It’s A Journey Not A Destination

It’s a Journey Not a Destination

You may have heard that sobriety is a journey, not a destination. What does that mean? Some people mistakenly believe it means that sobriety can never be achieved, you will always struggle and fight against intense cravings and need. That is not true. You can achieve and maintain long-term sobriety, without the intense cravings that you have on your journey toward sobriety. What you will realize on the journey though, is that we are always changing and growing, and that life will always bring challenges. It is the skills we learn along the journey that help us face those challenges while maintaining our sobriety that are important. Sobriety without the developed skills to fight challenges cannot, and will not, be sustainable.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the theme this year from the National Alliance on Mental Illness is “Together for Mental Health”. It is important to realize that when it comes to any mental health challenges, you need the support of others to help you achieve control in your life, and that includes alcohol and substance use disorders. During your journey, it will be the guidance and support of others that will help you learn the skills you need to regain control and improve your overall wellness.

A destination implies that everyone is going to the same place. Sobriety and control over your mental health looks different for everyone. What works for you, may be different than what works for someone else. Your goals and achievements may be different than those of others who you will encounter on the journey. However, that doesn’t mean those encounters on the journey won’t be helpful to you. You will still learn skills from others and develop those skills through your interactions with others on the journey.

The support of others on your journey will be crucial. While you are on your journey to recovery, you will face numerous challenges. Those challenges can derail your journey to sobriety if you do not have the support of others who have experienced similar challenges on their journey. This is why support group interaction is so crucial while in recovery. The ability to talk with others who have been where you are, and experienced some of the same struggles you are going through, can help you to develop skills needed to combat those challenges.

The journey to sobriety is not a short one, or an easy one. There will be many stops, turns, and obstacles along the way. This is why it is crucial to set goals and make plans throughout your journey. You will need short term goals that will provide you with a sense of accomplishment, so you do not give up. You will need to continue to set new goals and revise old ones as life changes during your journey. To stay focused on long-term goals, you must have short-term goals along the path. Your goals should include health and wellness goals, relationship goals, career goals, and fun goals. You will achieve success on your journey by focusing on the short-term goals along the path to your long-term goals.

Aspire Counseling Services have counselors and support groups that will help you along your journey to sobriety. Don’t try to take your journey alone, call Aspire today for experienced travel companions that will help you develop the skills you will need for the most important journey of your life, the one to better health and wellness.