Finding motivation during recovery requires people to shed their old lives. They must have discipline and patience to maintain a new and improved lifestyle. After the initial stages of recovery, people can find themselves questioning what to do next and how to find motivation. Some people may struggle to reconnect with their “why,” to rediscover their passions, and to build a fulfilling life.
In recovery, a person has to remain healthy and steadfast even when life continues to throw troubles their way. While it’s important to stay levelheaded, it’s also helpful to acknowledge the massive achievement of recovering from addiction. That alone can encourage the pursuit of more personal growth and success.
Ways a Person Can Find Motivation
The driving force that helps an individual set goals, take action, and overcome obstacles falls into two categories:
- Intrinsic motivation: This type of motivation is driven by personal rewards, self-satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. Someone feels good on the inside because their actions are meaningful and fulfilling.
- Extrinsic motivation: This is when someone is motivated by the prospect of rewards or approval from the external world.
Some of the common challenges in finding motivation are self-doubt, fear, and complacency. Individuals can experience dips in motivation due to the intense demands of recovery. It takes physical and emotional effort to maintain motivation during the gradual process of recovery. Some people end up feeling drained and unsure whether the grass is truly green on the other side.
Understanding and mastering how to balance both types of motivation can keep you on track with your goals and your “why.” The motivated team at Renaissance Ranch takes the time to teach people different strategies for finding motivation, such as reflection, goal-setting, and consistency.
What Is Your “Why?”
In life, it is important to understand why one does the things they do. Whether it is financial situations or for personal growth, understanding one’s “why” keeps their focus on the road ahead. During recovery, someone can reflect on why they went into recovery in the first place. They can think about the goals and aspirations they want to set for themselves and dig deeper to understand why those specific goals are important.
According to Symbio Organizational Authenticity, “Our innate ability to communicate and collaborate is what has enabled us to not only survive but thrive in this world.”
Being able to communicate and articulate honest feelings is something not everyone can do easily. Nonetheless, admitting to having a problem is a step in the right direction. A person needs to have a set reason that gives them motivation and keeps them focused on self-improvement.
Rules to Help Someone Find Motivation to Move Forward
There are five rules in recovery that can revitalize an individual and help them find motivation:
- Change one’s life: While change can be overwhelming, it is necessary for recovery to get used to a life where substances are not easily available. Developing a healthy fear of the people, places, and things that were a part of one’s substance use requires mental retraining. Humans are bound to evolve, so trying to hold on to the life where a person was not their healthiest will not allow them to grow.
- Be completely honest: People with addictions lie, so if a person can be open and transparent about their disease, it will make things easier in the long run. When individuals feel like they cannot be completely honest, that is a telltale sign of emotional relapse.
- Ask for help: Those who are beginning recovery often feel as if they can do it on their own. Regardless, there are countless supportive self-help groups to choose from. These include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA), and Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACA).
- Practice self-care: Despite its importance, self-care is often an overlooked aspect of recovery. However, self-care is effective. For instance, mind-body relaxation practices can reduce the urge to use again.
- Don’t bend the rules: Individuals need to maintain discipline and not self-sabotage. One sign of a person seeking to bend the rules is that they look for loopholes during recovery. It is best to commit fully to gain beneficial results.
How Renaissance Ranch Helps People Sustain Motivation
At Renaissance Ranch, our sole focus is helping individuals recover from the disease of addiction through a mix of faith-based and evidence-based approaches. With our help, people begin to cultivate motivation. A successful and motivated individual would seize the day from the time they wake up to when they go to sleep. Finding motivation helps people achieve personal and professional goals and live in alignment with themselves. They can unlock the potential for a life filled with joy, meaning, and growth.
Finding motivation after recovery is a journey within itself. However, as the quote says, “The joy is in the journey.” One can seek self-discovery, self-love, and growth opportunities to motivate them to keep going strong. Motivation is not a race but a marathon. It is important to take one step at a time and believe in oneself. If a person has a fixed mindset, they can do anything they put their full heart into. They then can thrive and take control of their future.
Maintaining motivation during a shifting and pivotal time for an individual can be overwhelming. In general, change can be scary because we become accustomed to our comfort zones. On top of that, if no person or circumstance pushes us out, we will continue to be complacent. Finding motivation during a fickle period of time like recovery can be difficult. However, with the tools you’ve learned and the person you have become, you can sustain your progress. It is common to procrastinate or regress. Having the drive and willingness to get better makes a difference. If you or a loved one are in need of tools to find motivation during recovery, please call (801) 308-8898.