One of the most well-known adages in the addiction recovery lexicon is the saying, “One day at a time.” How does this saying help us as we’re working on maintaining sobriety?
The concept of taking things one day at a time serves as encouragement to focus on what we are living in the present moment. We have a tendency to get overwhelmed by everything we’re dealing with in recovery. A tremendous amount of work goes into maintaining sobriety. We’re still working to heal from the traumas, fears, and limiting beliefs that have contributed to our addictions. Many of us are dealing with difficult life circumstances such as financial hardship or strained relationships.
Much of what we’re struggling with is a result of our addictions, and it can all be incredibly overwhelming. Reminding ourselves to come back to the present moment and to take things one day at a time can help to ease our feelings of overwhelm.
Preventing Relapse and Maintaining Sobriety
When in recovery, we know there will be more challenges to come. Recovering from addiction is not a finite process. It’s a journey we’ll be on for the rest of our lives. We might experience addictive urges to use our drug of choice that feel too overpowering to resist. Many of us will relapse. We’ll try again and again to get sober, often on our own, before finally reaching out for help.
Both during and after receiving professional help, like at Athens Area Commencement Center, we still have to work at maintaining sobriety. We have to stay committed to preventing ourselves from relapsing. We’ll want to continue attending 12-Step meetings. Many of us will take part in aftercare programs. We’ll try to surround ourselves with support in order to help our chances of staying sober. Even after we’ve done so much of this important work, the recovery process can still be intimidating.
When maintaining sobriety, we know how many mountains there will be to climb and how many obstacles to overcome. Whenever the difficulties of recovery feel too daunting, we can remind ourselves that we only have to get through today. We can take things one day at a time.
Mindfulness, Appreciation, and Maintaining Sobriety
Looking too far ahead and trying to plan too far beyond this present moment can be not only overwhelming but can also mean we’re not living in the moment and fully appreciating everything we have. Mindfulness practices show us the importance of slowing down and becoming more consciously aware.
We can become more mindful of every aspect of our lives and everything we have to be grateful for. If we’ve gotten through this day sober, that is something to be immensely grateful for. When we’ve found the help we need, that is something to appreciate. Working with a treatment program, like those at Athens Area Commencement Center, is something to be so proud of yourself for.
Being in the moment means we’re living fully, fully embracing our recovery. We’re not rushing through the lessons we’re meant to learn or looking past the blessings we’ve received. Instead, we’re living our lives and our recovery mindfully, one day at a time.
Fears of Uncertainty in Recovery
Overwhelm in recovery can also be compounded by our fears of uncertainty. “Will I be able to stay sober? How will I resist the temptation to use my drug of choice? What will happen if I relapse?”
The uncertainty of the future, especially when we’re recovering from addiction, is enough to make maintaining sobriety a fear-inducing undertaking.
Calming Ourselves and Maintaining Sobriety
When we remind ourselves that we only have to manage one day at a time, though, we can reassure ourselves and create a sense of calm for ourselves. “I can get through today. All I have to do is take things one day at a time. I can’t possibly know how I will handle every challenge that arises, but I do know that I can get through today. All I have to do is stay sober today.”
Focusing Our Energy and Maintaining Sobriety
We learn to focus our energy on what we can control, getting through one day at a time. Rather than worrying too much about the future or trying to predict how our addiction journey will unfold, we can remind ourselves that our goal is maintaining sobriety one day at a time.
We don’t have to have all the answers. We’ll never have it all figured out. But all we have to do is get through today sober, with as much grace as we can.
Creating More Ease and Maintaining Our Sobriety
When we look at maintaining sobriety one day at a time, it becomes much more feasible for us. We make it that much more accessible for us. Sobriety can even become easier to contemplate and, therefore, undertake. We reduce so much of our anxiety and overwhelm when we comfort ourselves with the reminder to take our recovery one day at a time.
Healing from addiction can be scary and overwhelming. We can’t possibly prepare ourselves for every unforeseen challenge in our lives or in the recovery process. We often create even more anxiety and fear for ourselves by taking on too much at a time, looking too far ahead, and trying to control the future. Our recovery invites us to focus on maintaining our sobriety “one day at a time.” This comforting adage from addiction recovery circles can serve as the reminder we need to appreciate every blessing that comes our way and to take the journey of sobriety one day at a time, one step at a time. Call Athens Area Commencement Center today for help at (706) 546-7355.