---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In recovery, we try to take the opposite…"
description: "\"“In recovery, we try to take the opposite of our character defects/shortcomings and turn them into principles. For example, we work to change fear into..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/anonymous-1_anxiety-and-worry_in-recovery-we-try-to-take-the-opposite_1421246.jpg"
---

#  In recovery, we try to take the opposite of our character…

![“In recovery, we try to take the opposite of our character defects/shortcomings and turn them into principles. For example, we work to change fear into faith, hate into love, egoism into humility, anxiety and worry into serenity, complacency into action, denial into acceptance, jealousy into trust…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/anonymous-1_anxiety-and-worry_in-recovery-we-try-to-take-the-opposite_1421246.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/anonymous-1_anxiety-and-worry_in-recovery-we-try-to-take-the-opposite_1421246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/anonymous-1_anxiety-and-worry_in-recovery-we-try-to-take-the-opposite_1421246.jpg)

> ““In recovery, we try to take the opposite of our character defects/shortcomings and turn them into principles. For example, we work to change fear into faith, hate into love, egoism into humility, anxiety and worry into serenity, complacency into action, denial into acceptance, jealousy into trust, fantasizing into reality, selfishness into service, resentment into forgiveness, judgmentalism into tolerance, despair into hope, self-hate into self-respect, and loneliness into fellowship. Through this work we learn to understand the principles of our program.””

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Transforming personal flaws into virtues creates a framework for lasting recovery.

**In simple terms:** Turn weaknesses into strengths.

Key Takeaway

Apply the opposite principle to each flaw.

Themes

self‑improvement recovery psychology

Mood

hopeful motivational

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- therapy
- support groups
- personal development

Key Concepts

cognitive restructuring behavioral change

Questions to Reflect On

- Which flaw will you address first?
- How will you measure progress?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑seated habits can be difficult and slow.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety and worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-and-worry/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/)

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> [I wish you a healthy recovery. May you soon get back to the best of your health. Take your care. Get well soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-you-a-healthy-recovery-may-you-soon-get-back-to-the-best-of/)

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Mike Davies

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[Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/)

> [I think one thing that does cause unhappiness is protracted anxiety and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-one-thing-that-does-cause-unhappiness-is-protracted-anxiety/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

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[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

> [Worry... is rust upon the blade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hughes/worry-is-rust-upon-the-blade/)

[Simon Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hughes/)

> [Writers, at least writers of fiction, are always full of anxiety and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/writers-at-least-writers-of-fiction-are-always-full-of-anxiety-and/)

[Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/)

> [“Love starts with loving and accepting yourself as you are. Loving yourself and selfishness are two different things. To love and accept yourself does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-dhyan-giten/love-starts-with-loving-and-accepting-yourself-as-you-are-loving/)

[Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/)

> [I see that I am inwardly fashioned for faith and not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/i-see-that-i-am-inwardly-fashioned-for-faith-and-not-for-fear-fear-is/)

[E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/)

> [By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man's heart and make a dwelling for himself there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/by-the-anxieties-and-worries-of-this-life-satan-tries-to-dull-man-s/)

[Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/)

> [Nothing comes so naturally to a human being as anxiety and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-richardson/nothing-comes-so-naturally-to-a-human-being-as-anxiety-and-worry/)

[Brian Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-richardson/)

> [It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man that he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hughes/it-is-not-work-that-kills-men-it-is-worry-work-is-healthy-you-can/)

[Simon Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hughes/)

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[Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

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[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Anxiety and worry quotes

> [Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/unease-anxiety-tension-stress-worry/)

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[Brian Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-richardson/)

> [By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man's heart and make a dwelling for himself there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/by-the-anxieties-and-worries-of-this-life-satan-tries-to-dull-man-s/)

[Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/)

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[Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/)

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[Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/)

> [Worry... is rust upon the blade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hughes/worry-is-rust-upon-the-blade/)

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> [I think one thing that does cause unhappiness is protracted anxiety and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-one-thing-that-does-cause-unhappiness-is-protracted-anxiety/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

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[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Fear ringed by doubt is my eternal moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/fear-ringed-by-doubt-is-my-eternal-moon/)

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[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

[Browse all 30 Anxiety and worry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-and-worry/)

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