Photo By: Pixabay
By Michelle Peterson
Whether you are in the midst of addiction recovery or just finished up, you know how much of a toll it takes on your body. You discovered a strength you never knew you had in you, and you made it through. However, recovery doesn’t stop the moment you complete treatment. There will be days that are harder than others. It is imperative that you find healthy ways to not only find yourself, but relieve stress and heal both your mind and body. The world around you may seem to be moving a million miles a minute, but you don’t have to be.
Start By Finding Yourself
The first step in finding a healthy way to cope with your thoughts, feelings, and emotions is to find who you truly are. Your addiction may have consumed your life, but now you have broken free, so start exploring who you are. Remember what you used to love to do, and go do it. Think about it – when was the last time you truly let go and had fun? As an adult, we tend to shy away from those moments of childlike euphoria in place of a more composed persona that feels burdened by responsibility. As a child, if we wanted to spin around in circles, we did. If we wanted to color until the crayon was no more than a waxy nub, we did that too. Make the commitment to do what you love and go do it – it’s as simple as that.
Find the balance between 50 percent selflessness and 50 percent selfishness. The goal is to know when you are in need of self-care, and figure out the best way to give it to yourself and turn the focus on you. It’s up to you to find what truly makes you happy, so be the vessel that helps you obtain it.
Finding Mind and Body Healing in Nature
So, you know you need to find a way to be happy and healthy, but what if you don’t know where to start? Go on an adventure to escape from the hustle and bustle of life and gain a bit of clarity, or step out of your comfort zone and try something new in order to grow and challenge yourself. Sometimes, you just need to quiet your mind and listen.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to give yourself a break and connect with your body and spirit is to head out into nature. Take a camping trip to your favorite lakeside retreat, go for a mountain hike, or spend a day at the beach appreciating the vast wonder of the ocean. Taking in the world’s natural beauty is a therapeutic way to put your problems into perspective and find inner peace.
Taking on a New Hobby
It’s great to resume activities you loved prior to addiction once you’ve entered recovery, but it can be just as beneficial to adopt new hobbies. Finding new, exciting ways to bring meaning to your life is a great way to discover new things about yourself as well as new passions and talents. Just like when you were a fearless child, don’t be afraid to try something brand new that you’re not even sure you’re good at – pick up a paintbrush, join an improv group, or take a cooking class. If your new venture turns out to be something you don’t enjoy or thrive at as much as you’d hoped, look at it as a learning experience about yourself and as an opportunity to find a hobby that does inspire you.
You’ll find that as you connect with yourself spiritually, you are more in tune with your body, leaving you to focus on your overall health and wellbeing. Keep in mind that addiction recovery requires building a support network, so as you strive to discover who you are, don’t be afraid to reach out for help whether it is to a sponsor, life coach, mentor, counselor, therapist, or friend. You aren’t alone in this – never forget that!
Michelle Peterson is the founder of Recovery Pride.
She can be reached at support@recoverypride.org