One challenge that many people face – whether in addiction recovery or not – is having their mind pulled in a million different directions at once. There are countless questions about what you could have done, should have done, would have done, could do, should do, will do, and much more. Having a mind that is constantly racing can be exhausting. When you become overly focused on what has happened or might happen, you lose sight of what is happening all around you.
Practicing mindfulness can help to support your addiction recovery and allow you to make the most of each day. One of the main premises of mindfulness is focusing on the present and living in the here and now. As you’re going about your day, be more aware of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations that you experience.
- Go for a walk and pay attention to the smell of pine trees or the ocean water, the sound of birds chirping or squirrels scurrying, the feel the of earth beneath your feet or the wind in your hair, and the look of new buds emerging or clouds drifting by.
- Spend a few minutes each day meditating and deepening the mind-body connection. Feel each breath move in and out of your body. Let the tension melt away from your muscles. Let yourself be grounded.
- Live in the moment. If someone is talking to you, put away any distractions and hear what they are saying. Focus on what you are doing, watching, hearing, or eating.
Being more mindful can help to ease stress and anxiety because you are not preoccupied with all of the what-ifs. You can focus on dealing with each situation as it comes and becoming more accepting of the fact that you cannot control everything. There is no way to change the past, but you can learn from it, and let it guide decisions in the future. Perseverating over things you cannot change helps no one. But being more purposeful in your present actions and decisions can help.
Many people find mindfulness meditation to be an effective part of addiction recovery. It allows them to refocus, relax, become more self-aware and accepting. It is something that can be done virtually anywhere and at any time. You can meditate as often as you would like for as long as you would like, and it doesn’t require any special equipment. Many addiction treatment centers like Crossroads incorporate meditation and mindfulness into recovery. It gives clients another strategy to support healing, a positive state of mind, and relapse prevention.
The next time you are experiencing a craving, feeling stressed out or overwhelmed, or just need to take a moment to re-center yourself and feel more grounded, consider practicing mindfulness. Crossroads helps clients to find what works best for their recovery and incorporates a wide range of evidence-based and holistic healing into treatment programs.
[cta]Overcome addiction and develop diverse tools to support recovery at Crossroads. It’s not too late to remember who you wanted to be.[/cta]
