At NorthStar Transitions, we hope that everyone working programs of addiction recovery had a safe and sober New Year's Eve. We understand that NYE, like Christmas, can be especially challenging for men and women in early recovery. Hopefully, you utilized some of the suggestions we made in a previous post about navigating significant holidays in sobriety.Were you able to take some time in the final days of 2019 to think about what you would like to accomplish in 2020? Having a clear vision for the future and setting realistic resolutions can be especially beneficial for people working a program. Recovery, after all, hinges on one's effort to make continual progress.Those who set goals can achieve them if they continue doing the work. If you stay on the path in 2020, then you are likely to achieve new milestones, including celebrating greater lengths of sobriety.A list of the things you would like to achieve should be comprised of pragmatic and sensible objectives. Setting your sights too high could result in upset if you are unable to see your goals come to fruition. Avoiding disappointments is critical, and is mostly avoidable, provided you discuss your aims with your sponsor or trusted peer. Such individuals can assist you in many ways, sharing with you if they feel that you are overly ambitious.When setting targets for 2020, they can include both recovery goals (i.e., working all 12 Steps or making amends) and objectives for outside the rooms. Maybe you'd like to go back to school or give back to the community at large via volunteer work? Perhaps you would like to add a workout or diet regimen to your daily or weekly routine? The list of what you'd like to see in 2020 may include both short and long-term goals.
Resolutions will vary from one person to the next, and they will also depend on where you are in your journey of recovery. Someone with one month sober will set goals that are vastly different than someone with five years sober, with the one exception being the collective aspiration for sustained recovery.Those of you in your first year will benefit by focusing on short term objectives, ones that you can manage to work towards while also putting recovery first. That is not to say that you can't have long-term objectives in the back of your mind, but it's healthier to make a list of closer targets in early recovery.You do not want to stress yourself out or risk getting down on yourself if you are unable to hit your targets. It's not always straightforward for people in early sobriety to discern what are sensible resolutions. Everyone wants to shoot for the stars, but it's vital to keep your feet firmly planted and stay grounded. With that in mind, talking with trusted peers in the program is an excellent way to grasp better what is possible at this point in your recovery.People with more time than you can provide you with valuable insights from their own experiences with goal setting. Naturally, they have a vested interest in your continued progress; however, your peers don't want to see you set yourself up for failure. Remember, recovery rests on working closely with the Fellowship, hearing out what others have to say, and following the advice of members of the community with more time than you.
We are only three days into the New Year. If you have not yet made any recovery or non-recovery-related resolutions for 2020, then please take some time in the coming days to do so. Keep in mind that having things to work towards when you are not in meetings or working will keep you busy. Idle time is no friend of individuals in early recovery; keeping yourself occupied will mitigate the risk of cravings and relapse.The beginning of the year is also a time when many people consider starting a journey of recovery. If you are still actively in the throes of addiction, then we invite you to reach out to NorthStar Transitions. We offer several evidence-based treatment programs that cater to the varying needs of our clients. Please call us today to learn more about the NorthStar difference. (303) 558-6400
