Resolutions

•       Resolutions, by definition, are resolute. They are concrete, absolute, “personal laws” that are placed upon ourselves.

•       Creating these “personal laws” in recovery (whether it’s substances or behaviors like emotional dependency) can create high expectations: (remember the saying,” high expectations can lead to premeditated resentments.”)

•       Having plans for recovery is important, but creating an absolute in recovery may lead to setbacks from stress, fear of failure, and desire for perfection. We thrive when focusing on progress vs. focusing on perfection, so for some, they may not work.

Intentions

•       An intention is a positive call to action about something you want to do rather than something you don’t want to do but feel that you “should.”

•       They are reasonable goals to be reached, transformation of mindset or attitude, and an intent for positive change.

•       If we stray from our positive intention, we can pause, reflect, and get back on track.

•       Intentions are a way to complement and help you progress on your personal healing and recovery journey.

Mindset is quite the buzzword these days, isn’t it? As a life coach, I use it quite often myself. I believe that with a positive, healthy mindset, we have the power to heal, grow, recover, evolve, and achieve our goals. It sounds like a lot to place in one’s frame of mind, but think about it: if we’re stagnant and negative, how much can we achieve? First, we need to know what our mindset is before we can change it. Thanks to Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University, we now know there are two types of mindsets: Fixed and Growth.

Many of us in healing and recovery don’t have a clear understanding of proper boundaries. I sure didn’t until I learned about emotional sobriety. I went from being a doormat to being a control freak. Thanks to emotional sobriety, I now understand to stay in my own lane, and that it’s okay to let things go. Having the ability to establish boundaries with those around us can help us on our journey to healing, recovery, and a positive mindset.

If you’re struggling or not quite sure where to begin on your journey of healing or supporting your loved one, reflecting on your reasons to make this positive change is a great place to begin. Writing down those reasons can serve as a helpful reminder when we’re feeling unmotivated or stuck.

A Recovery/Healing Mission Statement (R.H.M.S) and a W.H.Y Statement are great tools to keep you moving forward. An R.H.M.S. is a vision you see of yourself and the destination that your recovery and healing will lead you to. It should be a few sentences long and something you read to yourself daily.

Have you heard of emotional sobriety? If not, you're not alone. Many people in recovery in recovery and healing, present company included, don't hear about it until they're well into their recovery.

What is emotional sobriety?

Emotional sobriety is the ability to feel all our emotions: the good and the bad, and then process the feelings. We learn to move through, lean into, and, most of all, not ignore them.

We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem! When we ignore what our brain and body tell us, we contribute to our problems.

When we're emotionally sober, we have balance in our life. A great saying about emotional sobriety is, "My definition of balance is being able to obsess equally in all areas of my life." Funny but also quite accurate.

A recovery, mindset, and healing toolkit is perfect for those challenging, anxiety-producing moments when you feel like things are getting out of your control. It’s a place to mentally and physically store the tools you’ve picked up along the way. It consists of three areas: a mindfulness exercise, creating a go-bag, and having an awareness of your body. I’ll go over each one in detail.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a project or task? Maybe you’ve decided you want to stop an unhealthy behavior like drinking too much, overeating, or using drugs. Perhaps you want to move towards a healthy goal, like starting a new career, writing a book, or having a more positive mindset. No matter what you’re trying to do, setting reasonable, achievable goals from the beginning can help you reach your destination.