Written by Hannah Beaver, LCSW, Alumni Coordinator at The Renfrew Center

As summer winds down, we often find ourselves exposed to the various changes happening all around us, whether it’s through the changing colors of nature, or the plethora of “back to school” messages, it’s hard to ignore the theme of change. Change can be a scary process in our life, and even more so in recovery.

Change in recovery looks different for each individual, and whether they are big changes or small ones, fast or slow, external or internal, they all play a significant part in your journey and deserve to be recognized. In our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of the endless demands, making it feel near impossible to take a moment to actually recognize the change that’s happening. Taking time to not only accept the process of change, but also appreciate it, can do wondrous things for your recovery. The more we ignore or try to fight off the changes that need to happen, the harder it becomes to embrace this and move forward. Give yourself this meaningful gift, and know that no matter how hard it might feel at the time, it will be so worth it!

Tip: Make a list of small changes or steps you would like to take during this autumn season. Determine whether this list is something you want to tackle each day, week, month, or just as it comes. Share the list with your support system so that you can receive love and guidance as you embark on the process. Make sure as each step is completed, you take the time to applaud yourself and recognize the hard work you’re doing!