Re-inventing Yourself after Rehab

A clean slate or fresh start in life is an opportunity that doesn’t happen every day. The completion of rehab provides you a chance for a fresh start and an opportunity to re-invent yourself.

During the aftercare phase, you can view the possibilities that lie ahead as opportunities rather than obstacles. Be encouraged to start over and wipe the slate clean as much as possible.

As you start over, truly look inward and follow the journey of finding out who you are and who you want to be. Allow yourself to feel inspired as you read through this article. Experiment with the concept of re-invention by reading and attempting some ideas, or use them as catalysts to create your own ideas toward re-invention.

Set the Foundation and Build the Framework for life after rehab

• Focus on Now, Plan for the Future. It’s easy to get into the habit of focusing on the past. While reflection and learning from past mistakes is important, reliving those mistakes repeatedly can be counterproductive. Take one day at a time as you begin to lay out short and long-term plans for your new life.
• Details of the New You. Write down what the new you looks like: how this person acts, what kind of job you have, what you do for fun, and how you relax. Jot down notes and phrases or make an outline so that you can start to visualize the person you want to be.
• Create an Action Plan with Achievable Steps. Taking steps toward your new life in sobriety can be overwhelming, even if they are positive steps. Having a vision of the new you can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed because it will help you create a plan that includes smaller, attainable tasks. As you accumulate small victories, you’ll feel encouraged to continue your efforts.
• Promote Success with a Supportive Network. Include your therapist, a loved one, and/or a friend to support you along the way. After you’ve created your plan, share it with people. This will encourage positive discussion on how the process is going and what stage of the plan you’re in, while also allowing you to receive feedback, encouragement, and advice.
• Practice Mindfulness. Meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises are a few ways in which you can remain focused on the moment. Use these practices to relax, remain in the moment, and reduce the stress that naturally comes with change, while also reflecting on the positive changes occurring in your life.

Live in the Moment after Rehab

The key to re-inventing yourself after completing rehab is to truly adopt the concept of living in the moment. Even though this is much easier said than done, it is an achievable task. As you continue to work toward the tasks above, your focus will strengthen and you’ll learn to recognize when you’re living in the present or the past.

The task of becoming more mindful may be all you need to lead to a brilliant re-invention. Once you start your journey, you’ll realize that the effort you put forth each day is worth it; especially as you see the results and how beneficial they are to your new life in sobriety.