One step at a time

When you're hitting a wall, focus on one brick. - Tyler May

Whether you have been reading our blog for a while and following our journey with us or you are a new-comer to Perks Of Recovery you will probably be struggling with some personal issues. Whatever they may be, know that you are not alone. 

It may feel like even beginning to recover is a really hard path to go down and you constantly come across obstacles that are in your way. Those walls can seem so daunting and no matter how hard you try, you just cannot climb over them. For me personally, it made me question whether I was good enough for recovery, whether I was good enough to be able to enjoy my life again.

As some of you will know, I am a picture hoarder and spend 99% of my time on sites such as Pinterest, weheartit and tumblr etc. So naturally my collection of quote pictures has increased by the thousands (no joke) and one common factor that I found all/most of my pictures have are that they talk about recovery as a process. That's a message that is constantly put out there but no one really seems to explain much about this process. The easiest and most symbolic way that I have ever heard it explained is through Tyler May's quote. If you look at all of your obstacles a brick wall then you can see it as an immovable force. Just like your recovery, if you focus on taking down just one brick at a time and being satisfied with that progress then you will get there. Soon enough your wall will be gone and you can continue on your life's journey. 

Take recovery one step at a time

Stay Strong
-Louise xoxoxo

Keep Going

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." - Winston Churchill

I thought I'd share this quote with you as a reminder to never give up on yourself, and to always stay strong. No matter how difficult it seems, never give in.

Today's lesson

Okay so it’s been a while since I've posted on here. I guess Alyssa and I have been so excited about the things that we have been planning and working with those that we have neglected the blog. Don’t worry, we are back!

So today I went to CBT, I have been going for several months now and am soon going for a referral to a psychologist. This is great news for me but one thing I wanted to tell you about is an activity that vie done today.

It’s called the use of value cards (I think). The aim of the exercise is to sort the cards into 3 different piles, the things we have most important, and the things that are kind of important to you and the things that are the least important. After this stage you then have to pick the top 3 from each category. I bet now you’re thinking, okay that’s great and everything but is there a point to it…..yes there is!

When I was looking over my top cards with my therapist, I had to discuss why they had such a high meaning to me. I realised that they all connected and fit in perfectly with my negative core beliefs. After further discussion, he pointed out to me that the things that I valued most in life in fact the things that I already have. Ergo, in changing who I am because of past experiences and in actual fact the way that I am already is what allows me to make connections and relationships with others. So my self-hatred is now clearer to me as being wrong because I do not need to change myself to ensure that others like me, they like me for who I am already.

….it’s a bit of a long story but basically, we are all we need to be in life. Don’t try to change yourself to make other people happy because the best kind of people like you for who your are

Stay Strong

Louise 

xoxo