Motivation serves as a crucial factor when it comes to recovering from an addiction - especially when we are just starting out and our motivational levels need to remain high. But as time goes by, motivation can diminish for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps life got a little stressful, work became overwhelming, etc., all of which can lead one to relapse.
So how can we ensure that our motivation remains consistent throughout the recovery process? Well we approached professionals in the field for some answers. Dr. Mark Shaw is a revered American ordained minister, author, nouthetic counsellor, and an addiction counsellor who has spent many years working to help people with addiction find their way towards salvation.
Many of you might know him as the founder and President of “The Addiction Connection” and the one who holds the position of the Director of Counseling at “Grace Fellowship Church '' in Kentucky.
Shaw has been teaching several courses over the years to help people with addiction. A prime example can include the discipline-making program for addicts launched in 2020 called ‘Next Steps: Be Transformed” which serves as a curriculum for addiction leaders to utilise in their programs, home, and church settings. The curriculum consists of 15 months of content for people who are seeking biblical and gospel-focused recovery and can be accessed at www.theaddictionconnection.org.
Moreover, you can even listen to the podcast that he has been hosting since 2020 called ‘The Addiction Connection Podcast” to help you get an idea of just how valuable his teaching can be when it comes to aiding someone in their recovery.
As an expert in the field, there were many things we were able to learn from Shaw - even some tips on how to stay motivated during recovery.
Connecting With Recovery Community
There are now many ways you can find opportunities to connect and interact with several recovery communities. There are social media communities that can allow you to engage with other addicts from all over the world. In fact, they even have online meetings and other kinds of interactive chat sessions where one can participate in various activities. Staying connected with people who understand what you are going through and working towards their own recovery can be a great way to help you in your recovery journey.
Keeping a Recovery Journal
There are times when you forget how you started out in your recovery process and all the reasons why you wanted to become sober in the first place. We can get complacent if we feel that we have not made any progress. Hence, keeping a journal will make it easier to see our progress and growth, hence, making us motivated to push forward and stay motivated for the obstacles that lie ahead of us.
Practising Self-Care
Another great way to help one stay motivated is to take some time out of your daily life to do something that you enjoy doing. It can be easy to get caught up in the busy routines of your daily life - maintaining relationships, work obligations, and so much more can drain us. If we do not balance our lives the right way and do things that we enjoy, we will become overwhelmed and find it difficult to stay motivated. Hence, it is essential that you take some time out to read, meditate, pray, exercise, find a new hobby or just listen to music to help you relax and work on your self-care every day.
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