One advantage of being sober is that you have access to greater inner resources. Whereas in the past while you were using, you might have lacked focus, consistency, and reliability. Now that you’re sober you have the power to make healthy choices, go after what you want, and continue to move closer to your goals even if you get off course. With sobriety, you likely have clarity of mind, concentration, and commitment.
In turn, because of those inner traits, you’re able to reach goals. You have the ability to succeed. In fact, this is one reason why goals are so important. Some recovering addicts might think that sobriety is enough. However, sobriety is what gives you the inner resources to then reach your dream. When you know where you’re going you have more of a chance of getting there. Without a goal you can move aimlessly through your life. You can wander down the road to recovery but you might not be where you want to be in five years. It’s important to establish where you want to be, who you want to become, and how you’re going to get there. These goals are essential to keep in mind throughout your recovery.
Benefits to be Gained
And as you reach your goals, there are many benefits to be gained. For instance:
- You may experience a greater self esteem and self worth.
- You may experience a greater sense of self-confidence.
- You may feel good about your life in general.
- It can boost the feelings about where your life is headed.
- It can strengthen your recovery and boost a commitment to sobriety.
- Depending upon the goal, it can bring a great sense of joy. For instance, if you got sober to get your children back, then having this happen can be a great success.
- It can boost your confidence in reaching other goals.
- It can give a person a more optimistic view of their life.
- Reaching a goal can prevent relapse.
One Thing at a Time
In recovery, you may want to work on one area of your life at a time. Setting goals and reaching them in one area, and then moving on to other areas. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) outlined four major areas in which recovery takes place:
- health (overcoming the disease of addiction or illness)
- home (having a stable and safe place to live)
- purpose (engaging in meaningful activities)
- community (having supportive relationships and social networks)
If you’re already reaching your goals in recovery, then you might already know the great sense of accomplishment you can feel. To continue to give yourself an extra boost, you can write down each of your goals and how you achieved it. Keep track of all your successes so that on days when you’re feeling overwhelmed or defeated, you can return to your list of successes.
If you haven’t yet reached a life or recovery goal, write down what you want to achieve. You might also want to write down how you intend to reach it. Reaching goals in life can bring many benefits and can quickly turn a negative view of life into a positive one.