Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Hazelden Publishing
Stop That, Start This: Two Essentials for Early Recovery
Stop That, Start This: Two Essentials for Early Recovery
Stop That, Start This: Two Essentials for Early Recovery
Monday 13th September 2021
Discover how to define abstinence and build positive rituals for early recovery in this episode of 'Recovery Road' with Craig Nakken.
9 minutes
Informative
Educational
Supportive
Empowering
Hopeful
About this podcast
Author:
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Navigating Challenges in Recovery
Healing Relationships
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Kickstart Your Recovery: Defining Abstinence and Building Positive Rituals
Recovery, on the other hand, is about choices. The rituals of recovery teach us the behaviors that help us exercise our choices.
Feeling overwhelmed at the start of your recovery journey? This episode of 'Recovery Road' offers some much-needed clarity. Host William C Moyers shares an excerpt from Craig Nakken's book, *The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior*. Nakken breaks down two crucial practices for early recovery: defining abstinence and developing positive rituals. Why is defining abstinence so important? Nakken explains that being clear about what abstinence means to you can prevent the endless cycles of addiction.
It’s not just about avoiding substances but understanding the behaviors that lead you down that path. Creating a realistic abstinence contract with a counselor or sponsor can help keep you accountable. This contract should identify specific triggers and behaviors that might derail your progress, and sharing it with a support group can provide an extra layer of accountability. But it’s not all about what you stop doing.
Nakken emphasizes the importance of starting positive rituals that enrich your life and connect you to recovery principles. These rituals are more than just habits; they’re meaningful actions that help you exercise choice and align with a lifestyle of love and respect for yourself and others. By engaging in these positive rituals, you’ll find new ways to connect with people and start believing in yourself again.
If you’re looking for practical advice to kickstart your recovery, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how to define your path to abstinence and fill your life with positive, self-enriching rituals that pave the way for a brighter future.