Recovery Done Right

When I was a young adult my biggest fear in life was to become stuck.  To become one of those people whose life hit a high point early on and they spend the rest of their lives trying to regain that former glory.  Or to become one of those whose life is filled with monotony and subsistence, living the same day repeatedly without growth or change.  To me, these lifestyles seemed so easy to slip into and, once there, so difficult to escape. 
 
Recovery done right is about rising above this subsistence level of living and engaging in the process of life.  This process is one of identifying the areas needing work and then developing strategies for change.  While this may sound simple, for many people this simple concept is overwhelming or impossible to accomplish. Whether it be "I don't have the time", or ritualized arguments with a spouse or a devastated self-image that has given up hope; the person finds it simply too much to engage in change. 
 
For the month, look for those areas that, large or small, seem to be permanent fixtures to your life.  Pick one action you can take once a day that will run counter to your normal pattern.  Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings about these new behaviors.  Then talk to a friend, counselor, pastor or someone about the changes happening.  You'll be surprised.
 
John