Recovery from substance use and mental illness is not linear. While recovery takes time, it may feel as if you are never doing enough or that you should be further along in your recovery. This mindset can keep you from celebrating how far you have come and enjoying all you have accomplished.
Distorted Ways of Thinking
One way that you may sabotage yourself is by falling into distorted yet “normal” ways of thinking that many people struggle with. These ways of thinking may be believing recovery is all or nothing, comparing yourself to someone else’s journey, and omitting the wins you have had through only focusing on what you have not accomplished yet.
Celebrating the Small Things
Since recovery is a journey, not a destination, it can be empowering to cultivate a practice of celebrating the small things, because the small things add up to the big things. Something to reflect on and celebrate could be the small ways in which you are changing.
For instance, what is a small thing you have experienced relief and healing from that you never thought would be possible for you? Celebrating these small victories can give you the motivation to achieve bigger victories.
Defining What Is Enough for You
In the pursuit of never feeling as if you have done enough, something to lean into is permitting yourself to define what enough means, looks, and feels like for you. You may find yourself trying to find your worth in other people, accomplishments, and things. The truth is, what is enough is different for each person, and there is no right or wrong way to be.
Recovery is a space where you can begin to heal from parts of you that a past version of yourself thought were not possible. This is no small feat and often goes under-recognized. Cultivating self-esteem, confidence, and trust in your process is possible when you can build awareness around distorted ways of thinking that are blocking you from feeling present, celebrating your small wins, and defining what is enough for you.
Feeling as if you are not healing quickly enough and comparing your journey to someone else’s are common experiences in recovery. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how challenging it can be to make peace with yourself and accept your journey for yours instead of trying to make it be more like somebody else’s. We are here to support you as you come home to yourself through self-awareness, celebrating yourself, and defining what enough means for you. If you are ready to receive support for recovery, call Avalon Malibu today at (844) 857-5992.
