Why is being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so critical to your recovery process? These are responses that can be typically found in the subconscious part of your brain, and it is necessary to lead those thought processes to the conscious area to experience positive change. Self-awareness is a necessary skill to deal with the challenges that one experiences throughout their life.

What you can do to be self-aware

Identify patterns of self-destructive thinking and behaviors

Discussing various thoughts and urges that can be relapsing warnings (both in a group and one-on-one setting) can be beneficial in identifying signs that can turn into destructive behavior. Having a safe place to discuss topics that you may be ashamed to open up about can lift the weight of the anxiety that can lead to relapse.

Practice Meditation

Though it does take practice, meditation can help you build the skill to let go of unwelcome or disruptive thoughts and can also lower the anxiety and stress that fuels relapse. With continued practice, this activity will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of your emotions.

Write It Down

In a similar way to meditation, keeping a journal as a way to log your thought processes is a useful way to observe your emotions without having a clouded perspective. Looking at your thoughts on tangible paper can help you understand why you were feeling that way, and you can even uncover emotions that you didn’t even know you felt!

Having self-awareness is a process, and through productive steps and effort, you can direct your emotions and thoughts in a positive way to continue to have a successful recovery. These practices will prepare you to deal with the hardships that may occur in the future, and when those present themselves, you’ll be able to handle it wonderfully.