Humble Wins: Shayne Jansen’s Sobriety and Success Story
At a Glance
- Shayne Jansen’s journey: From reality-TV fame to sobriety, he rebuilt his life through therapy, structure, and healthy routines.
- Sobriety and success: Recovery can bring energy, focus, and visible transformation—but true growth lies in staying grounded.
- Humility practices: Anchoring to your “why,” sharing credit, practicing service, and curating supportive environments help prevent ego from taking over.
- Lasting recovery: Success in sobriety isn’t about perfection but about daily progress, community, and keeping gratitude at the center.
Table of Contents
Early attention can be intoxicating. For Love Is Blind’s Shayne Jansen, reality‑TV visibility brought VIP lines, constant invitations, and a “say yes to everything” rhythm that eventually caught up with him. After a public low point, he pressed pause: no more drugs or alcohol, a move to a new city, therapy, and a training routine that rebuilt his day from the ground up. The results were obvious on the outside—and more importantly, steadier on the inside.
If you’re sober or getting there, you already know the paradox: sobriety often opens doors—energy returns, work improves, relationships heal—and success follows. The question is how to enjoy those wins without letting ego rewrite the script. Here are principles and practices that help keep success grounded.
1) Keep your “why” within reach
Write the two or three reasons you chose sobriety—health, family, peace, purpose—on a card or your phone lock screen. Review them before big decisions, media posts, or celebrations. Anchoring to your “why” keeps momentum from becoming mania. If spirituality is part of your ‘why,’ explore how to define your higher power.
2) Build a boring (on purpose) backbone
Recovery thrives on rhythm. A simple daily backbone—sleep window, meals, movement, meetings/therapy (or step down to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Austin) work blocks, and true off‑time—is a humility practice. It says, “I’m not the exception today.” Jansen points to therapy and structure as guardrails; that’s not flashy, but it’s durable.
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3) Share credit—out loud
When good things happen (a promotion, PR, PR‑set in the gym, a milestone), name who helped: your counselor, sponsor, training partners, family (consider our family program), colleagues. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less—and that starts with widening the spotlight.
4) Measure inward wins, not just outward ones
Before/after photos and metrics can motivate, but recovery is also measured in amends made, boundaries kept, cravings navigated, and nights slept. Track one internal metric daily (e.g., “kept boundaries,” “called sponsor,” “handled HALT—Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired”). Outward success sits on these invisible wins. A relapse prevention plan ties these inner wins to concrete triggers, coping steps, and support.
5) Practice service as a verb
Pick a tiny daily service that costs you something—time, attention, comfort. Text a newcomer, cover a meeting chore, share a resource, mentor someone at work, or volunteer outside recovery. Service keeps the channel flowing outward so ego has less room.
6) Curate your environment (relentlessly)
Jansen moved to reduce temptations and reset routines. You may not relocate, but you can redraw places, people, and patterns that pull you backward: different gym hours, new social defaults (coffee walks over bar nights), and time‑boxed social media. For some, sober living in Austin make a structured reset possible. Environments are louder than willpower.
7) Use “public” wisely
Posting milestones can inspire others; it can also become a new high. A good rule: share the process, not the pedestal. If you do post, include one concrete tool (what helped this week) and one acknowledgement (who kept you honest). Keep the focus on the path, not the pose.
8) Keep one truth‑teller
Have at least one person who can say, “You’re doing too much,” and you’ll listen. That might be a sponsor, therapist, coach, or partner. Schedule the check‑in; don’t wait for a crisis to make the call.
9) Celebrate without sedation—or performance
Plan rewards that don’t lean on old cues: a hike, a class, a day trip, a meal with friends who knew you “before.” If fitness is part of your story, treat it as a healthy outlet alongside therapy, not a replacement for it. (That pairing—therapy + discipline—is exactly what helped Jansen change course.)
10) “Progress, not perfection”
Wins can tempt all‑or‑nothing thinking. Humility remembers: good days stack; bad days teach. Either way, you start again in the morning.
How Nova Recovery Center Supports Lasting Sobriety and Success
Shayne Jansen’s turnaround underscores a sober truth: success is a by‑product of alignment—values, routines, and community pulling in the same direction. Keep those aligned, and you can enjoy the success sobriety brings without letting success run the show.
Nova Recovery Center provides a structured pathway for individuals who want to achieve both sobriety and long-term success. Through evidence-based treatment programs, clients learn the tools and strategies necessary to maintain recovery in daily life. The center emphasizes a full continuum of care, from medical detox to residential treatment, outpatient programs, and sober living options, ensuring ongoing support at every stage. With a focus on individualized treatment plans, Nova helps each person address the root causes of addiction and build a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Experienced counselors and staff guide clients through therapy, relapse prevention, and life-skills development. Beyond clinical care, the center encourages personal growth by fostering accountability, humility, and service—qualities that support sustainable recovery. Clients are also immersed in a supportive community where peers share similar experiences, reinforcing connection and resilience. At Nova, sobriety is not only about overcoming addiction but also about creating a meaningful, successful future built on confidence, humility, and lasting wellness.
FAQ: Staying Humble in Sobriety & Building Success
How do you have a successful recovery?
A strong recovery pairs professional treatment with daily structure, trigger awareness, and support systems; programs that emphasize skills, stress management, and routine tend to produce steadier outcomes.
What are the best tips to stay sober day‑to‑day?
Identify your triggers, plan alternatives for high‑risk situations, keep a predictable schedule, and stay connected to therapy or peer groups; simple habits like sleep, meals, and movement matter more than willpower spikes.
What is emotional sobriety?
It’s the capacity to regulate emotions, set boundaries, and respond (not react) without substances—often the foundation that keeps physical sobriety intact.
What is “pink clouding” and how do I manage it?
“Pink clouding” is the early‑recovery euphoria that can lead to overconfidence. Manage it with structure, meetings/therapy, and honest check‑ins so motivation doesn’t outpace safeguards.
What are common relapse triggers—and how do I avoid them?
Triggers are internal (stress, anger, loneliness) and external (people, places, routines). Name yours, build coping steps, and change environments that cue old habits.
What is a relapse‑prevention plan?
It’s a written playbook that lists your triggers, early warning signs, coping tools, support contacts, and emergency steps—kept visible and reviewed regularly.
Is quitting alcohol “cold turkey” dangerous?
For people with dependence, yes—withdrawal can be severe. Talk to a clinician about tapering or medical detox before stopping.
How long does it take to “sober up”?
As a rule of thumb, the body processes about one standard drink per hour; coffee and cold showers don’t lower blood alcohol—time does.
Does exercise actually help with sobriety?
Moderate, regular physical activity can reduce cravings, lift mood, and complement therapy—think of it as an adjunct, not a replacement, for treatment.
Should I change my environment—or even move—to protect sobriety?
Altering “people, places, and things” that cue use is a classic early‑recovery tactic; relocation can help some, but it works best alongside treatment and support.
What is Step 7 in AA—and what does humility mean in recovery?
Step 7 centers on humility—acknowledging limitations, asking for help, and practicing teachability—which keeps ego from derailing progress as life gets better.
How do I stay humble as success returns in sobriety?
Keep your “why” visible, share credit, serve others, and maintain boring‑on‑purpose routines (sleep, meetings/therapy, movement). Humility is practiced, not proclaimed.
Is Love Is Blind’s Shayne Jansen sober now?
Recent coverage reports he quit drugs and alcohol, moved to Austin to reduce triggers, and leaned on fitness and structure while emphasizing mental health.
