Resolution Rebound, Don't Beat Yourself Up Part 1

SHHRP Radio Valencia Episode 002 Part 1

Happy new year! ... Or is it?

We make ourselves a lot of promises every January. Promise making for an Addict can be trouble. One of the most important elements of any good recovery program is honesty, not just toward others, but with yourself. When we make promises that we are unlikely to keep, we set ourselves up for failure. Unfortunately, failure to an Addict, typically means relapse.  Is quitting smoking really the most important thing you need to do this month, or even this year? If you're early in recovery, maybe that's too big a mountain to climb. 

If you're the resolution type, keep it simple. Don't bog yourself down with an unachievable goal. Resolutions to eat better, start exercising, clean out the garage, start the 12 steps again, pickup the guitar again, start a journal, start flossing, start saving all the money you used to spend on scoring and put it toward a vacation, these are good examples of achievable resolutions that won't derail your recovery, even if you fail. 

Resolutions like, quitting smoking, losing large amounts of weight, making amends with long estranged friends or family members, finding work if you've been unemployed for a while, kicking any other significant habit, or even deciding for the very first time that this brand new year is the right time to jump head first into sobriety; these types of monumental self promises can reek havoc on your recovery. Or prevent you getting properly sober in the first place. 

New year's resolutions are great, don't get me wrong, but deciding to get sober on a whim will rarely yield success in the long term. And deciding to bite off something bigger than you can chew can set off a chain of events even the most well intentioned Addict in early recovery can't overcome. 

Here's the good news: choosing to get sober is always the best idea you've ever had. Just be sure you are ready, willing, have a support system in place, and an actual plan.

Best of luck with your resolution! Mine was to start an exercise routine again.  That's been going pretty well!

Tell us your resolution success stories in the comments. We'd love to hear them! Hell, we'd love to hear your resolution failure stories too. If we can't laugh at our own dumb selves, we're doing Life wrong.


The happiest of years,
SHHRP Crew