Explore New Pursuits and Passions

Think back to before your addictive behavior started taking up a lot of your time. Maybe there was something you loved to do when you were younger but got distracted from. Now’s the time to bring these interests back and/or explore new ones. The Explore New Pursuits and Passions tool will help identify the pursuits or passions that can help bring the pleasure of living back into your life. Remember you don’t have to choose just one. Find pursuits and passions and keep looking for more that satisfy you.

Recovery isn’t just about what you’re stopping, it’s also about what you’re creating. Rediscovering interests, exploring new hobbies, and building meaningful activities into your life can bring joy, connection, and purpose.

You may already have ideas. You might be drawing a blank. Either way, this tool can help you get curious and start small.

These are not just hobbies, they are pursuits and passions that engage you, ground you, and make life feel worth living. Rebuilding this part of life takes time, but it’s worth the effort.

Think Back

Before your addictive substance or behavior took up so much time, what kinds of things did you enjoy?

• Were there creative outlets you left behind?
• Did you have goals or interests you got distracted from?
• Was there something you always wanted to try?

Nothing coming to mind? That’s okay. Go back to your Cost-Benefit Analysis. What short-term benefits were you getting from the behavior? Was it excitement, escape, social connection, or a sense of calm? Each of those is a clue that can help guide you toward a new passion or pursuit.

Brainstorm Ideas

You can start by writing down anything that interests you, even a little. Here are some examples to get the ideas flowing:

• Creative: painting, cooking, playing music, photography, crafts
• Physical: walking, dancing, swimming, yoga, biking
• Social: volunteering, book clubs, taking a class, joining a support group
• Mental/emotional: listening to music, puzzles, journaling, meditation, nature walks, fiction
• Just for fun: karaoke, road trips, open mic nights, thrift shopping

You don’t have to pick one perfect thing. Keep trying and revisiting. The goal is to stay open and curious.

Write down a few activities or pursuits that interest you. Then rate each one twice:

• First, based on how much you expect to enjoy it
• Later, based on how much you actually enjoyed it once you tried it

This helps you notice surprises. Something you thought you’d love might feel flat. Something unexpected might light you up.

• What’s something from your past you’d like to revisit?
• Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but never got around to?
• What small step could you take this week to explore an interest?
• How do your interests connect to your values or long-term goals?