We become what we surround ourselves with — people, places, things. Music, objects, the degree of orderliness, cleanliness, organization.
An Army General, I have heard, once gave a lecture to some college students on the importance of making your bed the first thing you do when you get up in the morning. Before anything else, straighten and make your bed clean and neat.
Why?
First, it gives you a sense of mastery, power, control over your environment.
Second, it sets a sstandard of orderliness and boundary for the coming adventures of the day.
Third, our minds can become more organized and orderly when our environment is so.
now, I’m not criticizing the sloppy habits we have — some more than others, self included — nor am I preaching that we all become obssessive-compulsive neat-nicks.
But perhaps something that you can do today to make a positive track on your recovery is to look around your living or work space and assess if there is too much clutter here or there, if there is a pile of something that can be tucked away in a box into a closet, maybe sweeping the floor. Maybe it’s opening the blinds so you can connect with the outside.
Maybe it’s wahing the dishes or doing the laundry.
Perhaps it’s brushing your teeth or your hair, or changing into a fresh set of clothing.
If you have any items that cause you to think about symptoms, illness, tragedy, stress, alcohol, start a craving for drink, etc., perhaps it’s a positive move to toss them or ask a friend to take them.
If you have the tv or music on — or magazines, book out — are they inspiring, uplifting? Or can they be triggers, cause stress or instigate mental images and thoughts that make you cynical, small, petty, or even resentful, fearful, destructive to self or others?
Even small changes can make us feel better.
Do something nice for the environment you spend your time in, today, one small thing — that’s the recovery challenge today.
Take care!
Heidi
Recovery Lifestyle Magazine 