What is it about staying in the now that is so difficult for addicts and alcoholics? We’re usually either crying in our beer over the past, or anxiety-stricken over the future. The in-between is where we struggle, yet it’s the place we need to stay if we want to keep our sobriety date. This is not to say we should completely disregard our past, or fail to consider anything for our future, because we do need to remember where we’ve come from. We also need to lay bricks for where we’re going.
Recovery Is One Day At a Time
The way we go about our lives in recovery, is by taking everything we encounter, one day at a time. We are not promised tomorrow, or next week, or next year. We only have today, and some will say, “Today is a gift, which is why they call it the present.” The tendency to “future-trip” is common amongst addicts and alcoholics, and it can get us in trouble.
If you don’t stay in the present and stop worrying about not being able to drink at your wedding, on New Year’s Eve, or whatever other occasion, you can’t focus on what’s most important: staying sober today. Recovery is taken “one day at a time” for this reason: we cannot fit all of what is to come into what is right now. How are we supposed to carry the weight of years, maybe even decades into the future, with the precious moments of the present? There is a reason we get overwhelmed and flustered. The burden is simply too much to bear.
Stay Present
If you are doing the opposite of future-tripping, and dwelling on your past, you are shrouding yourself in shame, remorse, guilt, and any other feelings that will prevent you from moving forward. In treatment, you will learn to acknowledge your past experiences, own them, and move on. Part of moving on is addressing your wrongs, and making them right. This of course, is a nice thing to do for people we have hurt, but more importantly, it is for you. When you have a clear conscience, you no longer feel the need to dwell on the past, and now you can focus on the present.
If you are struggling, you may be future-tripping right now about getting sober and what your life will look like in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. At The Lakehouse Recovery Center, you don’t have to worry about anything. The absolute only thing you need to worry about is your life if you don’t get help. We want to help you; take this opportunity and leave your addiction behind. You can recover, you can do this, and you can pick up the phone and call us. We are available 24/7, toll-free at (877) SOBER | (877) 762-3707. Just for today, be your own champion, and let us help you.