You have traveled a challenging road to get to this point, and now it is your turn to explore giving back to the recovery community. Giving back to the recovery community not only feels good but also gives you a sense of purpose.
This blog will explain the importance of giving back to the recovery community, the best way to approach this, and the benefits for your overall recovery.
What Is the Importance of Giving Back to the Recovery Community?
Spending your time volunteering provides a new perspective and changes how you view the world. Giving back in recovery takes you on a journey of connection. While volunteering, you have the potential to create new relationships that could last a lifetime. You have spent a lot of time learning and dissecting parts of yourself in treatment, and now it is your time to share your knowledge and help someone else grow in their recovery.
You had to eliminate many of the people, places, and things related to your former way of living. Now you have a chance to create the positive support system that you need simply by giving what you already have.
Gratitude and Giving Back to the Community
There are endless studies on the power of gratitude and how training your brain can make a world of difference in your thought processes. Gratitude changes the way your brain operates. A simple feeling of gratitude ignites a sense of peace that lightens up your thoughts and provides motivation to act in positive ways.
In addition, you used to be focused on yourself and how you could acquire what you needed for the day. Gratitude shifts this focus. A state of gratitude is the opposite of thinking about “me” and instead embodies more of a “we” mindset. This concept is beneficial in a community atmosphere in which you can connect with others who may be going through similar situations.
When you give back to the community as an alumni, you are showing gratitude for all the things you have obtained in recovery. You are giving a gift that can never be returned and fostering a sense of connection at the same time. When you give back, you are staying connected to your recovery while receiving a boost to your self-confidence.
Ways of Giving Back to the Community
Giving back to the community will nurture your recovery and add structure to your daily schedule. How you want to give back to the community, however, is up to you. Take a moment to reflect on the time and resources you can give. Explore what your community needs. Then make a plan and stick to it. If you need several people to achieve your goals, ask around or research community projects that you can involve yourself with.
Several ways that you can give back in recovery are as follows:
- Engage in activities in an alumni program, such as the program available through The Guest House. An alumni program will connect you with others who have the same goals as you. Additionally, you will receive support, structure, and ongoing connection.
- Volunteer to be active in a local 12-Step meeting. For example, make coffee, bring cookies, or set up chairs.
- Clean up your local park.
- If you are financially able, you may choose to donate to a cause that you feel strongly about.
The Benefits of Giving Back: What’s in It for Me?
One of the more well-known purposes of giving back to your community is the connection that you will share with others. It has been said that connection is the opposite of addiction. When you reach out and connect in healthy ways, this reduces your chances of becoming involved in addictive habits.
Giving back to the community does not have to be a long drawn-out process. Instead, giving back can be something as simple as picking up a cup and throwing it in the garbage can.
Another benefit of giving back is that it is good for your mind and body. The social aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall well-being. Nothing relieves stress or anxiety more than having a connected conversation. According to an article In the journal Biology, volunteering causes measurable changes in your body’s biochemistry and feelings of contentment and happiness. Just think, the price of happiness could just be as simple as giving back to your community.
Giving Back as an Alumni
At The Guest Guest, we understand that connection is key to a healthy recovery. It may be difficult for you to engage in building healthy relationships in recovery. However, our alumni program can help. At The Guest House, we take the pressure off you as we work to help everyone connect in meaningful and enjoyable ways. This is our way of giving back and providing an example of how much others are benefited by selfless acts of connection.
Giving back to the community is a key to long-lasting recovery. Volunteering can uplift your spirits and guide you to live your best life. When you consider how many people freely helped you evolve into the person you are, you may discover a desire to give back. The power of giving back is that it can evoke a sense of joy and overall well-being. You have come so far in your journey and now is the time to give back as an alumni. There are many ways that you can reach your goals of sustained sobriety and community involvement. If you or someone you know is struggling with reaching goals, give The Guest House a call at (855) 483-7800.