Addiction in its most acute state is all consuming. It becomes one’s purpose. 

In early recovery, these same men and women must now turn their attention to finding true purpose, beyond the daily pursuit of drugs and alcohol. This tends to be the topic of conversation in many of my sessions and, in my experience, clients without a sense of purpose are at a greater risk for relapse. 

A former client and I developed a plan for finding his own purpose in recovery. Jason*, struggling with addiction for more than a decade, would talk with me about his childhood desire to help others, which he’d nearly lost in his active addiction. We’d also discuss ways he could begin helping others in his everyday life. He started by simply talking with people.

He asked everyone he came in contact with what they do each day to help other people. Jason’s employer had a group of people who would volunteer in the local community each month, assisting low-income families with home improvements. Jason began work with them immediately and dedicated one weekend per month to this project. 

In 12 Step programs, the 12th Step is, in large part, about being of service to others. As a member of a 12 Step program, Jason also worked with his sponsor and sober community to further explore other ways to help others. Turns out, there were many opportunities where Jason could be of help to others; and he started by taking simple commitments at his 12 Step meetings—setting up chairs, making coffee, and greeting people at the door. 

By taking some very simple steps, Jason was able to be of help to far more people than he knew possible. As he engaged in daily activities of service, he regained that childhood passion for helping others, which his drug and alcohol use had derailed any sense of. “I honestly thought drugs and alcohol would take my life,” he’d told me. “Once I survived that, I thought I’d escaped death, but drugs and alcohol had forever taken my purpose. I now know that’s not the case.” 

When he was young, Jason wanted to be a fireman. “I knew I wanted to help people,” Jason would tell me. “In active addiction, I was of no help to anyone though. I didn’t care about anything but getting high, and even that became a chore.” And having struggled in the past with relapse, Jason told me that this was due in part to an overwhelming feeling of emptiness which he had attributed to a lack of purpose. “The days felt the same—work, meetings, repeat. I had days when I felt like I got sober just to be bored. And I struggled with wanting to use again.”

For those struggling to find purpose, whether or not you are recovering from addiction, use Jason’s story as your inspiration. Recall your childhood passions. What did you want to be when you grew up? Why did you want to do that? Who was it you hoped to help? Spend some time brainstorming. Write it down. Talk with others. Find inspiration in their stories. Take daily action in support of your purpose. And recognize, as Jason did, that your life should not be boring, and that a renewed sense of purpose is not only essential to us all, but is achievable as well. 

*All names and identifying information has been change to protect the identity of those named in this article.