Self-Management Begins with Intention
-Charles A., SMART Recovery Facilitator
SMART Recovery is about actively managing your self and directing your actions. What do you intend to actively do today… or ‘NOW’… to manage your addiction recovery?
We have the power of choice, but in order to realize this power, forming intentions and doing the work of changing our thinking and behaviors is required for success… so…
… what’s your intention for self-management today?
Here are some examples (different addiction examples are included here.)
- Study in my SMART Recovery handbook for 15 minutes
- Attend a meeting
- Take my vitamins
- Work on an item I’ve put off
- Eat sensibly
- Respect myself by examining and rating my thoughts and behaviors… instead of self-rating and self-downing
- Drive home a different way to avoid my old patterns
- Exercise for 10-15 minutes
- Drink water instead of soda at lunch
- Create an urge log
- Practice unconditional acceptance with myself and others
- Set a new boundary
- Do a Cost-Benefit Analysis worksheet
- Spend 10 minutes reading in the online library, and then practicing what I’ve learned
- Stay in the NOW, rather than letting my mind drift to the past or the future
- Make a journal of the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) I have each day, and work to dispute them
- Spend 15 minutes cleaning the kitchen
………… and so forth.
Chart out your intentions in your journal or on an index card. Re-visiting them frequently during the day can help keep you focused on what it is you want to actually DO to realize successful self-management with your recovery. Work to make these the non-negotiable items of your daily activities… the items that will enhance your recovery… and then Push Your *** to make them happen.
So, what are your intentions today?
