This is something I didn’t start doing until later on, maybe 2 years into recovery. But its something that I wish I started earlier. There’s a saying, I just have to stay sober today. I remember thinking while in counseling that I have no idea how I am going to be able to stay sober for years. I’d never been able to stay stop acting out for longer than a month on my own. Somehow to this day I have been able to (thank you God) but if you have the mindset of I just have to stay sober today its alot easier burden to carry, than saying i have to stay sober forever!
This also translates into other areas of life when you are worried about money or paying bills. Is my rent paid today, ok cool. I just have to focus on getting through the rest of today and then tomorrow will take care of itself.
If we literally take each day as it is, and say you know what I just need to stay sober today. It makes it much easier to move along with recovery. If we start our day and say I am just going to stay sober for the next 24 hours…when that temptation comes to act out, instead pick up the phone and let someone know hey this is what happened and I want to act out, but I said not for the next 24 hours so I’m letting you know so I can release this monster. On the same token if I gave you two options for what would be easier to accomplish, can you stop watching porn today or can you stop for 2 years. If you were like me, you would say 2 years is impossible. But 24 hours, I think I can do that.
What you also realize is that this works for every aspect of your life. Things that you cannot take care of that day, you don’t have to worry about. If you worry about a trip 5 months from now, is worrying about it today going to solve that problem? It’s not, so you can say I’ll just focus on the things that I can change for the next 24 hours. If we can break down our sobriety into 1 day at a time, each passing day it does get easier and easier.
There are a few verses in the bible that speak to this as well. Why are you worried about tomorrow, there’s no guarantee you even make it that far. Break each day down one at a time, focus on what you can do today, not 4 years from today. When you think that you have life planned out for the next little bit or so. God laughs.
My mind will run rampant and think about things from me dying to becoming president of the US. All of those probably are not going to happen today, so maybe I should focus my attention on what is on today’s agenda. The same thing for if the bills are paid for today, maybe I should be thankful there is a roof today, and I can worry about that for another day. It helps you break down life in simpler terms. One thing that happens isn’t the end of the world. And all I can do is focus on what’s on my plate today.
From a perspective of recovering from lust, being able to fight off temptation just for today, makes it so much easier than saying I have to do this forever. I just need to stay sober today, and utilize my tools and support for those moments where I feel triggered or tempted to act out. One day at a time-24 hours at a time. I can stay sober today.
When we can sit back, slow down, and just focus on what we have left to do for today it makes life seem a bit more manageable. 24 hours at a time. Even if you have to break down the day into quarters. Okay 4 quarters of 4 hours. Let me just get through the first quarter and god give me the strength. If you know your day will have more temptations, stress, and trials in quarter 3 then pray and take extra planning steps to figure out how you can manage your way through it.
One day at a time. Conceptually simple, practically difficult. Why is it so hard to just live my day and be present to the current moment in time. I’m not sure if its nature or our society, but I have a drive to plan things out so far in advance. Its hard for me to live in the moment and take one day at a time. It could stem from the addiction. Because in the addictive state and mindset there is no rest. rest is temporary after you get your fix and then once those batteries are recharged its on to the next, never able to sit in the moment and appreciate where you were or what you had. It was always more, more, more. Thinking about what lies ahead.
In recovery though, you are taught to live one day at a time. Even though I want to plan myself to death, I cant make tomorrow come any faster. I cant worry about tomorrows problems, and I can rest and appreciate what god is giving me right now today.
Take today as it comes.
God Bless!
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