Regular readers of this blog know that we turn to a wide range of ideas and examples to explain concepts related to substance use disorders and the recovery journey. You can, for example, find a countdown of our favorite pop culture references here and here.
This time, we are headed out of this world for inspiration. We are going to take a look at the various rovers NASA has sent to Mars since 1997. Each rover bears an inspiring name—a name in keeping with the challenges that must be overcome to explore the far-away world. Those inspiring names, which also reflect the amazing possibilities of each mission, can also suggest some important ideas about recovery from a substance use disorder.
Let’s take our cue from the rovers themselves and fully explore this topic.
Sojourner
NASA sent the rover known as Sojourner to Mars in 1997. The word “sojourner” suggests someone who has traveled a long way from home to visit a new place—perhaps with the hope of learning something from the local residents that will serve them well when they return home.
In the world of treatment and recovery, it might be useful to think of residential treatment as a sojourn—a temporary visit to a place different from your day-to-day experience where you will gain knowledge that can help you make lasting and positive changes in your life. Residential treatment is the first stop on a longer journey—not your final destination.
Spirit
With a name suggesting energy and optimism, the Spirit rover landed on Mars in 2004. Bringing a positive spirit to a challenge—like reclaiming and maintaining your sobriety—can help you accomplish a difficult task.
A spirited approach to your recovery journey will involve staying positive and grateful, managing stress effectively, building a network of positive and supportive relationships, sticking to healthy routines, and finding strategies for keeping cravings at bay (and for weathering cravings when they do inevitably arise). The recovery journey is never wholly free of challenges, but a consistently positive spirit can make it possible to manage those challenges skillfully so that you can maintain your hard-won sobriety.
Opportunity
The rover known as Opportunity also arrived on Mars in 2004—and its name may offer the most obvious connection to recovery of the vehicles we have considered so far. After all, reclaiming your sobriety definitely opens up a whole new world of opportunities.
The opposite is, of course, true when you are struggling with drugs or alcohol. These substances limit your opportunities as they chip away at your physical health, your mental health, your ability to work, your relationships, and much, much more. In those circumstances, it is hard to identify any positive opportunities at all. But there is one: the opportunity to seek out treatment for your substance use disorder so that you can restart your life and reclaim the options and opportunities that are rightfully yours.
Curiosity
In 2012, the rover known as Curiosity landed on Mars. Its name reflects the underlying motivation for all space exploration. We are curious about the universe.
For a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, curiosity can be a very important and useful characteristic. One of the best ways to support your sobriety, for example, is to find an engrossing new hobby or interest that can engage your mind and give you the space you need to relax and keep stress at bay. A sense of curiosity can also motivate you to try a variety of approaches to firming up the foundations of your sobriety—activities like journaling or mindfulness practice or regular exercise—so that you can find the options that are best for you.
Perseverance
The rover known as Perseverance landed on Mars in 2021. It is hard to think of an idea more central to recovery than the notion of perseverance. As we have noted, challenges are always part of the recovery journey, and a commitment from perseverance can help ensure you face down those challenges in ways that serve your ongoing sobriety.
Even in the face of a setback—even a serious setback like a relapse—a fierce commitment to persevering can help you move forward in positive ways. When you keep your goal—ongoing sobriety—firmly in mind, you will give yourself the best opportunity to persevere in your pursuit of that goal.
You Can Get the Help You Need Right Here on Earth
At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas (as well as near an impressive space museum)—you can get the help you need to overcome a substance use disorder as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. We offer robust treatment programs—including inpatient, outpatient, and virtual options. We are wholly dedicated to evidence-based approaches to treatment that are grounded in our expertise, experience, and empathy.
A return to sobriety remakes the world for you—giving you a renewed chance to live the life you want to. When you are ready to start your journey toward that life, we are ready to help you launch yourself in the right direction.
