One of the biggest components you’ll have in recovery is trying to find out what your goals and motivations are. Addiction is a complex disease because it can involve so many different factors – your genetics, your personality, the way you grew up, your current environment, trauma you’d had in your life and more. As with any path we take, it’s best to have a long-term goal in mind for what we want to accomplish so that we know what we’re working towards. In the world of recovery, we’re often trying to find the factors that will bring us the most success – relapse prevention, support, attendance, sobriety and more – but the common theme here lies within one simple area: goal orientation.
Perspective is everything, and by keeping the bigger picture in mind, you’re able to work through challenges more effectively. Back in 2015, researchers wanted to learn more about 2 components of goal orientation – hope and self-efficacy (feeling confident in your own abilities to succeed) – and how those two factors play out in a person’s recovery. They found that both had an influence on a person’s levels of depression and anxiety, two mental health challenges that can definitely slow down the recovery process. What are some examples of goal-oriented thinking that you can use in your everyday life?
- “I will establish a volunteer opportunity by the end of next week.”
- “Today, I will meditate for 5 minutes.”
- “By the end of the month, I will be able to meditate for 10 minutes each day.”
- “By the end of the year, I will have made 3 new connections for building my recovery support network.”
When we set goals, it means that we believe we can achieve them – and it also means that we have the motivation to go after them, too. Spend some time thinking about what you want your goals in recovery to be. Then, create very direct, specific statements that really describe what your goals are. Make sure they have the following:
- A realistic, achievable goal
- A set time frame
- A plan for how you’ll know you’ve achieved that goal
Both short-term and long-term goals are best so that you can take small steps daily that will really contribute to a bigger picture. If you find that you’ve completed some goals sooner than you realized, create new ones – you’ll be extremely proud to find that you’ve accomplished a lot throughout your recovery.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-campus, we are made up of 2 twelve-step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
