Engage: Do The Work (Episode 3 - Archive)
Engage: Do The Work (Episode 3 - Archive)

Relational Recovery

Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about what it means to truly "do the work" in recovery, focusing on realistic effort, learning from failure and recognising patterns. The conversation connects intentional self-reflection with a better chance at long-term change and sobriety.

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6:40•6 May 2026

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Engage: Doing the Real Work of Recovery, Not Playing the Life Lottery

Episode Overview

Relying on chance or "lottery" thinking keeps people stuck; steady, intentional work creates real change.
Doing your own work is less about avoiding failure and more about failing differently and learning from it.
Self-reflection on what went well and what did not helps you repeat success and adjust unhelpful patterns.
Realistic goals and honest feedback from others can guide you toward areas where you’re more likely to succeed.
Identifying specific people, places and things linked to relapse increases the chances of future sobriety success.

“"What the benefit of doing your own work is, isn't about failing less. It's about failing differently."”

Curious about how others cope with the hard graft of staying sober? This conversation on Relational Recovery digs into what it really means to "do the work" rather than hoping life just magically improves. Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Hill talk honestly about effort, habits and failure, with a mix of gentle challenge and real encouragement.

Instead of living like Wes’s friend who said, "I'm just going to win the lottery," the pair talk about taking "slow, steady steps" toward growth. They link this directly to recovery: developing yourself brings friendship, skills, confidence and self-worth – and helps you make sense of past pain without pretending everything can be fixed overnight. Austin shares that "success isn't a guarantee in the future. Failure is," but reframes that in a surprisingly hopeful way.

Doing your own work isn’t about never slipping; it’s about "failing differently" and learning from what happens. You’ll hear them stress the importance of self-reflection: asking what went well, what didn’t, and how to repeat the good while adjusting the bad. The conversation also gets very practical for those wrestling with addiction.

Austin applies the same thinking to relapse: if someone keeps falling back into using, but refuses to ask why, "how are you going to learn in the future?" They highlight the classic "people, places, and things" idea and suggest really naming which ones trip you up, so you can spot patterns and make different choices. This episode suits anyone tired of quick fixes and ready to hear a realistic, kind-hearted push toward personal responsibility in recovery.

It’s honest about the certainty of failure yet confident that with reflection, feedback and intentional effort, you can set yourself up for a much higher chance of success. So what small piece of work on yourself are you ready to start today?

PreviousEngage: Do The Work (Episode 2 - Archive)