My 60 Days of Recovery Boot Camp

After my last relapse I was a complete mess.  After a few days of feeling sorry for myself and trying to remember how to live my day to day life, I realized that what I was doing wasn't working.  I have had access to recovery for over 3 years, but I wasn't embracing it.  Recovery isn't a "dip your toe in the water" type concept.  It is a jump off the cliff and fly type moment.  Some of us figure it out right away, some of us have to fall down A LOT.  I am solidly a member of the second group.

So after I came to this realization I decided to look at what more I could do.  If what I was doing wasn't enough, what did I need to change to make it work better this go round?  So I came up with a 60 day recovery boot camp of sorts.  I did this prayerfully over a couple days and this is what I came up with.  I can't promise you that this will work for you, but I recently reached the halfway point of my 60 days and I have seen great progress so far.

My 60 Day Commitment

• I will attend at least 2 ARP meetings or firesides every week.
• I will reach out via text or phone call to at least 3 people who know about my addiction every day.(This one got WAY easier as I opened up about my struggles)
• I will meet with my Bishop a minimum of once a week.
• I will be completely honest with my Bishop, my wife and my recovery group about my sobriety date and any slips or struggles if they should occur.
• I will not engage in sexual intimacy of any kind with myself, or with my wife so that my brain can begin to detox.
• I will plan out the following day every evening before bed so that I have a plan for down time and inactive time.
• I will block all phone numbers that could be potential triggers or lead to a slip.
• I will do short refreshes of steps 1-3 and then prayerfully and thoroughly complete steps 4 and 5 so that I can move forward in the steps.
• I will complete all my Home Teaching and Church calling responsibilities.
• I will look for opportunities to get outside myself and serve others.  Whether it be helping more around the house, Church service etc.
• I will pray at least twice daily on my knees.
• My dailies will consist of at least 2 of the following every day.  (Read scriptures, read a recovery book or resource, read a conference talk, work in the 12 Step Manual)
• I will continue to use my blog as an online journal where I can be honest about where I am in a public manner.

 

So far this has been extremely successful for me.  I haven't been perfect.  There are small things I have forgotten from time to time, but for the most part I have followed through as outlined on the list.  The difference in my life has been noticeable especially in regards to my personal study.  In the past 30 days I have read all of He Restoreth My Soul, by Dr. Donald Hilton.  I am now reading in Believing Christ by Stephen R. Robinson.  I have read all of Matthew and most of Mark in the New Testament.  In addition we have been reading the Book of Mormon as a family.  So most days I have some form of study 3-4 different times throughout the day.

In addition to the items listed on the list I have also been listening exclusively to uplifting music and Christian Rock whenever I am in my car for travel or work.  I have tried to make my environment uplifting no matter where I am.  

Now I realize this is just a starting point and that even if I am successful for 60 days, I still have a long, long ways to go.  But a 60 day plan seemed long enough to be habit forming yet short enough to be attainable.  As with most aspects of recovery it ultimately comes down to one day at a time.  Thinking in terms of 60 days is can seem daunting at times, but one day at a time it has been doable and wonderful.

~~~ Tim