Making progress in recovery is important. Over the years, I developed a saying that sets forth reasonable expectations.
“I am doing a few simple things that help a little bit, in some areas, over time.”
Unwrapping the Statement
Let me explain the above statement more fully. I am doing. I am not going to start doing something soon but am already engaged in a process that will bring progress. I am doing a few simple things. I am not doing one million things and I am not doing just one or two. And the things I am doing are simple, not complicated or complex. The simple things I am doing help. These things I am doing do not fix, control, or provide a miraculous resolution. Instead, the things I am doing help a little bit. These things do not even help a lot. And the things I am doing help a little bit in some areas. These things I am doing do not help in every area, only in some. And these things I am doing help a little bit in some areas but not right away. They help a little bit over time.
Keep it Simple
This simple statement helps reduce perfectionist thinking and instead changes the goal in recovery to development, progress, and improvement. You can leave past mistakes and inadequacies behind, believing that a wonderful life of recovery lies within your reach.
Recovery is a Journey. Enjoy the Ride!
(Taken in part from Journeys: A Lifestyle Resource Manual for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Second Edition)