Look outside the box, Live outside the box

We have all heard many times "You have to look outside the box..." in order to find a creative answer. Sometimes, finding a creative answer for living sober is also "outside the box." In SAA, persons in recovery use the Circles tool. With and Inner Circle of activities which constitute a restart of sobriety date, a Middle Circle which is considered the danger zone prior to the inner circle behaviors, and the Outer Circle which is comprised of wholesome activities which encourage healthy living (mental, physical, and emotional health).
We don't always have to envision these as being circles...what if we imagine that they are boxes? For way to long, we have stuffed ourself into the inner box (imagine 3 boxes, each one fitting inside the other). That inner box is isolated, keeping us away from our support structures. The Middle box is less isolated, but still seems to be separated from the outside world. Now imagine the 3rd box, which at first holds the other boxes in...it is supposed to represent our Outer Circle--the 3rd circle....and in your imagination, destroy this 3rd box. You are left with only 2 boxes...EVERYTHING outside of those two boxes is "Outer Circle". This imagery gives you the picture that by thinking Outside the Box...the Outer Circle...is everything that is healthy and good for you. The choices of healthy behaviors can be never ending and ever-expansive...indeed, everything outside the box. Now imagine that you don't live in a box at all, that is simply where you store those old, unwanted, unneeded behaviors and feelings. You can LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX. Live in the realm of the Outer Circle; finding freedom, fun, health, and vitality among nurturing interaction with other human beings and your higher power.
Live Outside The Box.