What does it take to be successful in a transitional sober living home?
Willingness
The first step to successful recovery is having the humility to admit we have a problem. Then we must be willing to ask for help from a power greater than ourselves. Left to our own devices, our chances of relapse are greatly increased. Furthermore, we must have a deep willingness to change, and do everything necessary to not return to our lives in active addiction. Without a willingness to change, we will not change. Simple, right? But that willingness has to be beyond just a simple thought, it must be a commitment to start on a successful journey in recovery, and in a sober living home.
Structure and Accountability
Most of our lives in active addiction were nothing short of chaos. We had a hard time holding ourselves accountable to anything but our next drink or drug. Even if we were able to hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability and structure, our addiction and alcoholism would easily catch up with us eventually. We make excuses for our behaviors or lack of action to justify our alcoholism/addiction. In recovery, we must hold ourselves accountable, and have the ability to structure our lives in a way that will lead us to success in recovery. In a sober living home, this structure and accountability is a fundamental component to living in the home. And these skills will be essential when transitioning back into the world as productive members of society.
Productivity
Some of us in active addiction couldn’t hold a job, some of us could hold a job for a short period but end up in a hired and fired cycle. And then some of us were able to maintain our jobs, but there was still a void being filled within us with the drugs and/or alcohol. True productivity is defined as the effectiveness of productive effort. Effectiveness. Being asked to work and hold a job in in a sober living home and in recovery does more than produce financial gain. No matter the path chosen: school, job or career. It allows us to be effective and productive in our efforts, and feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment in doing so.
Financial Responsibility
At Purpose House Sober Living there is a financial responsibility involved with living in the home. In recovery, we must be held financially responsible. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, even financially, when we first begin our recovery journey. The goal is to get to a place where we can be held completely financially responsible. Living in a home where we are held accountable and asked to maintain a level of productivity are the building blocks to achieving the long term goal of financial independence.
Purpose
Our purpose in active addiction was usually centered around our drink or drug of choice. In recovery, we are able to get back in touch with our true passions, what truly drives us and gives us purpose. We are able to think back to our childhoods, or our days before our addiction and remember what truly made us happy. Life in recovery also allows us to explore ourselves and find new passions and interests to pursue; things that spark passion, bring us true joy, and ultimately, a life of purpose.
Human Connection
It seems to be largely misunderstood that the opposite of addiction is sobriety - when truly the opposite of addiction is connection. So although we must remain abstinent from drug alcohol use as alcoholics and addicts, it is vitally important in recovery to have connection with a higher power, connection with our loved ones, and connection with our brothers and sisters in recovery. Addiction usually leads to a state of isolation, physically and/or emotionally. Getting sober, which is different than being in recovery, allows us to remove ourselves from the substance. Being in recovery allows us to remove ourselves from our past life of isolation, and enjoy true connection which is a key component to a successful life in recovery. In a sober living home, you are surrounded by others with a common goal, finding joy in recovery. This is the reason for sharing a space with another person in a sober living environment. Living closely with those in the home, weekly house meetings, weekly meals and outside AA/NA meetings attended allows us to enjoy that true connection from the very start of our recovery journey.
The first step to successful recovery is having the humility to admit we have a problem. Then we must be willing to ask for help from a power greater than ourselves. Left to our own devices, our chances of relapse are greatly increased. Furthermore, we must have a deep willingness to change, and do everything necessary to not return to our lives in active addiction. Without a willingness to change, we will not change. Simple, right? But that willingness has to be beyond just a simple thought, it must be a commitment to start on a successful journey in recovery, and in a sober living home.
Structure and Accountability
Most of our lives in active addiction were nothing short of chaos. We had a hard time holding ourselves accountable to anything but our next drink or drug. Even if we were able to hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability and structure, our addiction and alcoholism would easily catch up with us eventually. We make excuses for our behaviors or lack of action to justify our alcoholism/addiction. In recovery, we must hold ourselves accountable, and have the ability to structure our lives in a way that will lead us to success in recovery. In a sober living home, this structure and accountability is a fundamental component to living in the home. And these skills will be essential when transitioning back into the world as productive members of society.
Productivity
Some of us in active addiction couldn’t hold a job, some of us could hold a job for a short period but end up in a hired and fired cycle. And then some of us were able to maintain our jobs, but there was still a void being filled within us with the drugs and/or alcohol. True productivity is defined as the effectiveness of productive effort. Effectiveness. Being asked to work and hold a job in in a sober living home and in recovery does more than produce financial gain. No matter the path chosen: school, job or career. It allows us to be effective and productive in our efforts, and feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment in doing so.
Financial Responsibility
At Purpose House Sober Living there is a financial responsibility involved with living in the home. In recovery, we must be held financially responsible. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, even financially, when we first begin our recovery journey. The goal is to get to a place where we can be held completely financially responsible. Living in a home where we are held accountable and asked to maintain a level of productivity are the building blocks to achieving the long term goal of financial independence.
Purpose
Our purpose in active addiction was usually centered around our drink or drug of choice. In recovery, we are able to get back in touch with our true passions, what truly drives us and gives us purpose. We are able to think back to our childhoods, or our days before our addiction and remember what truly made us happy. Life in recovery also allows us to explore ourselves and find new passions and interests to pursue; things that spark passion, bring us true joy, and ultimately, a life of purpose.
Human Connection
It seems to be largely misunderstood that the opposite of addiction is sobriety - when truly the opposite of addiction is connection. So although we must remain abstinent from drug alcohol use as alcoholics and addicts, it is vitally important in recovery to have connection with a higher power, connection with our loved ones, and connection with our brothers and sisters in recovery. Addiction usually leads to a state of isolation, physically and/or emotionally. Getting sober, which is different than being in recovery, allows us to remove ourselves from the substance. Being in recovery allows us to remove ourselves from our past life of isolation, and enjoy true connection which is a key component to a successful life in recovery. In a sober living home, you are surrounded by others with a common goal, finding joy in recovery. This is the reason for sharing a space with another person in a sober living environment. Living closely with those in the home, weekly house meetings, weekly meals and outside AA/NA meetings attended allows us to enjoy that true connection from the very start of our recovery journey.