If you are recovering from addiction, you are going through some positive changes to make your life better. Just remember the Zen proverb “If we are facing the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” Your life isn’t just about becoming sober and healthy though, it is about moving forward and looking to the future. You are not the same person as you used to be, you are instead making a brand new start. Here are five recovery goals that can help you to move forward and build a positive and happy life.
Discover What Brings You Joy
It is important that you find joy in the simple things that bring you joy during your recovery time. Music is a good example of this – something that can be lost during an addiction spiral. Start listening to new albums, or browse some current bands on a streaming service. Pick up your favorite book, watch that comedy movie that makes you laugh. 
Perhaps you have a hobby that you were enthusiastic about. It is important to stress that you are not trying to reclaim an old self – instead you are moving forward and looking to new activities that will make you happy.
Make New Friends
The fact is that old friends may be entwined with your addiction experiences, and you may find that you have to leave them behind in order to move forward in your healthy new life. Being part of a rehab programme is a good way to meet new friends that understand what you are going through, and are also working towards the end goal of living a clean and sober life.
Document Your Feelings
Keeping a diary or journal is an important part of the recovery process. It is a way of not only recording your feelings, but a way you can analyse the patterns of emotion. For instance, are there certain times of day when you struggle? Or can you link your addiction to being in certain places or spaces? A diary can also be used as a type of therapy – you can tell the truth to your diary and they won’t judge. Your diary will just listen.
Keep Your Body Fit
During your recovery time, it is important to get some regular exercise – it releases serotonin in the brain, helping you to feel happier. It doesn’t matter if you go to the gym, play football, or simply take a brisk walk, any type of exercise is good for you. It is extremely positive to focus on getting fitter – it will help repair both your mind and your body.
Make Short Term Goals
In the early stages of recovery, making short term goals can help you have something achievable to work towards. Make a list of the things that you would like to get done, and you can tick these off as you go. No goal, is too trivial. It could be something simple, like clearing out a kitchen cupboard. It could be something more personal, like writing a new CV.
Recovering from addiction is very personal, but with the right support network you can get through this, and emerge a happier, more well-rounded person on the other side. You can never change your experiences, but you can learn from them and look towards the future.
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