The motivation to improve forms the foundation of your recovery. Without that driving force, there would be little reason for you to keep trying to make progress and achieve breakthroughs. While the general reward of a healthier mind and body is undoubtedly worth the effort, it can still make an invaluable difference to have a specific motivating factor to keep you going through the many daily decisions and obstacles on your path to living in sobriety.
It can help to have something to work towards that is unique to you, whether you set big, life-changing goals or small, sentimental ones. Finding the right motivation will not always be straightforward, and sometimes you may need to adjust your goals based on new circumstances. Try setting a flexible, inspirational goal to push yourself forward.
How to Recognize When Your Motivation Needs a Boost
Motivation is essential to recovery because it can help you cope, give you a goal to work towards, and provide a reason to replace negative thought patterns, habits, and behaviors, all without losing your steam. If your current approach does not have those qualities, you might benefit from reframing your motivation.
If you feel a bit depressed or stalled in your recovery, don’t be too hard on yourself. These are entirely normal reactions that many people experience. Here are a few things to ask yourself when contemplating your motivation:
- How much do you want it to happen?
- Can you imagine what it would be like for you to achieve this goal?
- If you accomplish your goal, how will you personally benefit? Are the advantages worth the effort?
- Is your goal realistic?
- What do you think will happen once you achieve success?
Keeping Yourself on Track
There are numerous ways you can keep yourself on track towards your short and long-term recovery goals. Routinely review your sources of motivation to assess whether any part of your approach needs to be adjusted to become more relevant and meaningful to your current circumstances. Be sure to incorporate sponsors, peer support, and family into your cheer squad to keep you feeling energized as you face each day.
Here are a few ways you can keep yourself motivated:
- Choose motivations and goals that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.
- Remind yourself frequently that you are on track and capable of anything.
- Take care of your mind, body, and spirit so that you remain focused and in control.
The Advantages of Setting Smaller Goals
Setting smaller goals that you can build on can be much more helpful than setting ambitious goals that you never reach. You can use a “stretch goal,” which involves extending your goal each time you meet it. These are useful for anyone who may get overwhelmed by long-term or big-picture goals. Examples of smaller goals include:
- Staying sober a day/week/month
- Confiding in a loved one
- Taking the first steps towards mending a personal relationship
- Attending all your support group and therapy sessions
Working towards these goals can help you heal and grow without putting too much pressure on you. Choose one goal at a time. You can go even further by breaking a goal down into steps that you can cross off as you reach them. Boost your motivation even more by experiencing multiple successes in a short amount of time. In this way, choosing attainable goals can lead to increased feelings of self-worth and confidence.
Being realistic about setting healthy standards for yourself can be tricky without an outside perspective. It is essential to discuss your motivations and personal goals with your support team. They can help you recognize when a goal is unattainable in the short term, saving you significant frustration and heartache. Learn more about motivation and how to find a good balance when choosing goals in Conceptualizing Motivation And Change by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Rewarding Yourself for Creating and Reaching Your Goals
Your brain is wired to want more of whatever makes you feel happy or good. This principle forms the basis of addiction. You can use the same reward system to keep yourself motivated throughout recovery. Celebrate your wins. You deserve all the credit when you meet a goal that you have set, so be sure to positively reward yourself for achieving it. For example, after reaching six months sober, you can share a special celebratory meal with your loved ones or take a short staycation and appreciate the many ways your life has changed for the better. A reward can be something small, like a congratulatory note, or something bigger. Do what you feel will keep you moving forward to meet your next goal with determination.
While it is crucial to have goals to motivate you throughout recovery, overly ambitious ideals can slow you down when they seem out of reach. Hard-to-accomplish goals can lead to feelings of helplessness or inadequacy. One way to combat those adverse reactions is to set smaller, more easily attainable goals to use as mile markers on your journey of healing. Small goals can help reenergize you and keep you moving from moment to moment on harder days. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we take a holistic approach to treatment that includes finding ways to make each day as successful as possible. We can help you establish smaller goals that meet your unique lifestyle and needs. These can include anything from getting through the day in sobriety to finding a way to give back to your community through volunteer efforts. Rancho Milagro Recovery can help you stay motivated. For more information, call us today at (951) 526-4582.