Just because you have been through something, do not let it define you. Yes I went through that, but I am not that! I am so much more than my mental health and addiction issues. Although I am an ‘addict’ I am now over seven months sober! Not one to congratulate myself all that much but right now I am going to say, I did that! I am no longer in active addiction but pushing forward into full recovery. This is just the very beginning and I am now deciding exactly what it is that I want to do next. At this point I am thinking, thinking, thinking and so here are some of my thoughts…

Push forward knowing that what you believe for yourself will manifest. Dream and think big, do not hold yourself back. Do not place restrictions on yourself, you can be/do/have anything that you want in life you just have to put it out into the universe and then when the opportunities arise lean into them. Take every opportunity that presents itself. With a strong work ethic I have never been shy or retiring when it comes to getting things done. That is how you are going to get yourself to where you want to go. Hold yourself accountable for you, take responsibility and own exactly what is going on in your life.

Believe in the fact that you are capable and can do anything that you put your mind to. You have to ask yourself, what do I really want? What do I really want to do? Like seriously? Think hard about it but be careful not to waste time. Do your research and find out what is available and out there and what is not. There you go you might just find your niche right there! Haha Remember, you can always ask for help. Never underestimate the ability or the power with which we have to ask for advice, guidance or assistance. If it means going to a college open evening, speaking to a careers advisor, speaking to the bank, whoever it is, reach out. If you don’t ask you don’t get and as my mother always said they can’t kill you for asking, all that they can do is say no!

Decide what it is that you want for yourself and then make a schedule, make a plan. Outline your aims and objectives for the next week, month, six months, the next year. Outline your goals and stick to them, make ‘To Do’ lists. If you are anything like me then you will probably only complete 50% of what you set out to do. But next time hit 51% and then 52% in an upward spiral so that it gets you to wherever it is you want to go. Know that what you do today will set you up for tomorrow and then the next day and the next day and so on. Make sacrifices in the knowledge that you have a vision for your life. If your vision is clear and profound you will know that it will all be worthwhile.

Make it happen, speak up and act with confidence, keep going despite the fear. We all have anxieties and fear but the key is to not let it stop you from doing what you want to do. As a sufferer of acute anxiety I get you and completely understand where you’re coming from but too often I see people become paralyzed by fear and robbed of their ambition and dreams. I say, feel the fear and do it anyway! The feeling after you’ve pushed yourself to do something is just out of this world. This will then bolster you for future endeavours, thinking well I did such and such, I have this accomplishment, I can do this and then later, I can do this again.

Pain is just part of the journey, it is just part of it. Very often it is circumstantial, know that it is not your fault! Remember it is only temporary, push through it and you will come out the other end. Now seven months sober my emotions are coming back, flooding in! But I just have to normalise them and learn to sit with them. No matter how uncomfortable they are or however difficult it may be it is part of the journey and part of the human experience. As some may say it’s better to feel pain than nothing at all! So make it work for you, use it as a tool and learn from it.

I think I’m going to leave it there for today but can I just say a big, big thank you for taking the time to read this piece. Always curious and forever intrigued I would love to hear your thoughts on my posts and page. It would be great to hear from you and so please do drop me a line and leave a comment in the space below!

R x