Creating a legacy of hope begins when strength is redefined. Many believe strength means holding it all together, never showing weakness, and never letting anyone see you fall. But for those battling addiction, real strength often looks very different. It’s not about pretending everything is fine. Rather, it’s about finding the courage to admit when it’s not.
We know that addiction doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about fame, success, or accomplishments. It can reach anyone, no matter how untouchable they may seem from the outside. And yet, recovery proves that surrender and honesty — two things we’re often taught to see as weakness — are actually the foundation of resilience.
The beautiful gift about recovery is that once it touches one person, the impact is felt beyond a single life. Recovery is all about leaving a legacy of hope for others to find meaning and purpose in their lives as well.
Houston Astros Hall of Famer Opens Up About His Battle with Addiction, Finds Strength in Recovery
What if surrendering to your current addiction meant winning your future recovery?
What if being honest about your struggle meant finding a breakthrough?
Our guest shares his journey with alcohol addiction and how he finds freedom through humility and surrender.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of honesty in sharing your story and struggle. Jeff reminds us that when we are honest with ourselves and where we are at, this strengthens our recovery. When we have a strong community to help guide us along the way, we are able to make healthier and safer choices.
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Meet Our Guest, Jeff Bagwell
MLB Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, shares with us that despite fame and success, no one is immune to addiction. But Jeff shares how sobriety has allowed him to leave a legacy of hope for adolescents in addiction.
Jeff Bagwell is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.
Jeff knows firsthand that recovery isn’t just about a personal transformation; it’s also about paving the way for others. He feels a deep responsibility to use his platform to reach adolescents who may be struggling. By speaking out, he shows young people that no matter their background, addiction can be overcome and a meaningful future is possible.
“It doesn’t matter what my Hall of Fame stats are, I’m still as vulnerable as anyone to this disease,” he admits. “But there is hope. There is hope that we can recover from addiction.”
This legacy of hope is perhaps Jeff’s greatest achievement, far beyond the baseball diamond.
Surrendering to Win
One of the most powerful lessons Jeff shares is that surrender is not defeat, but victory. For years, he believed admitting his struggle meant losing. In recovery, he realized the opposite was true.
“It took a long time for me to realize that you’re surrendering to win, not surrendering to lose,” Jeff explains. “Part of my Recovery was getting over myself and what I was losing when, in the end, I’ve won.”
This shift in perspective reframes recovery as a process of gaining freedom, not losing control, of choosing life over illusion. Surrender opens the door to growth, allowing space for healing to begin. By letting go of the fight to control what cannot be controlled, Jeff discovered peace and strength that no amount of external success could provide.
The Power of Honesty
Jeff also speaks to the importance of honesty, both with ourselves and with others. Shame and guilt thrive in silence, but truth brings freedom.
“If you are honest and tell people the real truth and let them decide on which way to go, generally, I believe people will go the right way,” he says. “If you know the truth, there’s no escaping it.”
Honesty not only builds trust with others, it builds trust within ourselves. Each time we tell the truth about where we’re at, we break down the walls of denial and create a foundation strong enough to carry recovery forward. Jeff’s story is a reminder that honesty is not just about admitting past struggles, but also about continually checking in with yourself and staying grounded in your truth.
Finding Strength in Community
Another cornerstone of Jeff’s recovery is community. Even as a Hall of Famer with decades of success, he acknowledges that recovery cannot be done alone. Surrounding yourself with people who understand, guide, and support you makes every choice stronger and every breakthrough possible.
If there is one message for those in recovery is that we do recover and we do heal together. Community provides a safe place to share, to be vulnerable, and to be reminded that you are not alone. In Jeff’s case, finding strength in others gave him the courage to keep moving forward, demonstrating that support systems are essential to long-term recovery.
Enjoyed This Conversation on Leaving a Legacy of Hope?
If you loved this conversation about the gift of humility and how it allows us to help others, the power of being honest with your story (and your struggles), and how to leave a legacy of hope for those in recovery, you can listen to the full episode here.
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