In recovery, “letting go” doesn’t mean you have to stop caring. It means you have to let go of the things that don’t positively serve you and your recovery. When people take this 12-Step principle to heart and find true happiness and fulfillment, they’re more likely to hold onto sobriety. Those who can’t find happiness in sobriety are more likely to relapse.
Ruts in recovery are inevitable, and sometimes they can be tough to get out of. These tips will help you get back in touch with yourself, your recovery and push through.
1. Be kind.
In life and especially in recovery, it’s so important to be kind to others – and ourselves. When acting purely out of kindness, positive results follow, and it helps create a physical environment and mental headspace that are favorable to recovery.
We all make mistakes, and many in recovery struggle with reconciling their past, but beating yourself up for things you’ve done does nothing positive for recovery. What’s in the past can’t be changed, so instead of dwelling on the things that are out of your control, shift your mindset and think about how you can grow from those experiences.
Recovery is already a challenging process. Why make it harder by being unkind?
2. Participate in your recovery.
What have you done for your recovery today? Have you gone to a meeting, journaled or met with your therapist? Engaging in your recovery by regularly attending meetings, going to therapy, journaling, reading and spending time with people who support you are all things you should be doing on a consistent basis, and they can re-inspire you out of a rut.
3. Stop trying to be perfect.
Perfection is impossible, and your recovery journey is not immune to mistakes and setbacks. While these setbacks can be frustrating, they can also help you grow. Instead of trying to live up to an impossible standard, try to have a broader perspective on your recovery progress and improve your understanding of how everything contributes to your success.
4. Pray and meditate.
Self-care is critical to recovery, and incorporating prayer and meditation into your daily routine can help you achieve mental clarity and oneness with yourself. Taking even 5 minutes a day for yourself can help keep your recovery on track. At BRC Recovery, spirituality is fundamental to our treatment philosophy. Connecting with a Higher Power, whatever that Higher Power may be, through prayer and meditation promotes well-being and peace of mind.
5. Think mindfully.
Recovery requires you to be present and mindful of yourself and others, a skill that meditation can help you improve. By being able to objectively observe and process your feelings and behaviors – as well as the feelings and behaviors of others – you’ll be able to feel comfortable relinquishing the need to be in control, something that many people in recovery have a tough time giving up.
6. Don’t compare yourself to others.
It’s easy to lose sight of the progress you’ve made if you’re always comparing yourself to others, especially in the residential treatment setting. Instead of getting frustrated about how your progress compares to that of others, remember that everyone has been dealt a different set of cards and is in a different stage of recovery.
We often view other people’s lives through an unrealistic lens, forgetting that even though they appear to be happier/better/in control/etc., they’re a person too, and they’re dealing with the same complicated emotions as you and everyone else.
Everyone gets into recovery ruts, but you don’t have to stay there. Letting go and opening yourself up to happiness and new ways of living can help you manifest more positive changes in your life and sustain lasting sobriety. For more information about BRC Recovery’s 12-Step Immersion Program or our other recovery services, contact us at 1-866-461-1759.