Embrace that Sobriety is a Journey and Destination
If you’ve ever built a business, obtained a college degree, or wrote a book, you might already know the experience of going on an inner journey. Sure, getting a college education was going to lead you to the destination of possessing a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or PhD. But it was the journey of learning, strengthening your skills, and preparing yourself for working in a new field.
Any big endeavor in life, such as achieving long-term sobriety, is going to take you on a journey. In fact, that endeavor is going to be both a journey and a destination.
When you’re in recovery from addiction and you’re working on getting sober, you’re going to experience the ups and downs of traveling the road to recovery. This may mean you’re going to encounter some wild places, some serene valleys, wonderful adventure, and incredible challenges. And the journey is going to require the right tools, supplies, and support along your way.
You’re going to need friends and family. You’re going to need mental health professionals to support the steps you take forward. Without this kind of assistance on your journey, you’re more vulnerable to relapse and never reaching the destination you’re after. Recovery is just like going on a journey of exploration and adventure.
At the same time, when you’re on a journey, you must have a destination. Someone trekking through Europe might want to stay open to having a wide range of experiences. Yet, they also know the countries they want to visit, the historic sites they want to see, and the types of people they want to meet. They might stay open to a new and interesting adventure, but they do in fact have specific destinations.
A Vision Helps You in Recovery
The same is true in recovery. You’ll need to have a destination in mind, while taking steps forward. What do you want your life to look like? How do you see yourself in 5, 10, or 20 years? Perhaps you have a vision for your life that’s similar to the following:
You’re completely sober and happy. You have a loving family, a rewarding job, and you’re working on the projects you’ve always wanted to do but felt like you can’t.
This is your destination. This is where you want to be. With a clear destination in mind, you can take the steps today that will bring you closer and closer to future you want tomorrow. In fact, no matter what your vision is – including getting sober – gives you a clear picture of what you need to do to get there.
For instance, when the goal of long-term sobriety is broken down into small action steps (such as attending AA meetings, enrolling in drug treatment, mending your relationships with family and friends, and securing a sponsor/mentor), what at first might seem like an overwhelming dream to achieve slowly feels possible.
Recovery is Possible
With identifying the small steps, recovery becomes more manageable. And this in turn creates hope and the confidence that recovery is possible.
Recovery is both the destination of achieving a new and sober life while also taking each and every step on the journey to get there.
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