And if you’re going to be in this game, why not win it?

Every week, I get asked the same or similar question: "How do I know if this treatment center / therapist / coach / path is going to work?"

Fair question. Especially if you've tried and "failed" before. Especially if your last shot at healing didn’t land.

But here’s what I tell my clients (and they hate it at first):

That question is why IT won’t work. Because you're putting your power in the path instead of in yourself. And that’s not how transformation works.

It's Not About the Program. It's About YOU.

I’ve been in crappy meetings. I’ve had unhelpful coaches. I’ve walked through treatment centers that felt like adult daycare. And still...

They worked.

Why? Because I worked.

Because I showed up to win. To learn. To grow. To extract something from every opportunity, even if it wasn’t perfectly packaged.

This is what I call practicing recovery. Not just going through motions, but showing up with intention and ownership.

And this is what separates people who change their lives from people who stay stuck waiting for the "right plan."

The 5 Recovery Mindsets

Over time, I’ve seen people land in five distinct mindset categories when they enter recovery.

Let’s break them down:

1. Relentless Believers
   These are the ones who don’t wait for the stars to align. They create alignment. They say, "I don’t care where I go or who I’m with—I’m going to make this work." They show up like transformation is their job. Fueled by grit, not guarantees. This mindset wins.
2. Hopeful Observers
   They believe because they’ve seen it. Maybe their friend got sober. Maybe a story resonated. They think, "If he did it, maybe I can too." They’re watching. Still waiting. They haven’t stepped into ownership yet.
3. Fence-Sitters
   This is the most common starting point. They say, "Let’s see if this works for me." They’re open, but not committed. Not resisting... but not rising either.
4. Doubtful Dabblers
   They try a little. Just enough to later say, "See? It didn’t work." They never go all in. Half-measures, half-truths, half-effort, half ass. These are the people who confuse presence with participation.
5. Sabotage Strategists
   These are my favorites (sometimes). Not because they’re easy. Because they’re fire. They say, "I have bad luck. Nothing works for me. I’m the exception." But here’s the twist: they’re DOING recovery...just in reverse. Actively proving it won’t work instead of making it work. Flip their script? And they become unstoppable.

The Mountain You Climb vs. the Boots You Wear

Two hikers... They’re on the same mountain.

One is obsessed with their boots. Constantly adjusting, swapping, complaining. "These aren’t perfect!" they say.

The other? They tighten their laces and start climbing.

Guess who makes it to the top? The mountain isn’t the problem. Your mindset is. Your commitment is. Your willingness is.

Real Talk from a Client

A client once told me a treatment center I recommended "didn’t work."

I asked: Did you wake up early, move your body, read the book I gave you, bring deep questions into therapy?

"Some of it," he said.

Translation? You didn’t do it right. You weren’t all in.

So we did it right. And guess what? It worked. It became the foundation of his transformation... a moment we reflect on. Because now, he’s a monster in recovery. Crushing life. And using that same mindset to win in relationships, business, health... all of it. 

If you’re ready to do recovery right... schedule a call with me.

We’ll figure out if we’re a good fit, and by the end of the session, you’ll have a plan that makes success inevitable.

Text me directly at 949-320-3572 or schedule a call. Let’s stop the guessing. Let’s build your win.

Choose Your Category. Then Choose to Rise.

If something didn’t work before, ask yourself: Was it the program? Or was it how I showed up?

Recovery isn’t about being perfect. It’s about practicing.

It’s not about finding the path that works.

It’s about becoming the person who makes it work.

This is a recovery/health coaching education service only. It is not, and is not intended to be, medical treatment or recommendations for medical treatment. Actual medical treatment must come from your physician. Telephone or video consultations do not replace the need for seeing a doctor in person. Holding Doors recovery educators and coaches cannot diagnose or prescribe medications, treatment, or testing procedures. Holding Doors recovery educators and coaches can provide general information that may need to be reviewed and approved by that person’s own physician. Consultations are not considered to be medical advice or diagnosis