As we write this, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games have just come to a close. Athletes from around the world competed over two weeks in a wide array of sports—some traditional and some less so. Every competitor from every country had toiled and trained to reach the pinnacle of their sport, and whether they medaled or not, it was clear everyone understood just how special the Olympic Games are.
The Olympics always offer up plenty of inspiring stories of individuals and teams overcoming the odds to accomplish something extraordinary. From our point of view, the Olympics can also provide plenty of inspiration for those who are in recovery from a substance use disorder. While recovery is no game, the Olympic Games shine a spotlight on some ideas that can be useful to those working to leave drugs or alcohol in the past.
Let’s take a look at some gold medal-worthy concepts that can be applied to your recovery.
You Should Always Believe in Yourself
In recovery, it can be all too easy to start to doubt yourself and your ability to move forward without drugs or alcohol in your life. Everyone—including world-class athletes—experiences self-doubt from time to time.
But Olympians remind us of the power of believing in yourself and pushing through the difficulties when doubts creep in. Making a choice to believe in yourself can help you overcome challenges that will almost certainly arise in recovery. One powerful way to bolster your belief in yourself is to repeat affirmations to yourself on a regular basis. It is a great way to make sure your inner voice is cheering you on rather than holding you back.
Setbacks Are a Reality but Not a Finality
You see a lot of joy at the Olympics when athletes do as well—or even better—than they were expected to do. But you also see a lot of tears and frustration from competitors who don’t reach their goals. In the end, however, the Olympics often remind us that setbacks are part of the process and success is always worth pursuing.
That is certainly true when it comes to your recovery. If you experience a setback—even a setback as serious as a relapse—it can be tempting to give up. A disappointment in recovery can make you feel as though you cannot possibly find ongoing success in your efforts to leave substances behind. But a setback is not the end of your story. When something goes wrong, it is time to get back to work (and back to treatment) to work toward making it right.
So Many People Are Rooting for You
While Olympic fans tend to root for the athletes who represent their home country, it is undeniable that folks from all over the world also cheer for athletes from near and far. A great athletic feat, an inspiring comeback, or a winning personality can endear an athlete to people no matter where they live or what flag they wave. And it is quite common to see athletes from different countries showing love and support for one another.
Something similar is true in recovery, too. When you have made the important choice to pursue a lasting recovery, all kinds of people in your life will be rooting for you to have success. It can be easy to forget that—just like it can be easy for an athlete to listen to the haters instead of the enthusiastic fans. But if you can remember to connect with those who offer you unconditional support, you will be firming up the foundations of your recovery.
As for the people who don’t support you for one reason or another? You should leave them behind. You don’t need their negative energy as you work toward your goals.
Success Can Look Different to Different People
For some people, simply making it to the Olympics is the greatest accomplishment of their career. For others, making it onto the podium to win a bronze or silver medal represents their personal best. And for others, the gold medal is attainable—but not necessarily over and over or in every event. Success can look different to different people even as participating in the Olympics binds them all together.
Recovery, of course, is not a competition at all. And that means there are lots of different ways to achieve personal success. The thing that binds people in recovery together is their shared commitment to trying to live free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. Beyond that, how you define success for yourself is up to you.
We Offer Gold Medal Care
At The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, we provide exceptional personalized care to people who are struggling with drugs or alcohol. We offer medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program that helps prepare you to get your recovery journey underway with confidence. We also provide an alumni program that keeps you connected with others who understand the twists and turns of recovery and with the experts at The Farley Center who can provide ongoing resources and support. If you are ready to get to work reclaiming your life from drugs or alcohol, we are ready to help.
