As your year ends and a new one presents itself, it’s time to reflect on the last twelve months, your experiences, as well as your emotional and mental health. What parts of you need healing? Further exploration? What goals do you want to set? A new year is a time of new beginnings, discoveries, and accomplishments. Below are some tips for reflecting and preparing for the year ahead.
Be honest and empathetic
As you evaluate your past year, do so with honesty and empathy. Don’t try to trivialize something that impacted you in a large way. Don’t be too hard on yourself for not quite achieving a goal. It’s important that you’re honest but empathetic. After all, you’re only human!
According to the Recovery Centers of America, self-forgiveness is a practice that takes time, patience, and understanding. So, just as you give others grace for their shortcomings, pass that grace on to yourself as you look to move forward to a new year.
Focus on growth
Taking time to reflect on your past experiences throughout the year allows you to become more self-aware. Look at what worked or didn’t work for you. What changes do you want to make or what opinions do you have about how you managed certain situations? Take this time to challenge yourself, improve your confidence, or facilitate a deeper level of learning.
Incorporating meditation for recovery
Addiction is a disease, and everyone’s struggle is different, just as the journey to recovery is different. Meditation alters the way one focuses on their addiction by providing support for the road to recovery. Insider.com shares how mindfulness meditation can increase your awareness of cravings and allow you to manage them better. Some of the benefits include handling impulses better, improved sleep quality, and a more vital ability to recognize the temptation to reach for substances, helping you stay focused on recovery.
Set meaningful goals
Setting goals allows you to hold yourself accountable to change. No matter how great or small, any amount of change for the better is important. Goals can help clarify your behaviors, allow for feedback from others, promote happiness, and encourage you to use your strengths.
It can be challenging to set goals, but all you need to do is start. Write them down, and put them somewhere where they’ll be visible to remind you each day what you are working to accomplish. Write down your thoughts and feelings brought on by the work to achieve your goals. By putting it all into words, you get the opportunity to unpack feelings and mentally release any pent-up nerves or concerns.
We know 2022 will be a great year, and the team at Valley Oaks Health is cheering you on!
