A person who is struggling with drugs or alcohol can rarely set or accomplish significant goals. That is because a substance use disorder has a way of taking over the entirety of a person’s life in ways that make everything worse rather than better. It is hard to succeed in any area of life when you are constantly focused on the substances you have come to depend on. Your job, your relationships, your finances, and more are all likely to deteriorate while you are using drugs or alcohol.
But if you have been through treatment and started your recovery journey, you may find yourself eager to set and pursue goals. Of course, your primary goal should be to maintain your recovery by staying away from the substances that upended your life. Still, there are plenty of other things you might want to accomplish now that you are better able to think clearly about your hopes and dreams.
Even if you are ready to set some goals and start pursuing them, you may be a little unsure how best to get started. Maybe you have not been a goal-oriented person in the past—or at the very least, you might feel like your goal-setting skills are a bit rusty.
Our goal in this blog entry is to help you get back into the swing of setting and achieving goals. Let’s start by talking about the importance of a growth mindset.
What is a Growth Mindset?
Many people approach life from a perspective known as a “fixed mindset.” A person with this sort of mindset believes that they have a certain level of talent or skill in most every area of life, and that there is little to nothing they can do to improve beyond their limitations.
For example, a person with a fixed mindset might wish they could play the piano by ear—that is, without any sheet music. They might try to do so and quickly discover that picking out a melody—not to mention harmonies—without any guidance is tricky indeed, and so they might conclude that they simply will not ever be able to play the instrument by ear.
The fact of the matter, however, is that playing the piano by ear can be a learned skill—something someone works toward until they are able to do it. It may be easier for some people than others, but with dedication and practice, most everyone can get better at it over time.
A person who realizes they can get better at most anything with enough effort has a growth mindset.
You can see how a growth mindset is much more useful to a person who wants to set some goals and make progress toward them.
How to Set SMART Goals
You can approach goal setting in many different ways (here is a list with some examples), but we are going to focus on one we think is effective and easy to remember. It is known as the SMART method. Each letter in the word SMART is a step in the goal-setting process.
- S is for Specific: It is hard to pursue a vague goal, so try to really define what you would like to accomplish.
- M is for Measurable: A useful goal offers ways to measure your progress toward achieving it.
- A is for Actionable: You will want to identify the steps you can take to move forward as you pursue your goal. Always knowing what the next step is can help you stay motivated and on track.
- R is for Rewarding: Chasing a goal is always more satisfying if that goal gives you a sense of purpose. Why do you want to accomplish what you want to accomplish? That “why” is what makes all the effort worthwhile.
- T is for Time-specific: Most goals are going to take some time to achieve, but just like you don’t want to have a vague objective, you also don’t want to be overly vague about how long it might take. Having a timeline in mind provides a sense of urgency that will keep you moving forward.
We encourage you to take advantage of your recovery to set some goals for yourself and to work toward them diligently. Pursuing your goals can be rewarding, and that sense of accomplishment can help you remember why your recovery is so important to you.
Our Goal? Helping You Get Your Recovery Underway
At Bel Aviary Recovery Center, we are ready and able to help you overcome a substance use disorder. We work diligently to create personalized, evidence-based treatment plans supported by our extensive training, years of experience, and spirit of empathy.
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center also provides treatment for mental health disorders—like depression, anxiety, and issues related to traumatic experiences—that may be entangled with your substance use disorder.
Once your time in treatment comes to an end, you can count on ongoing support from Bel Aire Recovery Center. Our commitment to providing resources and encouragement never flags as we work to help you build a lasting recovery.
