Recovery isn’t just one thing. What it means to “overcome an addiction” can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Addictions can take many forms and are in no way limited to just drugs or alcohol. Depending on the addiction and what someone wants out of recovery, goals can drastically differ.
However, by setting goals and talking about achieving them, someone can make a plan regarding how to achieve them; this can be a therapeutic tool by itself. Even if someone is suffering from a different addiction, or wants something different out of recovery, there are still many benefits to setting goals and sharing them with support groups and loved ones.
The Importance of Setting Goals in Recovery
Simply having goals is important. While recovery from addiction is often thought of in terms of eliminating something, it also helps to have something tangible to look forward to. Having goals can serve as a motivational tool during the difficult path of addiction recovery. However, there are multiple kinds of goals that a person needs to set. First, are the big, ultimate goals for when someone is sober.
These overarching goals can be things like “stay sober and keep a good job” or “start a family.” These things often reflect the reason that someone wanted to seek help in the first place with their addiction. These goals are incredibly important and can give someone the motivation they need to continue recovery, as well as inform the different choices they make throughout their recovery.
Recovery paths should reflect these overarching goals, and the goals themselves can keep individuals looking to a positive future rather than spending their time dwelling on the past. Second, but arguably more important, are the smaller goals that make up the pathway to the overarching, grandiose mission. These can be overlooked, but they provide a crucial role in recovery.
These smaller goals can be as simple as “go one day without drinking,” or even “make it to work on time every day this week.” Addiction is something that affects every aspect of someone’s life. Even when something seems mundane, it can often be the result of a large amount of work in recovery. It can be difficult going from detox to the grand goals all in one stride.
People will need to see success in motion as they go through the long journey that makes up recovery. Being able to look back at successes can help someone keep a positive outlook on recovery, and make recovery continue to seem possible even during the more difficult times.
These smaller goals are a running list of accomplishments. Being able to look back at the first time someone was able to go an entire day without drugs can be a huge motivational tool, even after several years of sobriety; it was a goal that once seemed impossible.
Vocalizing Goals for the Group
Just because each person in a group will have their own goals, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t any merit to sharing personal successes. Addiction recovery is a process that can take a toll on people both mentally and physically. Access to a supportive, positive outlet such as group therapy is important in helping people maintain a positive outlook on the process as a whole.
Vocalizing different goals, as well as the plans needed for a specific person to achieve them, can still help each person in a group. For some, it can serve as a reminder that success is something tangible and possible. For others, it can be informational as they watch the different strategies in action and utilize them to accomplish their own goals.
Many Paths to Success
Having a single, overarching, shared goal for everyone in therapy can help keep everyone motivated toward a single outcome. While this can often take the form of continued, long-lasting sobriety, there are many ways that individuals can achieve that goal.
Having a shared goal can help a group of people move forward, and know that they are never alone in their journeys. There are many ways that people can seek out their goals together, and each person’s individuality can help them find their own path. This means there are always several options available.
The process of recovery won’t feel stagnant or helpless when each person is sharing their goals, their successes, and their methods with everyone else. Each story and goal is a symbol of hope, which can help others get through their difficult times.
If you are struggling with an addiction and aren’t sure where to start, Lighthouse Recovery can help you take the first step. Addiction recovery is a long and complicated process. However, the professionals at Lighthouse Recovery can help personalize a program based on your needs and specific goals in order to help you recover in a unique, holistic manner. Their multi-faceted approach, addressing both the addiction directly as well as any co-occurring mental health disorders, creates an environment where everyone can explore their different options for sobriety.
