Maintaining sobriety is like having a garden. It needs preparation, planning and to be planted in a safe place in order for it to thrive. It needs the proper tools to prepare the plot and sow the seeds. It requires tending to, to be watered and weeded and cared for so the flowers will grow and bloom.

A way to prepare, plan and plant your sobriety is by using the Recovery Capital system. A concept developed by researchers Robert Granfield and William Cloud, they describe it as “the breadth and depth of internal and external resources that can be drawn upon to initiate and sustain recovery”. Divided into four sectors: Personal, Social, Community, Cultural: it’s a guide for identifying existing strengths and assets to use as a foundation for supporting sobriety.

A method to categorize the combo platter of internal and external resources you have on hand, it acts as a guide to create a specifically tailored strategy for building and sustaining your sober lifestyle. It’s an organic system you can continue to use as your strengths develop and your needs change. So as you grow, your recovery capital grows with you.

Just like you need soil, water, sun, and care to grow your garden, you need physical, human, social and cultural support to begin and maintain your sobriety:

Physical Capital – Tangible resources like a secure place to live, enough to eat, good health and healthcare services, access to transportation and treatment, job opportunities and financial security.

Human Capital – Personal qualities like self-awareness and sense of purpose, motivation, determination, perseverance, resilience, problem-solving and interpersonal skills, confidence, humility, optimism and hope.

Social Capital – Support systems like family, friends, sober networks and activities, coaches, therapists, work relationships, community groups, peer-led support groups and common interest groups.

Cultural Capital – Cores beliefs like identity, outlook, values, spiritual connection and practices, participation with neighborhood activities, cultural centers and religious institutions.

Making an inventory of your existing sobriety tools allows you to see what you’re starting with as well as illuminating areas where you need improvement or additional support. Identifying your strengths and motivators is just as important as identifying the triggers that can push you off your sobriety path.

A good way to get started is to use the Recovery Capital Scale developed by researcher William White, based on the work of Granfield and Cloud. It’s a self-assessment tool to help you to measure your current level of recovery capital that you can do by yourself or with the help of a coach or therapist. Don’t be discouraged if when you’re done you think your current recovery capital doesn’t amount to much. Even just one or two things is enough for a foundation to build your sobriety on.

Assessing your recovery capital will give you a bird’s eye view of where you are in your recovery and what adjustments need to be made in order for you to live a life of safety, comfort and joy. As you build your recovery capital and watch it grow, your outlook on maintaining your recovery will grow with it. Your recovery capital is the shed for your tools and you’re the flower in your recovery garden.

Start building your recovery capital by asking for help. A Recovery Coach can guide you through assessing your strengths and developing goals for next steps. Whatever stage of recovery you are in, whatever level of support you need, you can reach out to Cindy via phone at 631-921-4085 to have a confidential conversation about how we can assist or you can reach her directly via email here.

The Recovery Coach NY honors all paths of recovery with our years of experience and vast array of resources that can help those in need find the way to the life of joy and purpose they deserve. We come with an empathetic ear and solution-oriented actions that can begin to bring the relief you and your loved one seek.

We provide Recovery Coaching, Mental Health Support & Coaching, Executive Function & Accountability Coaching, Academic Coaching, Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship, Safe Transport, Case Management, Psychedelic Integration Coaching, Intervention and Emergency Services. For more information and additional services, go to our website.

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