Powerful Routines + Powerful Emotions
A few days (week?) or so ago I wrote about the passing of our family pet. At the time it was incredibly raw and painful to speak about. As time progresses on, the rawness dissipates and is replaced with something else I've yet to quite put a phrase to. What has been unexpected, however, is the power of routines to bring about powerful emotions.
We forget that as we go through life we build incredible routines into our lives. Each and every interaction we have we build routines both positive and negative. Those reinforcements form the basis for our actions, reactions and emotional states. With the passing of our beloved dog, it has been a good reminder that our routines serve to define who we are.
For us here at Live Rehab, we miss the pitter-patter of footsteps on the hardwood floors or the crooked smile she gave when scratching behind her left ear. This reminder though has also served to put into strong focus the effects that routines can have on addiction and recovery.
Building positive routine patterns into your life can have an overwhelming impact on your success in sobriety. Think back to the last time you had a drink. How much of that decision was actually about routine? The brain builds powerful neuro connections to the reward centers and these routines can serve to reinforce those behaviours.
So, what can you do to combat these routines? One of the first things you need to do is to log them somehow. We talk a lot about logging your behaviour here at Live Rehab because it provides you unique insight into the process and decision-making you do. Each time you have a drink, light up a smoke or the addictive behaviour you're trying to escape, log it down. After a few days or weeks, patterns will start to emerge. Then, with that knowledge in hand, you can start to change those routines.
To your recovery,
Live Rehab
Great advice...I have the same behaviors whenever I face some kind of difficulty in my life. I escape or find an escape instead of facing them. I'll keep a note from here on :)
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I am happy to know you are out there... As I recruit faceboob friends in recovery, I will send them your way! <3