Traditional Ways - from the Health and Healing Series at SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.

Recovery is learning to enjoy life - without the use of alcohol or drugs that alter mind or mood.

It is treatment for the condition of addiction - an approach to the challenges of life - and a path to personal growth.

Recovery requires us to learn - about the true nature of addiction.

It may be personalized - but it has its necessary Principles and its Ways.

The Principles of Recovery provide direction - to the choices that we face each day.

The Ways of Recovery provide us with tools - that help us to heal - and to enjoy life on life’s terms.

This Learning Seminar introduces Traditional Ways of health and healing -  

What you need to know - to empower your recovery today.

What You Need to Know

Recovery has a different language than medical treatment.

It is not so much about fighting illness - combating disease or fixing things gone wrong.

Recovery is more about letting go - of the many ways that we create sickness and stress.

It is resisting the compulsive ways of addiction - and learning ways to nourish health and healing.

Recovery is to regain lost health - to reclaim personal power - and to connect with the wisdom of our heart.

It is not so much about beating addiction - but growing in person - beyond the grip that addiction has had on our life.

Recovery draws from Traditional Ways - that have long been proven to nourish the health, healing and power of the human spirit.

These ways focus on those things that we have ability to change right now - the stuff on our mind - and the things that we choose to do today.

Self Talk - refers to the things that we say to our self - within our own mind.

We talk with our selves all of the time - and it is perfectly normal to do so.

It is only a matter of whether we talk our selves into anger, worry or distress - or that we talk with our self in ways that are reassuring.

Many of the critical things that we say to our self - are destructive habits that echo harsh words said to us by others.

Notice - and let go of critical self talk. Replace these words with constructive affirmations - recovery phrases - words of reassurance and encouragement.

Abdominal Breathing - is an excellent way to take a break - from the stress of a pressured day.

Breathe in through your nose - and deeply to the bottom of your belly.

Let your breath go - as you also let go of the tension in the muscles of your face, neck and shoulders.

The way that we breathe is tightly connected to the way that we feel.

Abdominal Breathing is a natural way to breathe - and that grounds us in our body right now.

It is a calming way to remind our selves - to enjoy life one breath at a time.

Journal Writing - helps us to sort through and let go - of the clutter in our head.

A Gratitude List - Personal Inventory - a Reminder List - or an Expression of Inner Feeling.

Things kept in our head are never as real as things written down.

Writing helps to organize, express and relieve our self - of the stuff that builds inside of us.

Meditation - is practice in many of the things that we rely upon in recovery.

It helps us learn to calm our self - to center and ground our selves right now.

It is an exercise in letting go - of the habits of mind and feeling that bring stress to our day.

Active Meditation uses the movement of our body - to calm and focus our mind.

In Mantra Meditation - we rest our mind on a calming phrase - that we quietly repeat to our self.

Mindfulness Meditation is to calmly notice and let go - of whatever comes to mind.

It is learning to be at ease with our self - and to find acceptance of who we are right now.

Prayer - may not put a new car in the driveway.

But prayer can help us with many of the pressures that occupy our mind.

Ask for Help in the Morning - and Give Thanks at Night.

This simple way of prayer - reminds us that we are not in charge of the world - but that we have a part to do for our self.

Grant me Serenity - to Accept the things that I cannot change - Courage to change the things that I can - and Wisdom to know the difference.

Repeat the Serenity Prayer when you find your self lost in resentment, worry or a struggle for control.

Prayer grounds us in the wisdom of our heart - and where the answers to our questions exist.  

Mutual Support - has always been the way that people grow through adversity.

Connect with others in recovery from addiction. Attend to Recovery Support Group. Talk - Listen - Relate - Share.

Recovery requires persistence in its ways - and will always benefit from the support of others.

So much of addiction is about running - avoiding and evading.

We drain our energies in endless struggle - with things not ours to control.

We give power over to substances - to the things that we blame and to the feelings that we fear to face.

Traditional Ways help us to stand firm - to reclaim power and to grow in our person - as we learn to rise above the challenges that used to pull us down.

Don’t Run - and do what you need to do to Face Feeling and Recover.

Learn the ways to care for, calm and express your self - so that you grow in ability to face Life on Life’s Terms.

Exercise - helps to relieve nervous energy and to settle our mind. It lifts our spirit and calms our body.

Walk - Run - Swim - Join a fitness center - and learn how to exercise your body.  

Muscular Stretching - in the morning or evening - before and after exercise - is another excellent way to calm and connect our body and mind.

Yoga - Tai Chi and other traditions offer stepwise programs to care for mind, body, feeling and spirit.

SupportNet offers introduction to the Traditional Ways of healing - and encourages you to make them a part of your Personal Program of Recovery today.

In Summary

Recovery is not so much about beating addiction - but in growing beyond the grip that addiction has had on our life.

Recovery draws from Traditional Ways that have long been proven to nourish the health, healing and power of the human spirit.

These ways focus on those things that we have ability to change right now - the stuff on our mind - and the things that we choose to do today.

You have now reached the end of Traditional Ways.

Look for this and other Learning Seminars at www.SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.