For many individuals in recovery from addiction, the process goes beyond just overcoming substance dependence. It often involves rediscovering happiness and finding joy in life again. Ultimately, most people strive for happiness, and recovery provides the opportunity to stop self-destructive behaviors and start living a life of freedom. Though recovery is challenging, reclaiming your sanity, sobriety, and peace of mind can bring immense happiness after years of struggling with addiction.
While recovery may be difficult, it doesn’t have to be miserable. Just as addiction develops gradually through the accumulation of harmful habits, the journey to sobriety can lead to success by building and maintaining positive habits. To maximize your success in recovery, consider practicing these seven habits of highly successful people in recovery.
1. Play to Your Strengths
The 12 Steps encourage individuals in recovery to take a “fearless moral inventory,” acknowledging areas where personal growth is needed. This concept is valuable even outside of the 12-step program, as conducting an honest self-assessment can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. You might find that you are loyal, intelligent, creative, or a combination of these qualities. Perhaps you are kind and trustworthy, but also prideful or envious. By reflecting on both the positive and negative aspects of your character, you can recognize your strengths and become more aware of areas that need improvement.
It’s easy to fall into all-or-nothing thinking, focusing only on your flaws and spiraling into self-loathing, or becoming overconfident and believing you have nothing left to work on. By being honest with yourself, you can break free from this mindset, appreciating your strengths during tough times while staying humble when everything is going well.
2. Surround Yourself with Positivity
One of the key lessons in rehab is that to change your life, you must transform the way you think, what you do, and who you surround yourself with. In other words, it’s essential to immerse yourself in positivity and strive to radiate that same positivity to others and the world around you. For individuals in recovery, this also means avoiding environments or people that may trigger a relapse.
To minimize the risk of relapse, it’s important to change your surroundings. This goes beyond steering clear of old drinking buddies; it involves surrounding yourself with people who actively support your recovery. Not everyone in your life needs to champion your cause, but it’s helpful to be around those who respect your decision and encourage your health and happiness. Eliminating negativity, while challenging, is well worth the effort.
If finding positivity or escaping negativity is difficult at first, seek support in group therapy, support groups, or individual counseling. These resources can provide encouragement during times of temptation or stress. Addiction professionals and peers in recovery understand your struggles and can help you prioritize your recovery. Consider participating in:
Another key element is finding a sponsor who brings positivity, enthusiasm, and stability to your recovery. A sponsor should be someone you can contact anytime, offering open communication when you’re tempted to relapse. Whether you need a ride or a listening ear, they can guide you through challenging moments. When choosing a sponsor, look for someone who has been in recovery, understands you well, or is close to you, such as a best friend, parent, or sibling.
Ideal sponsors should:
3. Manage Stress Effectively
Life will inevitably present stressful situations from time to time. However, to achieve success in recovery, it’s crucial to minimize your exposure to stress. While this might seem challenging at first, there are practical steps you can take to reduce stress. The key is to manage your time, energy, and resources to avoid overexertion. Consider these strategies:
4. Seek Out the Positive and Sustain It
This habit involves actively recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of your life rather than overlooking them. Make it a point to notice and cherish even the small joys, such as a kind smile from a stranger, a sunny day, good news, or simply another day of sobriety. When you encounter moments of happiness, try to savor them and let them linger. Remind yourself of the benefits of living a sober life and the positive experiences still to come.
“Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can’t be done.” – Bo Bennett
If you need assistance maintaining a positive outlook, consider these six tips from positivity blog writer Henrik Edberg:
Find the silver lining in negative situations
Cultivate a positive perspective by identifying something to be thankful for or an opportunity within any scenario, whether it’s good or bad. Ask yourself questions like, “What is one positive aspect of this situation?” or “What opportunity does this situation present?”
Create and maintain a positive environment
As mentioned in the second habit, the people and surroundings you choose can greatly affect your mood. Surround yourself with supportive influences that uplift you, rather than those that bring you down.
Take things slow
Stress can gradually build up, leading us to react by rushing our thoughts and actions. This can lead to mistakes and increased anxiety. Instead, make a conscious effort to slow down, breathe deeply, and carefully consider your actions.
Don’t let fear hold you back
As FDR famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Starting new habits or taking on new challenges can be intimidating. Instead of focusing on potential negatives, assess what the worst-case scenario might be and whether it’s truly worth fearing. Often, your fears are exaggerated, and the worst outcome is manageable.
Add Positivity and Value to Others’ Lives
What you contribute to the world often returns to you in some form. While this isn’t guaranteed, it’s generally true that how you treat others can impact your own well-being. Therefore, strive to spread positivity and kindness in as many ways as possible. For example, actively listen to others, offer help when needed, and radiate positivity in your interactions.
Exercise and Maintain a Healthy Diet
Addiction to drugs and alcohol can disrupt the balance of healthy eating and regular exercise. Adopting a consistent aerobic exercise routine and a nutritious diet can help reduce the risk of developing or relapsing into addiction. Studies indicate that individuals who regularly exercise are less likely to misuse illicit drugs, and exercise provides behavioral and neurological benefits that protect against substance use disorders.
5. Don’t Exaggerate Minor Issues
It’s common to become absorbed in our own perspective, as it’s the one we experience constantly. This can sometimes lead us to blow small issues out of proportion. To manage these situations, take a moment to pause, breathe, and reassess. Try to view the situation from an outsider’s or another person’s perspective. Is it really as significant as it seems? It’s natural to have feelings, but you still have control over your reactions.
6. Explore New Sources of Enjoyment
A major challenge for individuals in recovery is finding new ways to enjoy life while staying healthy and sober. Although it may seem daunting initially, numerous opportunities can help replace substance use with enjoyable and health-promoting activities. Consider exploring local museums, enrolling in interesting classes, picking up a new hobby, attending music events, experimenting with cooking new recipes, or volunteering.
Even if you don’t feel like engaging in activities at first, give yourself time. Your brain’s dopamine levels need to adjust and recalibrate to sobriety, and eventually, you’ll discover activities that are fulfilling and enriching. Adopting a “fake it till you make it” attitude can help you through the early stages of recovery.
7. Maintain a Sense of Gratitude
Addiction is a devastating disease that can cause significant damage. While it’s easy to focus on the negative impacts of addiction, try to appreciate the positive aspects of your life. Recovery encourages us to be more thoughtful, aware of our emotions, and kind to ourselves and others. It offers a chance to improve ourselves, connect with others, and build a brighter future.
In Conclusion
At Sunrise Recovery Jeffersonville Indiana, we are committed to supporting our patients through education and personalized treatment. Although the battle against addiction can be challenging, our resources and support can help individuals on their journey to recovery. We offer residential treatment, an intensive outpatient program, and medical detox centers for those struggling with substance use disorders. If you or someone you know is facing substance abuse issues, please contact our admissions team for assistance.
