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Community is a huge part of the recovery process, and it plays an important role in order to help each person feel supported through the difficult transformational period of recovery in their lives. Community provides a constant wealth of new ideas and practical therapeutic approaches that someone can take and implement into their own lives. However, for each person to truly get the most out of their recovery community, especially when living in a transformational living environment, each person needs to be able to identify their own worth in that community. While finding one’s worth takes a degree of confidence and voice, there are a number of ways that someone can begin to improve their self-esteem and discover the value that they have in their own recovery community.
Challenges of Finding Your Value in a Community
Someone just joining a recovery community may have some reservations. Not only may they just be starting out on their own recovery journey and are unsure of what to expect, but they are also surrounded by new faces and a new culture that is based around recovery. As a result, it is common that someone feels reserved as they learn how the community works, its rules and customs, as well as the expectations that the community may have for each individual on a daily basis. Joining these recovery communities may mean that each person will have to learn to assimilate themselves into a recovery-based mindset and supportive group of like-minded people. While this is undoubtedly helpful, it also can cause someone to hesitate as they learn the ropes of this new community, and thus they may not be entirely sure where they fit in at first.
However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for someone, or that someone doesn’t hold value to the community. Finding one’s worth in a community first begins by having each person realize that they aren’t being measured by the achievements or progress of others, but rather, by the metric of their own goals and own progress in recovery. Instead of viewing a community by the achievements of its alumni, it is more beneficial to view each community as the sum of its members as a whole. Communities wouldn’t be able to thrive in a constantly changing and challenging atmosphere such as recovery without an influx of constantly changing coping strategies and ideas that each member can present. Achieving a goal that someone has set for themselves and then sharing in that experience with others cannot just provide new strategies for others to think of that were once unique to just one individual, but also continue to inspire motivation in all of its members regardless of their phase of recovery. Avoid comparing oneself to others, but instead measure worth in a community by accomplishments and efforts put into that same community.
Worth Begins with Fellowship
One’s reservations in a new community can be difficult to overcome, and this can be in large part due to feelings of self-doubt. Looking at other members for guidance in a recovery community is highly encouraged, but it is important to always see the other members of the community as peers first. The notion that just because someone is new to a community and thus their words don’t hold as much value is a fallacy. Even those who are new to a community still deserve to be viewed as equal peers, all helping to learn from each other in both their coping strategies and stories. Establishing oneself as a peer has many benefits for one’s idea of self-worth and confidence, but it also builds upon one of the most important aspects of one’s time in recovery, the practice of using one’s voice.
Don't Be Afraid to Raise Your Voice
Getting up the courage to speak up in a community is important, as it not only can help someone begin to establish their identity and brand in a community environment, but it also establishes oneself as a peer by practicing their own agency and confidence in themselves. Practicing using one’s voice doesn’t all have to come at once, though it is important that someone begins the process by offering a few of their insights in their community. Small expressions of voice, even voicing if someone does or does not agree with a certain therapeutic practice, or even if they do or do not enjoy a certain movie, are all ways that someone can begin to prove to themselves that they are an important member of the community because they are fundamentally changing the culture of the community when they are present. Measuring oneself by their successes includes using one’s voice which can positively affect their feelings of self-worth. In a community where one can share their opinions and become a source of influence within the community creates the opportunity for one to find their place within that community.
Community is an important element of the recovery process, and each person has a unique story that can provide a new approach to recovery and success. If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction or a mental health issue, START UP RECOVERY can help you begin to identify your own worth and strengths in order to help establish your unique identity and brand. The sense of fellowship is championed at the beautiful facilities of START UP RECOVERY, and each person is encouraged to share in their experiences and approaches in a safe and supportive environment. The guidance of like-minded people and mentors can help each person continue to identify their value and strengths. For more information on START UP RECOVERY and how the program can be beneficial for you, talk to a trained and caring staff member about personalizing your stay to best address you and your needs. Call us today at (310) 773-3809.