What we think about a situation or event will determine feeling and emotions and later, behaviors and actions. In early addiction recovery, our thoughts are often not in line with what 98% of the world would think about the same event that we are thinking about.
Someone is looking at me, I think they are challenging me, I feel disrespected and I say what the heck are you looking at, and I am ready to fight. Let’s challenge that thought. Ok someone is looking at me, maybe he likes my shirt and is wondering where I got it, if that is the case I certainly don’t want to fight the guy. What changed? My thought, belief or interpretation of the event.
Changing the thought led to a different emotion which led to a different action (outcome).
Here are 5 ideas about changing the first thought that pops into our head, ask yourself: 
1. What is REALLY going on here?
2. Do I NEED to do something about it NOW?
3. How important is it in the big picture?
4. Reason it out
5. Make sense out of nonsense
The ultimate purpose of challenging our thoughts is that be looking at an event in a different light will lead us to a different felling or emotion and taking a different action.
Just a suggestion: try ending up in an emotional place that causes the least amount of pain.
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Positive thinking, that the points really interest, somebody have a problem to get it… Sometimes when we are in bad condition that really hurt to get positive thinking so I realy like the point in number 5 Make sense…
the blog is good i like it very much.
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Love the post Bill,
I used to rely on others’ help in early recovery. When I found out just how faulty my own thinking could be, I made a commitment to consult with others (parents, significant other, or back then a program person) before making any rash decisions. Even the little breaks that normally put on my actions helped immensely.
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These ideas are great. Changing your way of thinking can be a huge help to addicts in recovery. I think due to the amount of stigma placed on addiction in our society, it is easy to take a lot of things the wrong way, when they are not meant to be negative at all. With these simple steps it is possible to end up in a whole new positive direction.
Chelsea´s last blog ..Small town heroin addicts – When drug use and overdose hit smalltown USA
always keep in mind that “you can make it”
Thanks for the post.
I agree with changing the way you see situations. A lot of times the stinking thinking is what gets addicts into trouble.
Oh, come on. Positive thinking is EASY provided you understand perfectly well that your mood is something you build up yourself, not something given to you.
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Just don’t lose hope my friends, remember that as long as your alive, God is giving you enough time to change, be positive that God has forgiven you as you forgive yourself.
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Great article! Also, I totally agree with Chelsea (above) that while any kind of addiction can be cured with proper treatment and support, it is the taboo and social stigma attached to it that keeps an individual from discussing his addiction freely or getting it cured.
Great article. The way we think changes everything. So to prevent from any trouble or problem, just think positively.
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I totally agree that you can use some tools such as the ones suggested in this post in order to change your emotional outcome from a situation.
The problem comes in when your frustration level is so incredibly high that all of these mental tools fly right out the window.
I think we have all been there at times in our recovery. We are frazzled to the point that there is no reasoning ability.
It is at times like that when we need tools that go beyond mental gymnastics:
1) Spiritual connection, prayer, meditation tools, etc.
2) Exercise as an outlet for built up frustration. Using a holistic approach in recovery to find new coping mechanisms.
3) Having a strong social support network of others in recovery who can help keep you in check and keep you held accountable.
The mental techniques in this post are great, but for times when you get really frustrated, I think we need techniques that reach beyond this type of therapy.
And of course, anyone who is actively working a program will be exposed to these other tools.
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