If you are someone who has completed a drug rehab program and are well on way to full recovery, then we trust that your mindset right now is in a positive state. It may, however, also be a time of conflicting emotions where your happiness of beating your drug addiction is tinged by sadness and regrets about the mistakes you have made in your life.
The key thing to remember is you are heading in a positive direction, and whilst there may be moments where your progress is hampered slightly, ultimately you must believe you are going to fully succeed.
One emotion that many recovering from drugs hope to find is joy. Now, joy means different things to different people, but the general definition is that it is an emotion full of absolute happiness, delight, fun, and hope.
The question which may often be asked during one’s recovery is “How do I rediscover joy?”, so here are some ways you can seek joy and find joy in your life after beating drug addiction. Specifically, here are several questions you should ask yourself to discover the joy you wish to find.
Who Or What Makes You The Happiest?
Let us start with what should be a fairly easy question to answer and that is, “Who or what makes you happy?”. Whatever the answers are, to pursue joy you should ensure that you spend as much time as you can with those people. If you have lost contact with any of them, then reach out to them. As for the things that make you happiest, seek out, obtain, and experience as many of them as you can.
Where Are Your Favourite Places?
This can be anywhere that you love to be. It could be your favourite restaurant, a sports stadium, a cinema, a local park, the beach, or a store that you love shopping in. As for places further afield, if there is a town, city, state, or country you have visited and loved being there, make arrangements to revisit it.
Who Or What Makes You Laugh The Most?
It is no lie that laughter is the best medicine and the more you can laugh the more joyful you will be. Think of the comedians, TV comedies, funny movies and even cartoons that make you laugh most, and make a point of watching one of them every day.
What Would You Love To Do Again, That You Loved Doing When You Were Younger?
Are there any hobbies, pastimes, sports, or activities that you absolutely loved doing years ago? If so, now is a great time to take them up again to give you a sense of a time when you were younger, and every day seemed to be a joyous one.
What Are The Activities And Experiences You Have Wanted To Try, But Have Not As Yet?
From activities you have done, we come now to those activities and experiences you always wanted to try but have not. There are so many possibilities that it is impossible to list them all, but we do suggest you go for the activities that have the greatest “wow factor” for you.
What Does Your Perfect Day Look Like?
For this, find a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed and map out what a perfect day would look like for you. Start from the second you awake to the moment your head hits the pillow at night and outline your most joyous day. Next, try to live it as often as possible.
What Does Your Most Joyous Life Look Like Including Your Dreams And Goals?
From a joyous day to your joyous life, you now want to map out all your goals and ambitions for the life you are going to have now that you are free from drug addiction. Be as bold as you wish in setting those goals, and once complete, imagine in your mind that life is real. Finally, create some plans as to how you can achieve your life of joy.