There is a wealth of benefits that you experience from getting clean and sober and living a life of recovery from addiction. Just one of those benefits is that you get to know and experience new things and new passions. When you are in active addiction, it’s unlikely that you spend any time at all thinking about the possibilities you have in life – you’re too busy using, thinking about using, or planning how to use. When you get sober and begin your recovery, you will see that there is an endless amount of new adventures to embark upon.
Some people in recovery find that they love to travel, and that not only is it enjoyable, but that it can also enhance their program of recovery. Here are some of the ways that hitting the road, or jumping on a plane, can help your recovery.
It Helps You Keep an Open Mind
A big part of recovery is having an open mind. You have to be willing to look at things differently and learn new, sometimes awkward-feeling, ways of coping with things. You are encouraged to view things without preconceived notions and to try things that feel foreign to you. In early recovery, you have to begin to become more self-aware and introspective in order to be able to make the positive changes that are necessary to stay sober.
Traveling to new, exciting places can be like that. You don’t know what to expect, but you are filled with the excitement to find out. Your mind is open to the possibilities. Isn’t that just what it was like when you decided you could no longer live a life of addiction? You were able to see that there were possibilities beyond what you knew at the time.
It Gives You a New Perspective
When you are facing challenges, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself – for those who are in recovery and those who are not – is change your perspective. That is certainly something that you learn in recovery. What used to seem impossible, like quitting using, may actually be possible after all. Your addiction didn’t change, your perspective did.
When you travel, your perspective is constantly changing, figuratively and literally. You are able to see new places with open eyes or recognize new things about your favorite destinations that you return to over and over. Being able to see the same things differently is a wonderful skill to have, in your travels and in your recovery.
It Provides You with New Discoveries
You started a journey of discovery when you began recovery. You had to discover who you really were and then get to know that person. Chances are, the person you have gotten to know in recovery is much different than the person you were in active addiction. What an amazing discovery that is!
Taking trips, whether for a day or for a month, offers you a world of discoveries too. With your newfound open-mindedness and positive perspective, you never know what incredible things you might discover in your travels.
It Takes You Out of Your Comfort Zone
Your comfort zone may feel like a safe place, but you have to keep in mind that your comfort zone is where you lived when you were using. Mustering up the courage to make a change and seek treatment were you getting WAY outside of your comfort zone. And look at the benefits of doing that!
Traveling to somewhere that you have never been may feel like you are stepping outside of your comfort zone, and that’s great! You know how to do it, you’ve done it before, so why not see what awaits you?
It’s All About the Journey, Not the Destination
Traveling can be a wonderful way to augment your recovery. It has the potential to benefit your mind, body, and spirit, just the way that recovery does. Step outside your comfort zone and give it a try. You will likely find that the destination isn’t so important, it’s how you get there that is.
If you have not yet made it to recovery, but want to change the course of your life, seek treatment for your addiction and get yourself heading in the right direction. Contact us at Summit Behavioral Health and we can help you find the path to recovery.
The post 4 Reasons Travel is Helpful in Recovery appeared first on Summit Behavioral Health.
