Dallas Bragg argues that relapse has no inherent meaning until you assign it one. He says labeling it good or bad is a construct, and rituals like starting over are superficial. The key to recovery is choosing how you interpret what happens.
Are you ready for the secret to stop relapsing? That is, nothing has a meaning. What I mean is everything around us— oops— is neutral. Nothing has meaning. And that includes relapse. It doesn't have a meaning until you give it meaning. In other words, relapse isn't good. Relapse isn't bad. Relapse is what you make of it. Starting days over and getting a new chip, this all ceremonial man-made garbage. You're a human with a free will. You get to assign meaning to everything. Relapse, addiction, your life, yourself. You get to decide what it all means, no one else. And therein truly lies the answer to happiness and recovery.
