I could have easily given into my demons of alcohol instead of staving off all the urges and cravings. I had to make sure I reached out to someone who would hold me accountable and not leave me to my methods, which proved vital in my journey. As someone who has been in recovery for nearly 30 years, I have discovered that there will be days when things do not go as planned. Perhaps your job is not going in the direction you had planned, and you did not get a promotion that you felt you deserved.
Michael J. Rounds is the author of 10,000 Days Sober and an addiction recovery specialist at a correctional facility Review Review Hope House in Indiana. This may be the most difficult and important prompt on your journey. We cannot be good at everything we try, and that’s something to be grateful for. Practice sitting comfortably with the thought of being just okay at something. Let’s share a few tips together to prepare yourself for the first steps of your new beginning.
Bob Ross’s painting show ran for more than a decade. Not every mess will become magic, but every difficult moment will have something to teach you- something you’ll be able to carry into your next canvas to create magic. You don’t have to sabotage a future life in recovery over a current crisis. Mistakes, messes, and setbacks don’t mean the end of a painting, and they won’t stop you from flourishing in life either.
If you are in recovery, you must step out of your comfort zone to assist the person new to recovery down the right path. Another way is to keep your focus on yourself. There are times when you will have to do whatever it takes to hit your reset button. On those days when you are at work, complete a wellness check to avoid falling back into old habits. Some days you must turn off the brain to fully appreciate the moment as it comes.
I decided to dedicate my life to helping men rebuild their lives. Your task is to make an effort to stay sober. You will constantly have to work on yourself to realize the value of recovery and, you are worth the work. You will always need to read the whole story and remember just how far down your alcoholism or drug addiction brought you. The point is to do everything in your power to prevent yourself from ever getting close enough to giving in to using it again. In 2018, I experienced one of the darkest days of my life when I lost my 15-year-old daughter to the tragedy of suicide.
Through the process of recovery, we have found that no feeling is surpassed more than that of being a part of something greater than ourselves. Find room for the practice of accepting (and if you’re ambitious, celebrating) mediocrity in some of your skills or experiences. You do not have to be great or even good at something for it to have a worthwhile benefit in this part of your story. “If you come & follow our program, your life will be totally changed. Sober Softball is a great way for our guys to have fun in recovery, & to learn how to laugh again. Call Villa Kali Ma today if you or a loved one is looking for new beginnings in sober living.
Even in uncertainty for what the future holds, hope will bloom. Spend a moment absorbing these prompts and take what you need to support your next move. Is it a new life in recovery or just a new hobby? No matter the size of your fresh start, it might feel a little intimidating to begin. It’s scary and mysterious and exciting and confusing.
Make space to honor the endings that made space for your beginnings. Adventure, experience, loss, relationships, and chance will carry you through their journeys before a new one begins. The use of quotes and inspirational words is nearly limitless, so apply them liberally to your life.
The important thing is to not fall back into a life of addiction. Inspiring words take up little space yet leave a lasting imprint on your thoughts. Words to live by can be a question, a challenge, or simply a reminder to yourself about the life you intend to build for yourself in recovery.