Unless you were born on January 1st, your age doesn’t necessarily follow the calendar year.  Since the date has little bearing on that and other important milestones, you already have proof that something exciting and important can happen any time of year. This is an especially important notion when you are trying to get your life back on track following a substance abuse problem.  Whatever your substance of choice, remembering that the year can start right now is a great way to get motivated.

Honesty

Whether this is your first time in recovery, or you are returning after a relapse, the most important thing to do is be honest with yourself.  Until you acknowledge the situation, and take personal responsibility for both your past actions and your recovery, putting your life back together will be really difficult.  If you find yourself making excuses that allow you to continue using or avoid taking responsibility for your actions, you may not be ready for recovery.  This doesn’t mean you are doomed, it just means you need to evaluate your motives and determine what is holding you back.  Most of the time the culprit is fear of change or fear of pain.  This is true even when you are in denial about your problem.  Once you realize the root cause, getting yourself over the hump and finding resources that address your needs will be easier than you think.

Integrity

Once substance abuse has taken control of your life, it can be difficult to be honest with yourself, which makes it impossible to be honest with others. Honesty is the foundation of integrity, and just like trust is built over time, so is distrust.  Neither trust nor distrust are finite things, and both have varying degrees of magnitude.  Remembering that you have displaced one with the other can help you understand why there might be some hesitation as you attempt to rebuild relationships and your personal integrity.  Be patient with this process, since as humans we have a natural inclination to forgive, but trust can be difficult to recover.  To avoid the possibility of relapse, surround yourself with supportive people who understand the recovery process, through meetings, a sponsor, or structured recovery program, and lean on them when you find yourself struggling to rebuild relationships as quickly as you might like.  It can be a difficult process, but persistence will lead to perseverance.

Accountability

Like honesty and integrity, accountability is a critical piece of the recovery process.  Taking responsibility for your actions and behaviors is paramount.  Changing your routine is often the only way to succeed, and moving can help. You’ll want to find a place that helps you create a healthy, consistent routine without throwing you into the paths of old triggers. You’ll also want a loving environment to rebuild your relationships and bond with your family, a place where you can heal and focus on your recovery. Finding a new job can also help with both trigger avoidance and a routine that makes you accountable to both yourself and others.  Work with counselors, sponsors, or others in your recovery program to find opportunities with employers that support those in recovery and provide a work environment conducive to maintaining it.

The recovery process is full of unique challenges for each person.  However, once you have supportive people surrounding you, long-term success will be attainable.  Be honest and accountable to yourself and others, while you work to restore your integrity.  Remember that your recovery milestones don’t need to align with anything other than your own desire to get your life back on track.

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Everyday Is A Good Day To Start Recovering

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