Finding inspiration in recovery can sometimes be a challenging task, but can make a huge difference. When someone is inspired in recovery they find more joy and pleasure in daily activities leading to an overall better quality of life.
When someone makes the decision to get clean and sober they have chosen to take their life back from the powerful grip of abuse and addiction. They became sick and tired of living a life that they had little to no control over. The person in recovery decided that they wanted more out of life, something made them to take that step. Staying inspired in recovery is imperative and can make all the difference in the world. While this can be difficult at times, there are some easy tricks to help one stay motivated while in recovery. This is extremely beneficial, especially in early recovery.
Gratitude List
Making a gratitude list every morning is a great way to start the day. Making a gratitude list is super easy and only takes a few minutes. Think of five or more things that you are happy to have in your life or that have happened recently. It doesn’t have to be anything profound or deep, it can be as simple as having running water and a roof over your head. Anything that you are pleased to have or have experienced. A good interaction with a friend/family member or the fact that you don’t have to wake up and use a substance to feel normal.
This gratitude list can be written down, said verbally to oneself or just thought. Do it in the shower, or on your way to work or to grab a coffee. It takes no time and helps one realize how much has changed since they were actively using.
The Little Things in Life
Appreciating the little things in life, especially as they occur, is an amazing trick to stay inspired in recovery. Once again these don’t have to be life-changing occurrences, just noticing birds chirping, how beautiful a sunset is, that you have clothes on your back and food to eat; are all great examples. When you appreciate these small things, life will seem better, because it is! When we view our lives as positive we will continue to stay motivated and inspired to continue what we are doing. This will also make it easier to complete a gratitude list.
Live in the Moment
Life can get a bit crazy, time can fly by and before you know it days even weeks have gone by. Living in the moment and making the best of it can help one stay inspired. Yes, life can get tedious at times, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t joy to be found in normal daily activities. Find those times and treasure them, stay mindful and become comfortable with yourself. Practicing meditation and partaking in mindfulness training can make this much easier. Guided meditation videos are available on YouTube for free, only take about five to ten minutes to complete and will help keep one grounded and in the moment. Things that used to trigger anger and worry will pass by like a cool breeze. When things don’t bother you and you become less reactive, it becomes easier to stay inspired in sobriety.
Set Goals
Setting and completing goals, even extremely small ones, can make a huge difference in one’s life. Checklists or to-do lists are a great way to stay organized and see growth in daily life. Start the day off by making your bed, this simple task really makes a difference. Starting your day off by completing this task, as mundane as it is, can make a big change in how that day will go. This isn’t just our suggestion, thousands of professionals agree that is will improve the overall quality of life and help keep one inspired throughout the day.
When you take a look at your to-do list, it can seem overwhelming, but take it slow and one thing at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be halfway done with it, and when you cross off a completed task that feeling of satisfaction can really help motivation levels.
Staying Motivated in Recovery
Try practicing these four easy hints in your daily life. These life hacks for inspiration will help improve day to day life and increase one’s overall happiness and self-worth. When someone is motivated throughout the day the chances of a relapse occurring will diminish. This will allow one to continue to grow and mature in their sobriety, building a better life for themselves and the ones they care about the most.
This article was contributed by Bill Weiss, Director of Community Engagement for RecoveryLocal
Funny Motivational Speakers How to Hire a Motivational Speaker
