‘Success is not achieved by winning all the time. Real success comes when we rise after we fall. l am grateful for my victories, but l am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder. No one starts out on top. You have to work your way up. Some mountains are higher than others, some roads steeper than the next. There are hardships and setbacks, but you can’t let them stop you. Even on the steepest road, you must not turn back. You must keep going up. ln order to reach the top of the mountain, you have to climb every rock.’
– Muhammad AIi
Recovery Message:
Real transformation doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from persistence. Setbacks, slips, relapses, and failures aren’t the end—they’re part of the climb. Like Ali said, “You have to climb every rock.” Recovery is not about starting on top, it’s about staying in the fight even when you’re down. It’s built on resilience, not reputation. Every fall can become a foothold if you learn from it and keep climbing.
Journal Prompts Inspired by the Quote:
“What have I learned from my past losses, relapses, or setbacks? How did they make me stronger or more determined?”
“Where in my life am I expecting to ‘start on top’? What would it mean to accept that I’m still climbing?”
“Describe a time when you wanted to turn back on the ‘steepest road.’ What helped you keep going—or what might help next time?”
“What does it mean to ‘climb every rock’ in your recovery? What rocks are in front of you right now?”
“List the ‘mountains’ you’ve already climbed in recovery. What did it take to reach each summit?”
“Ali says he’s grateful for his losses. What loss or failure in your life are you beginning to see as a teacher instead of just pain?”
English 
Spanish 
French