Back to Blog Posts
At times, recovery can be an uphill battle that many people struggle with. However, every part of the process of healing should be embraced. Learning not to be ashamed of your past can be used to push you forward and help others. It’s easy to be ashamed, especially when you have done things that have led to hurting others. Understanding that you are a new version of yourself can be a self-esteem booster. This does not mean that you have to be the spokesperson of recovery or a motivational speaker, but there are things that you can do to impact the people you are surrounded by. Learn to embrace the new you.
Change How You Interact
Recovery may entail cutting people out of your life with whom you might have engaged in negative behaviors. If you and a friend have decided to heal together, there may be a chance of keeping that relationship. If you can have this type of relationship, you both will be able to support each other. This type of change in a relationship makes embracing your new life that much easier.
Unfortunately, other relationships you had before recovery may not crossover into your new life. After your transformational living stay, it may be beneficial to find new friends who will understand what you have been through. Having support who know what you struggle with and have been through similar experiences can lessen your chance of relapse. Find people you can contact in times of need who can advise you on handling challenging situations. You may want to evaluate what type of people you want in your life. While fostering relationships is an essential aspect of recovery, the most important relationship you can make is with yourself. Embrace the new you!
Find New Hobbies
When you go back to your daily life, it may be challenging to go back to the old hangout spots you once spent so much time at. Everything from the music you like and the environment you listened to it in may be completely different. The clubs and bars may no longer be your scene. Those parties or gatherings that you know you usually drink at may change too.
In recovery, it is essential to find new hobbies. Life is different, and so are you. When you lose old friendships and hangout spots, you may experience boredom and isolation if you do not find something to fill your time. Boredom is one of the most significant relapse triggers -- when you feel bored, you may be tempted to revert to old behaviors. Find new things that you enjoy doing or that you have found your way back to after healing. These can include art, outdoor activities, cooking, gardening, and much more.
Take a Leap of Faith
Now that your life is different, you may want to consider taking on new thrilling and time-consuming challenges. Risks in recovery are different than they used to be. Your risks have to change because of the new life that you are living. You are now taking back control of your life and the decisions you make.
When you reach this point, you may benefit from taking healthy risks. A healthy risk can include going back to school, starting a business, traveling, or meeting new people. A combination of risks and other new recovery practices you have learned can help lead you to a life you never imagined living. Recovery is a lifelong process that can get better with time if you practice patience and persistence. It is the choice you make to change who you once were and move forward in your life.
Share Your Story
This part of embracing recovery is subjective. Not everyone is comfortable sharing their story of struggle and how they came to reach a point of healing. For others, sharing their story can be a freeing feeling.
Inspiring others can work as therapy in itself. Sharing doesn't mean that you have to be standing in a room of 10 to 50 people with eyes on you. Sharing your story can be as simple as noticing that someone is engaging in similar behaviors you once did and telling your story to save their life. You can also consider telling your story to your friends and loved ones so they can better understand your struggles, which may strengthen your bond. The more understanding people have of your life and story, the better you will be able to serve each other in the relationship.
Embracing your recovery can be empowering and therapeutic. You don’t have to be afraid to embrace the new you, and you do not have to be ashamed to have dealt with what you did. Understand that you are, in fact, deserving of this new life, and although it can be a lifelong battle, you don’t have to do it alone. Embracing recovery will show your friends and loved ones that you are in a better position than you once were. In return, this will build up your support system with more trust. In recovery, it is possible to relapse. If you feel like you are on the verge of relapsing or have already relapsed, you are not alone, and you can get back on the path to healing. If you or a loved one is struggling with relapse after time in recovery, you may need to seek professional help. Contact START UP RECOVERY for help today at (310) 773-3809.