Life goes by much too quickly nowadays – while our life expectancy has steadily risen over the past few decades, the day-to-day has generally become much more saturated with a constant flow of information, competition, and a never-ending stream of suggestion and manipulation.
Stress levels are rising in our society not because of enduring plagues or the looming threat of war, but because people are constantly asked from every angle to watch how they present themselves, strive to match the newest trend, or worry about the newest social or political movement. Mental illness, while better understood and explored in today’s society, is still consistently aggravated by societal pressures and perceived pressures emitted through media and the internet.
Meanwhile, our constant access to data and information gives us an unprecedented level of knowledge, in exchange for steady mental stimulation and the stress and fatigue that accumulates because of it.
Life goes by so quickly because there is little to no time to turn the noise off for a moment and let time slow down.
While meditation has not been a valued cornerstone of Western spirituality or philosophy for very long, there is precedence for taking time to reflect in Western society. We would gather for family traditions, take the time to make daily offerings to specific deities or pray for their favor, and unwind after a long day at work – not through Netflix, television, or the radio, but through conversation and recollection.
Families spend less and less time together, and more and more time online – especially on their mobile devices. Dinnertime conversations and general exchanges are becoming rarities, and while the internet permits us to chat with anyone, anywhere, at any time, face-to-face interaction fades.
It is important to learn how to simply stop and reflect on things, now more than ever before. And this is especially true if you are recovering from an addiction. In recovery, the ability to reflect on your own and through conversation with others is critical. Old-fashioned face-to-face social contact is important as well, to help us regrow a sense of trust in others, and bolster confidence in our own abilities to interact with people and be a meaningful part of a community again.
If you have recently begun your road to recovery or feel that something is missing in your quest to maintain sobriety, then consider the power of reflection and introspective thinking.
What is Introspection?
It is as simple as it gets – you bring your mind within yourself, and think about what you’ve done, what you’ve thought, and why. Introspection is as simple as hitting the mental rewind button and contemplating your actions in times past – which can help a great deal in understanding your own addiction, and how to best prevent possible relapses moving forward. Simple questions – like, why did I start using in the first place, and what have I learned while sober – can help turn a chaotic and difficult time in your life into a time of learning and true growth.
It’s not wholly accurate that people cannot change. While our personalities do solidify to an extent in our twenties and early thirties, there is a great long list of things that can change simply by confronting yourself and reconsidering your mindset and approach to life. Perspective is crucial in recovery, as a positive perspective can help you combat oppressive negative thinking and move forward with hope in your own future, rather than crumbling under the stress and weight of a potential relapse or total break from recovery.
To begin incorporating introspection into your life, find a good time in your day to shut yourself off from the world. Remove technology, communication, and distraction. Take your time every evening to simply sit and think, and ask yourself a set of questions. They could be specific to a given day, or a given problem, or a general issue that has been bothering you. Introspection is a form of self-therapy and works much the same way as cognitive behavioral therapy, or other forms of psychotherapy where patients are asked to confront their way of thinking and reshape how they view themselves and the world.
Why It’s Important to Look Inwards
There is always the danger of using big words with little meaning when writing about matters of philosophy and psychology, so applicability is important. Incorporating time to reflect on your day, week, or life in general is immediately beneficial to anyone, at any point in their lives. It used to be that we had the time to go over our day, but with the amount of filler and distractions present in our lives today, we live day after day without ever getting the comfort of a proper resolution to our issues.
As such, things pile up, and the stress grows. One worry is superseded by the next, but none of them ever actually go away, leaving traces in your mind like ghost data on a hard drive.
You need a break – more than just a long vacation, but a regular break from worrying and overthinking. Reflection is not meant to be time spent turning one worry into another or going over problems until they mutate into something worse. Remember: perspective is crucial. Reflection is a time to think on what you’ve done and thought and derive a positive context for the future. Sometimes that can be difficult, and that is where professional therapy comes into play. At other times, just taking a minute to think things through can help out a lot.
A Time for Changes
Recovery is the process of treating addiction, but this is often a very vague description of the recovery process. Every person’s recovery is a bit different, but everyone must make changes in their lifestyle to accommodate their newfound sobriety and make it a sustainable choice.
Regular reflection is one such change, but there are many others you can make that contribute to the concept of changing your perspective for the better and carving a future for yourself that is not filled with worries of relapses, but happy thoughts of a better and exciting tomorrow.
For that to happen, you must make a lot of changes to how you spend your time. Try and get into a line of work that you enjoy or are passionate about, even if you can only find an entry position. Try and make as much time as possible for the things that interest you the most, the things you are the most passionate about. And as much as possible, cut out things that you feel are heavily distracting you or are contributing to negative thinking, from Netflix to Facebook and Twitter.
It might start with something simple as taking fifteen minutes before bed time to stare at the ceiling and sort out your thoughts, but everyone finds their own form of meditation sooner or later. Some people find themselves best lost in thought during autopilot activities, such as cleaning chores. Others turn towards reflective thoughts during training sessions or exercise, like swimming, diving, and long walks/runs. Whatever it is that best helps you get into a steady calm flow state of mind, try and pursue it regularly and find the time to reflect, and clear your head. While this is separate from introspection, it can contribute to helping you calm your mind, and bring you closer to something close to a meditative state.