Recovery involves changing the way you think. In order to truly recover, you have to begin thinking in new ways. Negative beliefs about self  increase the risks for relapse and mental health concerns. Recovery is not so much what you are doing, as it is how you think. If you are thinking positively, your risks of relapse is lower.

Negative thoughts about self often surface after unpleasant events occur. For example, if you lose your job you may start to feel like a failure. While losing your job does not make you a failure, it sure can feel like it. When you begin to think negative things about yourself, natural consequences occur. Low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, and even abusing alcohol and drugs can occur when you have negative beliefs about yourself.

How do you change your beliefs? There are several ways that you can begin changing your negative thinking and beliefs. Here are a few:

1. Take a deep breath.
2. Tell yourself positive affirmations.
3. Try to stay in the present moment-avoid fixating on the past and the future.
4. Take care of yourself-if you treat yourself right there will be less room for negative thinking.

Taking a deep breath and staying in the moment is a mindfulness technique. Mindfulness is based on being present in the here and now. Too often, people stress over things they cannot change. These types of thinking patterns are defeating. Taking a step back to breathe and focus on the present is a good start to changing negative beliefs.

If you can tell yourself negative things, you have the ability to do the opposite. Doing the opposite involves speaking kindly to yourself. Instead of saying, “I am a failure” try saying “I can try again because I am determined.” Do you see how different these two statements are?

Self-care is a major part of changing your negative beliefs. Self-care involves being good to yourself, enjoying life, and taking time to refresh. If you care for yourself, there will be no room to focus on negative beliefs.

Self-care is as easy as getting a good meal, a massage, or a decent night’s sleep. You need to stay refreshed, focused, and calm in order to have positive beliefs flowing through your mind.

At the core of positive thinking, you will discover that you need to believe in yourself. If you are going to treatment or in recovery, positive thinking will help you make it through. The Kimberly Center can teach all about the power of thinking positively. Call us now at 855-4-KCENTER, we can teach you how to stay sober.