Acknowledging Achievements and Setting New Goals

There is a saying often heard in recovery circles that goes, “Move a muscle, change a thought.” This is emblematic of how recovery should always involve a plan of action. Recovery must be mission-driven, including acknowledging achievements and setting new goals. People don’t recover to regress. No, people recover to achieve all that they once thought impossible.

Maintaining Motivation in Recovery

It can be hard to stay motivated in recovery. This is especially true for people who have been in recovery for a while. The reason for this is that many people start to see immediate changes when they first get sober and start their recovery journey. They start to feel healthier. Perhaps they will start to mend some damaged relationships. They might start seeing improvements at home and at work.

However, after being in recovery for a while, the more noticeable benefits have come to fruition, and it can be harder and harder to see how recovery is working in one’s life. Of course, it is under the radar, where recovery can be really magical.

Many people find that their lives have been transformed so remarkably in recovery that they can’t even recognize the person that they were before. Of course, this is a major blessing, but it can also be detrimental. When one forgets the past, it becomes much easier to repeat it. As has been said by some of the “oldtimers” in recovery, “If you can’t remember your last drink, you may not have had it yet.” Prophetic and scary words. But, words that won’t come to fruition with proper goal setting in recovery.

Acknowledging Achievements and Setting New Goals in Recovery

People do not recover from addiction to become part of a “glum lot.” No people recover because they want something greater. They want to live a life beyond their wildest dreams. That life is not going to happen overnight. However, little by slowly, “one day at a time,” those dreams will come true.

One must remember that recovery is a journey, not a destination. So, one should enjoy the ride rather than rush toward the future. This means acknowledging achievements like celebrating a certain amount of time in sobriety or relishing helping someone else with their own recovery issues. It also means setting goals in recovery, both big and small.

Setting Small Goals and Celebrating Small Successes

There is a reason why many people in recovery believe in a “one day at a time program.” It helps them stay in the moment, and it helps them avoid reliving the regrets of the past and catastrophizing what may come in the future. It helps them to remember that the past is done and the future is uncertain; the only comfortable place is the present.

Now, of course, “one day at a time” does not mean that it isn’t beneficial to believe in lofty goals. It just means that those bigger goals are much more digestible when they are broken down into bite-size pieces. Eventually, accomplishing many small goals often leads to achieving greater ones. Also, life is just much more enjoyable when it is filled with many goals to celebrate rather than waiting for one to eventually materialize.

Acknowledging Achievements: Letting Go and Bringing In

Setting goals also means personal growth. When one accomplishes a small goal, one can let go of that piece of the mission and move on to the next. It is essential for forward momentum.

It is also important to “let go” in recovery because it is a program of subtraction rather than addiction. This means that one must let go of all of the character defects that were holding them back. However, it was also these character defects, such as self-centeredness and fear, that people relied upon to keep themselves feeling safe.

Thus, this process of letting go must also happen in tandem with a process of “bringing in.” This process can be wholly achieved via mediation, especially meditating with Jesus. One will see that by “Letting go and letting God,” one will be cemented with the foundation needed to achieve any goal one set before them.

Yahlight: Enjoying the Journey, One Day at a Time

At Yahlight, we know that a life spent too much in the past or too much in the future can be a life missed, especially in recovery. This is why it is critical to enjoy the journey of recovery one day at a time.

The renowned philosopher and author Eckhart Tolle said, “It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.” That spiritual dimension is wholly available to us. The key is to quiet our minds, listen, and perhaps most importantly, take action.

Celebrating small achievements and setting new realistic goals should be a part of everyday life during recovery from alcohol and substance use disorder. To maintain proper motivation, people must have something to strive toward, acknowledge their achievements, and set healthy goals for the future. It is also important to set small goals and celebrate the small successes. Remember, small achievements can lead to big successes over time. Also, when letting something go that brings pleasure, it is important to replace it with something rewarding in a healthy manner. This will avoid the feeling of being deprived. For more information about meditating with Jesus and enjoying the journey, one day at a time, please reach out via our website.