Can We Live To Good Purposes And Be Happy?

Can We Live To Good Purposes And Be Happy?

How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? This RAW Recovery Podcast episode drops into Dion’s daily reflection space, where recovery, service, and a bit of cheeky humour share the same seat. Centred loosely around Step Twelve and the question "Can we live to good purposes and be happy?", Dion talks through what it means to carry recovery principles into everyday life — family, work, community, and even local politics.

He jokes about his "smartass" mood, scam phone calls, and fish oil deliveries, but keeps coming back to a serious message: spiritual growth has to come first if life is going to feel useful and meaningful. You’ll hear him read from Al‑Anon and AA texts, using them to contrast control with trust: "I am my top priority.

I have to take care of myself first or I can't take care of other people." Letting go and letting a higher power work is key, but he’s clear this doesn’t mean sitting back when lives are at stake, especially around detox services and community support.

Instead, he asks, "God, what do you need from me?" rather than "God, we need to take care of this." Dion also tackles common recovery traps, like "two‑stepping" — staying stuck in Step One and carrying the message while quietly avoiding deeper work. He stresses that half measures won’t hold up long term and encourages working all twelve steps, building humility and character instead of waiting for pain to force change.

With side comments from familiar names like Amber and Nick in the chat, the atmosphere feels like a relaxed group sharing coffee and hard truths. It’s raw, candid, and focused on living AA principles beyond meetings — in difficult relationships, frustrating systems, and everyday choices.

If you’re wondering whether it’s really possible to be both sober and genuinely happy, this episode raises the question and lets you sit with it: what does living to "good purposes" look like in your own day-to-day life?