Recovery is a lifelong process that takes perseverance. That isn’t punishment; rather, it will give you life! When you’ve experienced relapse or a setback, you’ll feel like throwing in the towel altogether. Recognize it will take the rest of your life to experience rest in your life!
The apostle Paul writes, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness…” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). When you stick with recovery, you’ll receive rewards that come from persevering! How? Here are some tips to help you stick with recovery.
- Get Help.
Since sobriety is nearly impossible to maintain on your own, recovery groups are important for your recovery and you might also need to get professional help. Seek a licensed Christian counselor who focuses on helping individuals struggling with addictions. Recovery is not a solo experience! You will need to connect with others!
- Put Your Recovery First.
Perhaps you need to write a daily to-do list, but Recovery cannot be an afterthought. To make recovery last your last priority is a plan to fail. Look at when there is a group meeting and put it on your schedule. When you recognize the importance of your recovery, it will become priority one!
- Take it One Day at a Time.
If you ask someone who is in recovery from an addiction what the secret of their success is, they might tell you it was to take it one day at a time. Focus on the present moment—not about the past or the future. Sometimes it is one minute at a time which will eventually be your lifetime.
- Do Things Differently.
Be prepared to live life differently—even if it means saying no to people and places you’re accustomed to. You’ll need to implement healthier activities. If your life is going to change, there will be many things that will change!
- Take Responsibility.
Without a doubt, your addiction has affected your family and friends. Have you taken responsibility for the damage you have caused? Work your plan of recovery and you will have opportunity to make amends where possible.
- Get Active in Serving.
Part of your new life will be recognizing how self-centered addiction can make you. Take the opportunity to serve others in your community. Getting focused on helping others will be an important part of your recovery.
- Be Patient.
Persevering in recovery involves being patient with yourself and the process. Will there be times when you’re tempted, or when you will give in? Yes! Will there be times when you want to give up? Yes, again! Instead of focusing on what you did wrong, focus on what you can do right. If you relapse do the next right thing to get back on the path of recovery.
- Keep a Journal.
If you aren’t doing so already, start writing in a journal every day. Writing in a journal will help you be aware of feelings you’re struggling with, unhealthy thoughts you’re beginning to have, and behavioral changes which may cause you to fall back into your addiction. Write what you are grateful for as you begin this new life of recovery!
- Take the Next Best Step.
If you want to recover, you’ll need to take thousands of steps. Don’t focus on all of the steps it’ll take. On the contrary, ask yourself: “What’s my next best step?” While it’s scary to make big changes, learn to persevere by starting small. Have courage to take one small step, and then take another.
- Attend a Life Recovery Group Regularly.
Sticking with recovery is easier with regular 12-step group participation. When you start out in recovery, it’s important for you to attend a support group as much as possible. Even after you’ve successfully stopped an addiction, attending a group will help others (and you, too)!