Recovery can be a difficult journey. When you’re so laser-focused on leaving substances behind for good, you can end up putting a lot of pressure on yourself. Connecting with your future self is a great way to alleviate some of this pressure. You’ll get a clear picture of your life on the other side of addiction and feel more confident that you can achieve your goals.
A Dim Outlook
If you’ve spent any amount of time struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), you’re probably no stranger to negative feelings. Being in the cycle of addiction can cast a dim light on your life. Feelings of guilt, shame, and hopelessness are also very common, even right through recovery.
Even more, the go-to treatment model usually puts a heavy focus on substances. When you’re constantly thinking about your substance use, abstinence, and more, this can cause you to stay in a substance-oriented mindset. You’re not thinking about what your life will look like on the other side of addiction, which causes you to stay stuck.
A Hopeful Shift
According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Community Psychology, in recent years there has been “a paradigm shift away from pathological models of addiction and recovery towards a more multidimensional health model encompassing overall functioning and subjective well-being.”
When you stay focused on your overall well-being, including your physical and emotional health, you can begin to form a brighter picture of what your future will look like. This allows you to live a more self-directed life and boosts your confidence too.
Big Goals and Dreams
An article published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine explains that goals are “mental representations of desired outcomes.” When you set and achieve goals, you can transform your health, your mindset, and your overall well-being.
Unfortunately, most people who set goals don’t usually achieve them. A big reason for this is because many goals are set in an “avoidance-based” way. When you set a goal to avoid something, like avoiding drug use, this could cause you to feel really bad about yourself if the goal isn’t achieved in the desired timeframe.
On the other hand, you can find more success if you set fun and exciting goals for the future. Painting a picture of your desired life can help you dream bigger and feel more encouraged.
Your Future Self Vision
Your future self is the version of you who lives on the other side of sobriety in your dream life. When you paint a vivid picture of your future self, it will become easier to visualize yourself living in that reality. Doing this allows you to have fun and get excited for the future.
Connecting With Your Future Self
A great way to begin connecting with your future self is to keep a journal. You can start painting your dream life vision by asking yourself questions like:
- What does my future self do on a daily basis?
- What does their ideal day look like?
- Are they confident or more sure of themselves?
- How do they dress and what does their self-care routine look like?
This practice is all about you. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Sometimes it’s best to put your pen to paper and see what happens.
Meditation and Visualization
If you want to get even clearer on your future vision, you can start to visualize this version of yourself.
Yet, before you visualize, it’s important to have a clear mindset. Meditation is an excellent way to achieve this and it has a plethora of benefits for recovery too. You can begin by meditating for a few minutes to get yourself grounded. After that, with your eyes still closed, start to picture your future self. What does this version of you look like? What are they doing in your future dream reality?
It’s also important to tap into their emotions and feelings. Your future self most likely feels peaceful, excited, hopeful, and other positive emotions. The more you can tap into these feelings in the here and now, the easier it will be to overcome your current struggles and begin aligning with the future you.
Habits, Routines, and Boundaries
The future version of you has a completely different set of habits and routines than you do right now. As you move through recovery, it’s important to start incorporating healthy new habits that support your dream life vision.
You can brainstorm the habits and routines your future self has on a daily basis, and then start acting on them little by little in your current life. Don’t forget about your self-care routines too!
Your future self also knows how to set strong boundaries. This is an incredibly important part of recovery because it helps you avoid triggers and boosts your self-esteem. Think about the boundaries you hold in your dream reality and then begin incorporating them into your daily life.
Becoming Your Future Self at The Guest House
Recovery is possible when you have a clear vision of your brighter future. Here at The Guest House, we offer a variety of tools and therapies that will allow you to dream bigger and transform your life in profound ways.
Our cutting-edge blend of traditional and holistic treatment modalities will help you set big goals, form healthy new habits, and develop a strong sense of confidence in yourself. Here you can explore a wide range of activities from meditation, to yoga, conscious connected breathwork, and more.
No matter what you may be struggling with, The Guest House has everything you need to build your dream life and create an exciting future.
When you’re in recovery and your sole focus is overcoming substance use, your mental state can leave a lot to be desired. Setting big goals and connecting with your future self who lives in your dream reality can give you the confidence and hope you need to find lasting success. At The Guest House, we offer a cutting-edge blend of holistic and traditional therapies that will help you connect with your future self and set big goals for an exciting future. Through activities like yoga, meditation, and more you can open your mind to all the possibilities that exist beyond addiction. For more information, give us a call today at (855) 483-7800.