Hope is a fickle thing for people with addiction. Recovery is complex and full of ups and downs. The road is never as smooth as people think it is. You may never encounter obstacles, hardships, and heartaches. It is a journey where everyone hopes to recover from addiction but the only way is to move from a life of destruction to a life of health and healing. Find out more about how hope can redefine recovery and provide a pathway to healing.
Why Hope Matters
More than wishful thinking, hope is a solid space on which to stand and breathe. With proper action comes improvement through many steps leading to a plan of recovery. Hope heals old wounds and creates space for joy. Hope is defined differently for each person but it is typically the expectation things in the future will be better. This foundational energy booster drives people to find a way to get better. It keeps them strong through the many challenges in life. Hope provides a sense of joy and peace, knowing a better day is ahead. The only thing that gets people out of bed in the morning when they are in despair or need to feel uplifted is the sense they are moving towards something better in life.
Where Hope Lies
It is not easy to see life beyond addiction. It lies beneath the chaos, pain, and suffering. Hope can also be found there. There is no right or wrong way to find hope. Sometimes it is easy, but sometimes it takes work. When thinking about where to locate hope, it helps to have some space to go to that resonates and provides an avenue to get there. Here are some ways to travel to space where hope lives and embrace it in recovery:
- Look to the future and place yourself there. Looking into the future cultivates purpose and direction in life. It helps you locate hope for something else to come
- Remain positive in spite of the challenges. Focus on positive statements and affirmations about your strength and endurance to meet challenges head-on. They can build belief and confidence for you to change direction and take action quickly
- Seek higher power or authority over your life. Don’t try to be in control. Whether it is spirituality, religion, or philosophy, reach to a higher power that helps you believe in a power greater than yourself to restore your life
- Have a plan for your life. Action makes hope come true by developing a plan for a better future that builds hope. The more you plan, with first steps, the more you realize your vision is attainable
Focusing on future builds hope. Hope for today comes from seeing there has been strength in the journey to this point, and it will only continue to grow in the future. Hope is a central focus of recovery. Finding hoping and meaning helps people move forward on the journey of recovery.
A Step in the Right Direction understands how hard it is to find hope in the darkness. We provide space to process your experiences with addiction and find hope and healing in the journey. For more information on sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702
