Monday, July 30, 2012

Recovery Checklist

The Empowerment and Recovery Model assumes that we are ALL in recovery from something at some point in our lives - illness, trauma, childhood abuse, mental illness, addictions, multiple stressors, etc.  Growth in recovery is possible by sticking to concepts like honesty, acceptance, nurturing, affirmation, approval, empowerment and love.

Review this recovery checklist to identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Use it to set your own recovery goals.

  • Maintaining appropriate daily routine
  • Setting and achieving daily and long-term goals
  • Personal care
  • Setting and sticking to limits with children and others
  • Constructive planning
  • Appropriate decision-making and problem-solving efforts
  • Choosing behaviors
  • Well-rested
  • Resentment-free
  • Accepting (versus denying)
  • Not controlling others nor feeling controlled by them
  • Open to appropriate criticism and feedback
  • Free of excessive criticism of self and others
  • Gratitude versus self-pity and deprivation
  • Responsible financial decisions (not over- or under-spending)
  • Not escaping or avoiding through work or sex
  • Self-responsibility (versus scapegoating and blaming)
  • Valuing wants and needs
  • Free of victim self-image
  • Free of fear and anxiety
  • Free of guilt and shame
  • Free of worry and obsession
  • Not feeling excessively responsible for others
  • Faith in Higher Power
  • Trusting and valuing self
  • Making appropriate decisions about trusting others
  • Maintaining recovery routine (attending support groups, et cetera)
  • Mind clear and peaceful; logical thinking; free of confusion
  • Feeling and dealing appropriately with feelings, including anger
  • Appropriately disclosing
  • Reasonable expectations of self and others
  • Needing people versus NEEDING them
  • Feeling secure with self; self-affirming
  • Communicating clearly, directly, and honestly
  • Balanced mood
  • Maintaining contact with friends
  • Feeling connected and close to people versus lonely and isolated
  • Healthy perspective; life looks worth living
  • Not using alcohol and medication to cope
  • Having fun, relaxing during leisure activities, enjoying daily routine
  • Giving appropriate positive feedback to self and others
  • Getting - and allowing self to believe - positive feedback


from Beyond Co-dependency: and getting better all the time by Melody Beattie

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