Author Simon Sinek famously transformed the way people think with one simple phrase: “Start with why”. His book of the same name went on to sell millions and inspired a generation.
As in the business world, finding your reason or your “why” for entering addiction treatment can make all the difference in whether your recovery is successful or not.
Four Questions to Ask Yourself to Discover Your “Why”
For someone facing an addiction, it’s not uncommon to feel a sense of loss, or emptiness, when you stop using substances. After years of numbing, the absence of drugs and/or alcohol can feel like an emotional hole that feels impossible to fill.
But there are easy ways to find your “why” and get past the initial emptiness hurdle.
Here are four questions you can ask yourself to help discover your ‘why’:
- What do I love?
Over time, addiction can monopolize your life and leave you with feelings of shame, remorse, or guilt. So, this is a question you may not have asked yourself in a long, long time. Looking honestly into what it is that you love and what brings you fulfillment can go a long way in motivating you to move forward and identify the need for change.
- Who do I love?
The people in your life can provide more reasons to get better. You can cultivate gratitude and appreciation for the people in your life who love and care for you, who inspire you, and who keep you motivated and looking forward. Who makes you laugh after a long day? Who makes you feel comfortable and at ease when you’re around them? And who inspires you to be a better person—while also appreciating you just as you are? - What are my values?
This is another question that gets to the heart of who you really are. Addiction often winds up taking us away from our values instead of toward them. For example, your values may include family, connection, honesty, creativity, or authenticity. When you are compromised by substances, you’re essentially putting the substance in charge. Recovery allows you to reclaim your values and live them.
- What are my dreams?
While we realize this may sound hokey to some people, it really is a question worth asking. Do you want to travel? Take up a hobby? Spend more time with your loved ones? Start an ice cream shop? Or, just have a more relaxed lifestyle that allows you to reconnect with yourself. Thinking about your dreams or even creating new ones can provide you with a sense of hope and purpose. Even though many dreams can take years to realize, working toward them can be fulfilling in itself, and an important part of your ‘why’.
Why is the Way Forward
Recovery is about more than quitting the use of substances.
It’s about healing and rediscovering what it is that makes you you, and what it is that puts the pep in your step.
Addiction is a disease that can take a lifetime to recover from—nurturing a sense of purpose as part of the process is key to handling the ups and downs you may encounter.
When you discover and nurture the things that fill you up and make you want to be fully present in your life, you truly are laying the groundwork for a meaningful and sustainable recovery.
We Can Help You
Ledgehill’s two facilities in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, provide gender-specific treatment for men and women who need to heal in a peaceful, supportive environment free from fear or distraction. If you’d like to learn more about the addiction and mental health treatment programs provided by Ledgehill, enrol yourself in one of our programs, or refer someone else, please call us at 800-676-3393.
