Sobriety Goal Focus: How Do I Stay Motivated?

Q: What are some tips for maintaining motivation and staying focused on my sobriety goals in the long run?

A: Sheryl L. from Kansas City asked, “How Do I Stay Motivated? Sheryl, staying motivated on your sobriety goals and staying focused can indeed be a challenging journey. Remember, it’s all about taking small, achievable steps to maintain your focus on your sobriety goals. Think of it like tackling a pile of dishes. If you’re anything like me, you absolutely dread the task. It feels tedious, never-ending, and, frankly, annoying. Here’s what I’ve learned: waiting for a sudden surge of motivation won’t cut it. You need to kickstart it yourself.

Begin by giving yourself an out, just like setting a small-time frame or a specific number of dishes to tackle – something entirely manageable. For instance, commit to doing it for just 5 minutes, and if you want to stop after that, you can. Or set a goal of washing 10 dishes, and then you’re free to quit.

But here’s the magic trick: when you reach that point, pause for a moment and reflect. You might surprise yourself by realizing it wasn’t as dreadful as you thought. You might even find a rhythm and think, “Hey, I’m cruising through this – let’s do another 5 minutes or another 10 dishes.” Before you know it, most of those dishes are done.

The key takeaway here is to start with small, realistic goals (think one hour at a time), because progress in sobriety is built one step at a time. Remember, motivation follows action; it doesn’t precede it. So take that first step, no matter how small, and watch your progress grow. #OneDayAtATime #SobrietyJourney #ProgressIsKey

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