Words matter—especially the words we tell ourselves. Negative statements about our appearance, intellect, and value remain with us for years and have the power to shape our self-concept. If you tell yourself you’re worthless, you will soon believe that lie. And that type of thinking has no place in recovery.
Here, we explore the value of affirmations as an addiction recovery tool, offering tips on how to use these positive statements to support your daily recovery journey.
What Are Affirmations for Addiction Recovery?
Simply put, affirmations are positive statements you repeat to yourself to cultivate a healthy mindset. Also known as “positive self-talk,” affirmations allow you to stop negative thoughts in their tracks and combat them with healthy alternatives.
Using affirmations is a way to live your life with purpose. It’s a way to take hold of your life and decide you’re going to do things differently, starting with the way you think.
That’s not to say that addiction is something you can kick on your own with the power of positive thinking. Rather, with the help of an addiction treatment program and a strong support system, you can become empowered with the tools you need to reclaim your life. As such, affirmations can be a valuable piece of a larger recovery plan.
Sample Affirmations for Addiction Recovery
While your affirmations don’t need to be the same as someone else’s, you may find traditional mantras helpful for your personal recovery journey. Some common affirmations in Alcoholics Anonymous include:
- It works if you work it.
- Keep coming back.
- Let go and let God.
- Live and let live.
- One day at a time.
- Progress, not perfection.
- This too shall pass.
You may also benefit from affirmations that remind you of your inherent worth. By telling yourself that you are important, you can begin to believe statements like these:
- I am loved.
- I am valuable.
- I am worthwhile.
- I am not my addiction.
- I like the person I’m becoming.
- I can do this.
- I matter.
Whatever statements you choose, be sure to find or create ones that are motivational and reassuring, and that resonate with you personally.
How to Use Affirmations to Support Recovery
It’s helpful to meditate on positive words in moments of quiet, and also to wield them as weapons against the temptation to use. Try these tips for using affirmations to bolster your recovery:
- Personalize it. Use words like “I” and “me” (not “you” or “they”) to set goals and take responsibility for your own recovery.
- Keep it simple. Short phrases are more memorable than long treatises and are typically more effective as daily mantras.
- Stick to the positive. Use phrases like “I can” rather than “I can’t” to steer your mind away from negativity.
- Say it out loud. Look at yourself in the mirror to reinforce the message. You can also write it in a journal or on sticky notes around your house.
- Say it often. In order to embed positive thoughts into your consciousness, you need to speak them regularly.
- Invite others in. If one of your affirmations is “I am valuable,” for example, ask a trusted friend or sponsor to repeat it to you and reinforce the message: “You are valuable.”
By incorporating affirmations into your daily life, you’re training yourself to speak positive words of truth into your situation. And when these mantras become ingrained in your mind, you can actually change the way you think. In that way, positive affirmations can be a powerful tool on your journey to a healthy, addiction-free life.
Article Source: www.beachsiderehab.com
