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Encountering challenges are inevitable in life. The problem is you can't predict where and when the next challenge will come. However, you can control how you react when dealing with an obstacle. Learning how to control how you react takes patience and persistence. If, up until now, you have struggled with learning how to manage your emotions in times of challenge, you not only harm your health, success, and sobriety, but you stand to impact the lives of others around you negatively.
Being in a negative headspace when overwhelmed by a current problem you face drains the energy and optimism needed to move past the issue. Likewise, always trying to chase the big picture without focusing on the steps to get there can also prevent you from overcoming challenges and even create more issues.
The little things you do matter. They might not feel so prominent in the immediate, but these small acts create huge waves over time. They are the building blocks for solid relationships, career opportunities, and they help expand your recovery playbook. Let's look closer into how the little things help you create a more successful personal and professional life.
STAYING GRATEFUL BY BUILDING RECOVERY FAMILIES
Remaining grateful takes understanding that you are not alone in your recovery journey. Part of recovery is about mending and rebuilding relationships with loved ones you know you can trust and support you. Recovery is also about growing your network with those you meet in support groups, meetings, and therapy. Part of this process takes an understanding of yourself and practicing forgiveness. It also takes understanding that forgiveness will happen during their time frame, not yours. Remaining grateful and moving forward will eventually show others that care about you that you have transformed as a person, and forgiveness will come.
Creating a recovery family consisting of peers alike that understand what you are experiencing is essential. These relationships will help keep you grounded, appreciative, and moving forward. Such recovery families will also help you celebrate the milestones along the way; this is also a terrific opportunity to realize all that you have to be grateful for in your life. So, when you feel discouraged or disappointed, your peers will help remind you of how far you have come and all you have gained. These small gestures within a support group create an overall positive outlook that promotes big-life-long changes.
IT IS THE SMALL STUFF
In your recovery, you will encounter the art of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being conscious and aware of the world around you. It helps you focus on your current feelings connected to your thoughts. An approach such as mindfulness also promotes feelings of positivity and gratitude. When you live in the present, you don't dwell on the past or worry over the future. You will be able to look around you and find something to appreciate, however small. It might be the fact that you are self-sufficient in your apartment, or it could be a picture you paint.
Using mindfulness to examine the little things you have in life will soon reveal that you have an entire collection of things that make you feel grateful. It also helps monitor how you feel throughout the day, times you feel happy, and times you feel angry or sad. However, reminding yourself of what you have helps you manage negative thoughts and emotions and even creates resiliency to help you handle times when the stress and challenges are more significant.
DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES
To stay grateful for the little things, it is a good idea to create a structured routine. Such a routine should incorporate sleep, nutrition, exercise, work, and self-care practices. Structure in your day helps you stay consistent on the things that matter and helps you discover more about yourself. It also enables you to create more opportunities to learn something you are grateful for because you stay focused on the day-to-day.
You may not accomplish it on the first try, but you will find what works best for you over time. It is also important to incorporate time to practice self-care and connect with others. Talking with a therapist, peer, or family member helps you express what is on your mind and might even offer you insight into things you might overlook. Something as simple as a conversation over coffee can nourish your recovery by reminding you of the people and choices you have in your life now that you are on the recovery journey.
VOLUNTEER WHEN YOU CAN
A big part of recovery and overall success is giving back. It is also one of the best ways to stay grateful and get outside your head. Finding community activities where you can volunteer helps strengthen the community and strengthen the relationships you have. Helping at a shelter or kitchen is an excellent place to start within your community. However, there are endless opportunities and even online organizations where you can participate and connect with others.
Volunteer work helps boost self-esteem and confidence. It acts as a great way to remind you of how much you have gained and enables you to give back to others who might not have discovered all the opportunities in their recovery.
Staying grateful in early recovery can seem complicated. You might still be wading through negative thoughts and emotions from years of substance use. However, whenever you feel that there is nothing to be grateful for, remember that your action to get sober is always something to appreciate. At START UP RECOVERY, we work with each individual to help them rebuild who they are personally and professionally. Our approach includes practicing showing appreciation for the little things, and after a while, these thinking patterns will become second nature. We believe that by continuing to network and work on the self, you will achieve a self-transformation that will motivate you to accomplish your most tremendous success. If you feel stuck or lost over where to get started, then the time to seek help is now. With a sunny and beautiful SoCal location, START UP RECOVERY provides all the comfort and inspiration you need to get going. Find out more today by calling us at 310-773-3809.