Hope is one of the most important aspects of addiction recovery.
Many people dismiss the value of hope. In fact, you have probably heard someone say, “I’m not a pessimist, but I’m a realist.” In other words, people tend to believe that hope and optimism re naïve. However, hope is a very real, very powerful thing.
Hope is often a key starting point for recovery. Moreover, it can be the critical thing that drives you forward through the toughest parts of your recovery journey.
What Is Hope and Why Does It Matter in Addiction Recovery?
Hope isn’t just putting on the rose-colored glasses and ignoring what’s wrong. In contrast, hope is rooted in the understanding that things may not be very good right now. Despite that understanding, hope tells us that things can be better in the future.
Hope is a belief. It is a form of faith. It is taking the leap and believing that the net will appear when you do.
In addiction recovery, hope is the expectation that if you do what you need to do in order to stay sober then there will be better days ahead. In fact, they might be just around the corner.
Hope isn’t blind. It’s not just a wish that something will happen. You still understand that you need to do the hard work. However, you believe that if you do, then good things will follow.
Therefore, hope can help you begin the journey to recovery, even when you’re at rock bottom. Although recovery always includes bumps in the road, hope can propel you through those times.
How Group Support Helps with Hope
There are many different paths to recovery from addiction. However, participation in substance and addiction groups is one of the most common.
There are countless reasons why group support is beneficial to people going through recovery. One core reason is that the group can help inspire hope in each individual.
For many, hope is found in those who have already recovered. When you see other people that have been where you are but have found their way out of addiction, you see how wonderful your own future could be.
As one client said, “It gives me hope knowing that so many others have found long term sobriety. If they can do it then so can I.”
Additional Ways to Embrace Hope in Your Own Recovery
Of course, getting inspiration from others in the group is only one way to embrace hope in your own process of recovery from addiction.
Hope from Recovery Stories
You might also get similar inspiration from reading, watching, and hearing stories of recovery. Books, articles, podcasts, and documentary films are all great sources of inspirational stories. When you see the arc of someone else’s recovery from addiction, you feel hope that you, too, will reach the other side.
Hope from Positive Affirmation
It also helps if you pay attention to the words that you use. We often say very negative things, particularly in our own minds.
We can transform our attitudes if we change our words. Therefore, you can increase feelings of hope by working with affirmations, gratitude, and prayer. Speaking or writing, “I am hopeful for my future,” can make that feeling come true.
Hope from Divine Connection
Also, keeping a daily diary of the things for which you are grateful reminds you of all of the positive things you already have. This enhances your ability to feel hope.
Finally, prayer helps you connect to God or your Higher Power. If you follow the 12-step process of recovery, then you know that this is Step Two.
Even if you don’t use a 12-step approach to recovery, reaching out to your higher power can instill hope. It essentially reminds you that there’s help out there and that you have the ability to access that help.
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Remember, you also have to work hard to get through addiction. Contact me today to learn more about how I can help in your recovery process.