Pathways to Recovery, chapter 3, 'Here We Go'.
Motivation is an essential part of any recovery process. It is what keeps us moving even when the road ahead seems difficult and challenging. The source of motivation can be external, such as support from family and friends, or internal, such as the desire to live a healthier and happier life.
One of the keys to staying motivated is to focus on the positive aspects of your recovery process. This means focusing on the progress you have made, rather than just the challenges and obstacles you face. By focusing on the positive, you can maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated even during difficult times.
Another important aspect of motivation is goal setting. Goals provide a clear direction and sense of purpose, which can help you stay motivated and focused. It is important to set achievable goals that are specific, measurable, realistic and time-bound. This allows you to track your progress and celebrate your successes along the way.
In addition to setting goals, it is important to have a plan to achieve them. This plan should include specific steps you can take to get closer to your goals. By breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated to keep moving forward.
It is important to remember that motivation can decrease and increase over time. There may be days when you feel less motivated than on other days, and that's fine. However, it is important to recognize when your motivation is low and take steps to address it. This may mean taking a break, seeking support or revising your goals and plan to make sure they still align with your values and aspirations.
Finally, motivation is a crucial part of any recovery process. By focusing on the positive aspects of your recovery process, setting achievable goals, having a plan and recognizing that motivation can fluctuate, you can stay motivated and make progress toward a healthier and happier life.
Just remember that recovery is a journey, not a destination. There will be ups and downs, but as long as you keep moving forward, you're making progress.
Introduction
Motivation is an essential part of recovery from mental health problems. When we are motivated, we are more likely to work hard toward our goals and to persevere when the going gets tough.
- External motivation
External motivation is motivation that comes from outside sources, such as from others or rewards. This can be helpful early in the recovery process, but it is not always sustainable.
- Inner motivation
Inner motivation is motivation that comes from within, such as from our goals, values and passions. This is the strongest form of motivation, because it helps us keep going even when the going gets tough.
- How do we find our inner motivation?
To find our inner motivation, we need to ask ourselves some key questions:
- What do I want to achieve?
- What do I value most in life?
These questions can help us identify our goals, values and passions. Once we have identified these, we can use them to drive our recovery process.
Tips for staying motivated
Here are some tips for staying motivated on your recovery journey:
- Set small, achievable goals. This will help you experience the feeling of success and keep your motivation up.
- Celebrate your successes. When you achieve a goal, take a moment to congratulate yourself. This will help you feel motivated to continue.
- Seek support from others. Having a support system of friends, family or therapists can help you stay motivated.
- Be patient. Recovery is a process and it takes time. Be patient with yourself and don't be too hard on yourself if you experience a relapse.
Conclusion
Motivation is essential for recovery from mental health problems. By finding our inner motivation, setting small, achievable goals, celebrating our successes, seeking support from others and being patient, we can stay motivated on our recovery journey.
- Motivation can also be influenced by our thoughts and beliefs. If we believe we can't do it, we will be less motivated to try. It is important to examine our thoughts and beliefs and replace them with more positive and helpful thoughts.
- Motivation can also be affected by our emotions. When we feel down, we may be less motivated to do something. It is important to accept our emotions and deal with them in a healthy way.
Application
The tips in this text can be applied to any aspect of life, not just recovery from mental health problems. By staying motivated, we can achieve our goals and live a happier and more successful life.
The fact that I have recovered from my episodes several times and that I have no permanent symptoms from these experiences. Also the last few years I have been doing really well by my standards. As I tried to explain in the second post, it still feels like things are getting better with time. And that im not standing still, so being hopeful gives me motivation.
- What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning, and keep going?
By setting small goals for the day and the rest of the week. Looking back at goals that have been achieved really helps. If I think hard enough I can come up with quite a few. Keeping in touch with people close to me also helps me get through the day. Trying to take care of my environment and my hobbies helps me to get up. Also coffee.
- Which things, thoughts or feelings motivate you to recover?
The biggest thing that motivates me right now is my environment. And im talking about the place im living in, it gives me peace of mind knowing that its a good base to build on. Another really good thing that motivates me is the social contact I have been able to keep lately.
Another helping factor is the calmer thought process I have at the moment, its nice to be more carefree and not have anything in my head that shouldn't be there. The feeling that I am getting better with time is what keeps me going.
- Which other things you want, wish or hope to achieve in your life?
Healthy relationships.
Being useful with im good at.
Healthier lifestyle.
A pet and plants for my house.
Remember to tap into the potential of the people around you by engaging in social activities, participating in group discussions, and volunteering. These experiences can help you learn from others, develop new skills, and gain a greater sense of purpose. Think about the knowledge and experiences that the people in your environment can offer.
It's essential to seek feedback from others to gain a comprehensive understanding of your strengths. This can help you identify areas where you may be overlooking your abilities and talents. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback on specific areas you think are your strengths.
Also, remember that your strengths may not always be visible to you, so it's important to ask for feedback from people who know you well. They may be able to point out strengths you haven't considered before. Additionally, look for ways to apply your strengths in new situations and challenges as a way of further developing and honing them.
It is important to acknowledge and support the motivation of others. This can mean offering support, compliments or simply showing your support by being present during difficult times.
Share your goals and plans with others to receive support and share experiences. If your motivation wanes, consider developing new goals or revising old goals to fit your current situation.
- Whatever I do, it does not matter.
- The people around me don't expect anything from me, so I don't either.
- I am a bit motivated to recover.
- Sometimes I think of things that seem like fun, but I dont do them.
- There are a few things I want to try and I think about doing something with them.
- I have started to make plans on how to achieve some things, so im collecting ideas and looking for things that can help me.
- I have some framed goals in my life and a clear plan how to achieve them.
- At the moment I am charging myself up to go the way I need to go.
- Im pretty far along and heading straight for my goal.
- Ive achieved so much in recovery, im trying to share the excitement of it with other people.
And you should also know that you don't always have stable motivation. Sometimes it can also fluctuate, but you have to keep looking forward and not swerve.
Turning around
U turning
The beginning of a recovery journey is often referred to as a 'turnaround'. This involves changing old habits and ways of thinking, and adopting healthier habits and a more positive view of ourselves. The turnaround can happen at any time - there is no particular time when it must happen. What is important is that recovery is possible, no matter how long we have been living with a disability. Everyone has their own pace and it is important to find what works for us. Studies have shown that a sense of agency, belief in our ability to change and motivation are key to successful recovery. At any point, we can choose to begin the journey of recovery and take the necessary steps to change the direction of our lives.
Sometimes the turnaround comes when we stop running from our disabilities and instead face them head on. This may involve seeking help, finding effective treatment and acknowledging that there is a problem. It's important to remember that medication is just one tool to help us manage our symptoms and stay balanced. It is not a substitute for recovery.
For some people, the realisation that they are stuck and need to make a change may come after experiencing feelings of hopelessness, isolation or a sense that life is meaningless. They may feel drained, purposeless and tired of suffering.
In other cases, a turnaround may be motivated by anger at the way we are treated in the mental health system and a desire to prove that we are capable of more than we are given credit for. Whatever the catalyst, the important thing is to use this motivation to focus on recovery and take control of our lives.
According to one study, a turning point in the recovery process often occurs when people feel they are in a safe and stable environment. More than half of the people surveyed said they began their recovery journey after finding stable housing. This can help to reduce stress and improve planning and task completion. In addition, having people or animals who rely on us can provide motivation for recovery.
Support from loved ones, friends, peers and carers can also be crucial in the recovery process. Their encouragement, hope and belief in our ability to recover can be especially helpful when we are not naturally hopeful or confident. Sometimes we may not even realise that we are in recovery until we look back and reflect on the changes we have made in our daily lives, such as learning something new, getting out more or making new friends. Even seemingly small changes can be the beginning of a turnaround.
The Turnaround
The reversal is the beginning of the journey to recovery. It is the moment when you leave your old way of life behind and make a new start. This can happen at any time, and there is no right or wrong answer.
Some people begin their turnaround by accepting their problems and seeking help. Others begin by changing their environment or adopting new habits. There is no one way to recovery, and what works for some may not work for others.
The important thing is to keep trying and not give up. Recovery is a process, and it takes time. But if you work hard at it, you can do it.
Here are some tips for starting your turnaround:
- Accept your problems. This is the first step toward recovery.
- Seek help. There are many people who can help you, such as your doctor, a therapist or a support group.
- Make small changes. Don't try to change too much at once. Start with small changes, such as eating healthier, exercising more or spending more time with friends and family.
- Be patient. Recovery is a process, and it takes time. Don't be disappointed if you don't see results right away. Keep trying, and you will eventually reach your goal.
Recovery is possible. If you work hard at it, you can do it. Start your turnaround today!
- You can make a turnaround in your life as often as necessary.
- No one but you can really change anything. Real change in life is possible if you feel deep down that you want something different.
- No one can bring you recovery. Others can cheer you on along the way, but you have to make the choice to move yourself.
- No one can do the work for you that is necessary for your recovery. It is important to do the things that are necessary to keep moving.
- Turning over means that you are primarily responsible for how life goes; make a deal with yourself about how you want it to go.
- Turning around points you in the right direction towards your goals and priorities. It is a path to a life that suits your unique self.
- The moment you choose to make a change is important. It is your moment, nobody else's.
- Once you have experienced a Turn Around, you are on the road to recovery and transformation. Your life will begin to change.
Remember that a turnaround in life is a personal decision and requires effort from within. It's important to set achievable goals and prioritize self-care to maintain motivation and progress towards your recovery. Your moment of choice is crucial, and once you make that decision, your life will start to change.