Learning how to accept and love yourself post-addiction can be a long journey. Addiction of any kind can take a huge toll on your life. You can become a version of yourself that you hardly even recognize. During the recovery process, there are many moments of self-discovery that you will have to work through. Nevertheless, there are many benefits of pushing through the process and discovering a new version of yourself that is worthy of love and acceptance.
Forgiving Your Past Self
One of the most important aspects of self-discovery is understanding that your past does not define you. With recovery, there can be a lot of feelings of shame and guilt from your past behaviors. You have to acknowledge that being under the influence of a substance can make a person act in ways that they normally would not have if sober. Oftentimes it helps to have conversations with those in your life that you feel you may have wronged in the past. Try to make amends with them and focus on how to build a better relationship with them moving forward.
Now that you are working through recovery, you have to leave those actions in the past and focus on your current behaviors. Constantly thinking about the past will inhibit you from moving forward. Instead, shift your focus to the present and the good things that you have to look forward to in the future. Embrace the positive moments of every day and do things that will make yourself and those around you happy.
Embracing Self-Discovery
Unfortunately, substances often numb us to some of life’s greatest joys. When you choose sobriety, you will begin to experience life in a whole new way. The person that you are becoming post-addiction may not look like the version of yourself that you once knew. This is the beautiful part of self-discovery. As humans, we are ever-changing. You will start to truly value the important things in life and may even discover passions that you never knew you had.
Here are some self-discovery activities and tips to help build your relationship with yourself:
- Keep a daily journal and take note of your thoughts and emotions
- Create a list of things that bring you joy and incorporate them into your week
- Find a form of meditation that you enjoy
- Take time to cook yourself a meal that you love
- Partake in a physical activity that you enjoy such as walking or yoga
- Take a personality test such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Enneagram
Creating Goals for Your Future
While it is important to focus on the present moment and enjoy each day, it is also important to create goals for the future. Setting future goals gives you something to work towards. Each day is an opportunity to better yourself. Whatever your goals may be, it is important to create an action plan for how you will achieve them. A goal without a plan of action is just a dream. No matter how small your steps may be, it is important to keep pushing forward. Seeing the progress as it happens will keep you motivated and on track.
Like sobriety, self-discovery can be a long and strenuous process but you must remember that you are worth it. If you are not taking the time to invest in yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to. The joy and freedom that you will feel once you truly get to know and love yourself are incomparable. Stay committed to building a healthy relationship with yourself and you’ll soon see how the other relationships in your life will flourish as well. Harm Reduction Center is here to empower you through your journey. Reach out today if you or someone you know is ready to take the next step towards recovery.
