We live in a constant state of “what’s next?” You get approved for an apartment, then it’s “when am I going to move in?” I need to start packing, etc.
You start your sobriety program. Now, everyone’s asking you “what’s next?” in your life. While this focus on the future is not a bad thing, it’s also important to focus on the now. Taking stock in the person you are at this exact moment will help you become who you’ve always dreamed of being in the future.
For example, today you may have woken up right before you had to leave to go somewhere, so you felt rushed to get ready. . But, you don’t like how rushed you felt, so you decide you’re going to start waking up earlier to be less rushed next time.
Reflecting on the present moment also will help you see how far you’ve come. Here’s a good exercise: Count how many days you’ve been sober. Think about the person you were before your sobriety journey started and give yourself a pat on the back for making these incredibly tough changes.
Once you add daily or weekly reflection into your routine, it will help you become a deeper thinker and assist you in making decisions that improve your future.
Here are a few ways you can implement reflection and intentional thinking into your daily life:
- Take 5 minutes a day to write in a journal
We know this isn’t the first time you’ve heard that writing in a journal can improve your life, but this type of written reflection can lead to healthy deep thinking. We think it would be pretty cool if you wrote down five things you are proud of from that day. Then also write five things you want to learn more about. If writing isn’t for you, maybe take five minutes to record yourself talking about these topics or discuss your thoughts with a friend or relative. How you self reflect is up to you!
- Ask questions and look for answers
Learning is part of the reflection process. Many people have a list of things they want to try, but haven’t done them yet because they don’t know where to start. This could sound like “I wish I knew how to do my makeup like that” or “I’ve always wanted to try painting, but I just don’t know how.” Luckily, the internet provides us with an endless amount of resources. You can teach yourself how to do almost anything with the click of a button.
Looking for answers to your questions, and taking the first step to teach yourself new skills or hobbies will take effort on your part. But, once you’ve finished the makeup look, or baked the cake, or created a DIY painting you will be proud of yourself!
- Reflect on what makes you happy
William Shakespeare said, “The choices we make dictate the lives we lead.” Ask yourself if the decisions you are making right now are making you happy. In this busy world of responsibilities, parenting, adulting, just being… We often lose track of what truly makes us happy. Do you really enjoy traveling but haven’t taken a trip in over four years? Reflect on why that is and try to set a plan in place to make going on a vacation this year a reality. Reflecting on your happiness can be difficult at first, but the more you do it, the more intentional you will become in your decision making. We can get caught up in the day-to-day of life that we forget to take a moment to reflect on if we are really truly happy.
Reflection and intentional thinking can lead you to live a life you are truly proud of and one that you enjoy. It can also help you discover new people, new hobbies, new places and will make you a better person along the way. Reflecting on the person you are today, and setting goals for who you want to be in a year will set you on the course to becoming the best version of yourself.