LifeRing Secular Recovery: The 3-S Philosophy

Starting your recovery journey may feel daunting, as the options for treatment are vast and varied. Understanding your personal needs and goals in recovery may take time and support, and can feel overwhelming. LifeRing Secular Recovery understands these feelings and offers an easy and welcoming place for you to effortlessly begin your sober journey.

With their clear goals of a secular, abstinence-based lifestyle supported by community and peers, you’re able to jumpstart your sobriety and find your personal goals and needs along the way.

Key Facts

• LifeRing is a free resource for those seeking recovery.
• LifeRing does not offer any therapy or medical support and is based on the abstinence-only model, promoting complete sobriety for members.
• Personal Recovery Plans are promoted, placing the responsibility and power of recovery solely on the one in recovery.
• LifeRing offers a different model than 12-step meetings, as it promotes individuality and doesn’t hold a 12-step framework.
• Combining the LifeRing platform with other recovery modalities proves beneficial and easy.

LifeRing Secular Recovery: Overview

LifeRing Secular Recovery offers some key features:

• Non-religious-based platform
• Complete sobriety model
• Peer and community support meetings
• Self-directed recovery
• Individualized goal setting

LifeRing offers recovery support without the influence of religious ideologies, all while promoting individualized and self-directed recovery pathways.

It serves to bring positive recovery through peer-based support in meetings and support communities, assisting you to empower your sober self. 

LifeRing focuses on an abstinence-based recovery model, encouraging complete sobriety from alcohol and drugs, unless medically indicated.

All those who are a part of the LifeRing community are expected to abstain from all drug and alcohol use to support their own recoveries, while also supporting others. 

What LifeRing Is (and What It Isn’t)

Standing apart from other recovery platforms and tools, LifeRing does not offer therapy or medically assisted recovery options.

Rather, LifeRing wants all members to support one another by maintaining sobriety and sharing their sober lifestyle and tips with other members.

Instead, LifeRing centers around peer-run support meetings, where mutual encouragement and practical sharing are given. All advice remains secular, meaning all religiosity is removed from discussions.

With this framework, LifeRing requires:

• No prayer
• No required spiritual beliefs
• No higher power framework

By removing the religious or higher power focus from recovery, LifeRing places itself into a different recovery model than most 12-Step meetings, where a higher power and prayer are foundational to the program.

This secular recovery platform may be appealing to those seeking recovery who have a negative relationship with religious frameworks or who want to avoid a higher power in their recovery.

When a higher power or religion in recovery is removed, those seeking sobriety are more empowered to fully choose their own path. This self-direction is a primary focus of the LifeRing secular recovery model. 

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Who LifeRing Is For (and When It May Not Fit)

LifeRing may be great for you if you’re looking for:

• Newly sober or long-term sobriety support
• A complete abstinence model
• Autonomy in recovery goals and direction
• Practical and present-focused support groups

Whether you are just beginning your recovery or maintaining long-term sobriety, LifeRing is a great fit for those wanting a self-empowered recovery with a sole focus on a sober lifestyle, rather than a reduction in alcohol or drug use.

It’s important to consider your own goals before starting LifeRing recovery, as LifeRing is not designed as a moderation or harm reduction platform.

The primary focus of LifeRing is complete sobriety, so when you become a member of LifeRing secular recovery, there is an expectation of being completely clean and sober to participate.

Complete sobriety unites the LifeRing community and empowers further inclusivity among members.

While sober, people from all types of lifestyles are welcome at LifeRing, including those who struggle with co-occurring disorders, people who prefer non-religious recovery and those who are seeking a sober lifestyle without specific labels or sponsorships.

Key Differences from 12-Step Programs

LifeRing stands apart from 12-Step programs, offering a different model for those looking for a 12-step alternative:

• No sponsors
• No step-work requirements
• No expectation to identify as an “addict” or “alcoholic”
• Self-directed recovery
• “Don’t Drink Or Use No Matter What (DDOUNMW)” principle

Many people may find this model appealing, as they want to be in complete control of how they identify and how they manage their own recovery.

Working outside the 12-Step model, LifeRing members build their own Personal Recovery Plan (PRP), which allows greater freedom to choose recovery goals and steps, the people with whom they will place their trust and where they will find their sober support and identity.

With LifeRing, there is “one step” that many people in recovery search for: “don’t drink or use no matter what.” This motto is a simple guiding principle that encourages commitment to abstinence and discourages the idea of “relapse” being a part of recovery, which can sometimes be found in other recovery models.

Combining LifeRing With Treatment or Other Supports

Seeking recovery does not require using one form of support.

The LifeRing model of recovery can easily complement other recovery options, such as:

• Outpatient treatment (IOP)
• Recovery coaching
• Mutual-help groups
• Psychotherapy
• Medication support

Attending LifeRing meetings and building your own recovery plan can be the outlet you need to feel empowered, as addiction can often make one feel powerless.

However, combining LifeRing with other treatment options can also help create a firm and solid recovery program.

Outpatient treatment and therapy provide professional guidance that complements a peer-led support program such as LifeRing.

Lifewise, seeking medication management for addiction recovery can be necessary and something many people use to support their long-term sobriety.

Some people may desire a religious element to recovery but still want the self-direction of LifeRing, and may therefore choose to couple LifeRing with other, religious-based recovery supports.

The same can be done for preference in structure, discussions and social support needs.

Finding the right support for your individual recovery needs is crucial, and combining multiple resources with LifeRing simply allows for a well-rounded recovery plan, paving the way for success and a sober future.

The 3-S Philosophy and the “Sober Self”

LifeRing operates with a 3-S Philosophy for the “Sober Self.”

• Sobriety
• Secularity
• Self empowerment

These three tenets shape the meetings of LifeRing, as they become the foundation for all conversations.

Sobriety: Clear, Abstinence-Based Recovery

Sobriety in LifeRing means complete sobriety from all alcohol or drugs, unless medically indicated. Taking medication prescribed by a physician can be a necessary part of recovery and does not preclude anyone from seeking support with LifeRing.

LifeRing discourages the decreased use approach and emphasizes the importance of completely removing all substances from one’s life to maintain a strong foothold in recovery.

With LifeRing, “sober to share” is the norm in meetings, where those sharing must be sober, as that upholds the abstinence-based model of the LifeRing community.

Secularity + Self-Empowerment: Build Your Personal Recovery Plan

Secularity in LifeRing stems from the desire to welcome all members and ensure they feel comfortable sharing and joining conversations, without feeling pressured by multiple spiritualities or political views. 

No prayer, religion or political discussion is allowed in LifeRing meetings to maintain this sense of secularity and respect among members. 

People from all political backgrounds may attend meetings, but all conversations about those topics must remain outside of LifeRing meetings.

Self-empowerment with LifeRing means you are in charge of your recovery.

This is accomplished with LifeRing’s PRP basics:

• Setting weekly goals
• Identifying triggers
• Creating routines
• Personal coping skills
• Wellness habits
• Accountability
• Therapy (as needed)

LifeRing places sober responsibility onto members, as only the one in recovery can maintain their own sobriety, and must thereby feel ownership of their recovery.

LifeRing endorses the ‘Sober Self vs Addicted Self” concept, where strength in recovery comes from personal choices, coping skills and community reinforcement.

LifeRing Meetings: What to Expect

Attending your first LifeRing meeting is easy. Simply sign up on their website and join a meeting that works for your schedule.

Each meeting with LifeRing follows a similar “How Was Your Week?” format:

• Brief opening
• Check-In
• Shared challenges and wins
• Plans for the next week

With each meeting, there is a convenor or facilitator.

This person is a peer in recovery who will guide the discussion and keep the space respectful. If you are attending a LifeRing meeting for the first time, participate as much, or as little, as you’d like.

All discussions should remain focused on being sober and supportive, while staying present-focused and conversational. Individuals should be prepared to leave each meeting with a practical goal for the next 7 days.

Crosstalk, Guidelines and Confidentiality

Crosstalk with LifeRing is a defining feature, but must be done with respect and courtesy. All crosstalk must be supportive, while avoiding all “war stories,” glorification of drug use and unsolicited advice.

As always, political and religious discussions are not allowed in LifeRing, and debates among members are discouraged. Conversations in meetings should remain recovery-focused and encouraging.

LifeRing does hold some practical rules in each meeting:

• Strict confidentiality and anonymity
• No smoking
• Meetings are 1 hour or less
• All meetings are free or donation-based

Recovery is a personal and private journey, and LifeRing asks that all that happens in the meetings remain in the meetings, to preserve the safety among members.

Lifewise, LifeRing seeks to respect the time and resources of all members, asking that meetings run no longer than one hour and remain free for all who need the support.

How to Find Meetings and Stay Connected

Locating a meeting with LifeRing is easily done by navigating to the top of their webpage and clicking either the “Online Meetings” or “Local Meetings” tabs. You can then select a time and location that works best for your schedule.

Try attending at least one LifeRing meeting a week, as attending meetings is an important tool for recovery. The more support you’re given to stay clean, the higher your chance of recovery becomes.

Call A Treatment Provider

For a conversation about what treatment options are available to you.

Make a Call

800-985-8516
Sponsored Helpline