When you’re in recovery, you’re gathering many tools. You’re collecting coping tools, relaxation techniques, independent living skills, and new communication skills. However, there’s one tool that is going to hold the whole thing together, and that’s your commitment.

But what are you committed to?

You might say that you are committed to your sobriety. And that’s great. But what is it that you really want? For instance, sobriety is going to bring you many great things, such as having a greater ability to relate to your children when you’re sober. Or perhaps you feel you have more love to give when you’re sober. Or maybe you feel more confident to rebuild your career or repair your financial life.

In other words, what specifically in your life are you committed to? It might be something that will dramatically improve as a result of being sober. Here are a few reasons behind committing to sobriety. One or more of these could be your reasons for sticking to your recovery plan:

• Go back to school and earn a degree
• Find meaningful work or achieve in your career
• Better tend to the needs of your children
• Heal your marriage
• Get married again
• Restore your health
• Rebuild family relationships and friendships that were damaged by addiction
• Express yourself in healthy ways such as through painting, playing music, or dancing
• Get out of financial debt
• Learn coping skills to manage life’s stress without substances
• Find a community of friends who value sobriety and who I can have fun with in safe and healthy ways
• Learn how to overcome character flaws, such as impulsiveness,
• Learn how to stay in touch with what I’m feeling and when so that intense feelings don’t lead to substance use
• Learn to love yourself and others
• Experiencing a greater self esteem and self worth.
• Experiencing a greater sense of self-confidence.
• Feeling good about your life in general
• Heal from a mental illness without the using drugs or drinking

Or there might be a reason that wasn’t mentioned above that you’re thinking of. The point is that recovery requires a purpose. If you’re not sure why you’re sober, you’re more likely to give in to triggers and cravings. But if you have a strong commitment to recovery because you never want to harm your child again (as an example), then when the going gets tough, you will likely have the resolve to say no to cravings and avoid relapse.

Commitment is something that drives you, pulls you, or moves you to make certain choices. According to an online dictionary, commitment is the state or quality of being in which you are dedicated to a cause. You might feel as though you have a responsibility, obligation, or even an allegiance to something. In fact, in those moments of craving and desire, you can remember the word allegiance. When you think about this word, you might think of pledging allegiance to the flag.  Can you imagine the kind of commitment American soldiers have for their country? Can you imagine the kind of sacrifices they made, the type of strength they needed to have to endure great challenges, such as protecting our country? It’s that kind of allegiance that you might need at times to stay sober.

What will give you the power of that kind of allegiance is finding a reason behind your commitment. What gives you the passion and power to stay strong? What gives you the fervor and fuel to keep going? Your answer might be your kids, marriage, career, finances, or health.

You might think of your commitment for sobriety as your hammer. As mentioned above, you’re gathering tools in your recovery. And your commitment is the hammer you’ll use to stomp out anything that gets in the way of your sobriety. Use your hammer to say, “No!” or “I don’t drink anymore” or “That lifestyle isn’t for me.” Use your hammer to create boundaries regarding who you are now and who you’re not. Because you’re facing your triggers, cravings, negative thoughts, and old habits, you’ve got to dedicate yourself to recovery in order to move through those obstacles with ease. And you’ll do that with your commitment to a new you.

If you want to make a commitment to your recovery right now, you can start by identifying the reason behind your sobriety. Once you’ve got that clear, then take one action that will move your life forward right now. That might be calling for help, gathering more support, or going to a 12-step meeting today. It can be anything at all.

And if for some reason you can’t find the purpose behind your commitment, then choose to commit to sobriety for all those men and women around the world who are still drinking and can’t get out of the addiction cycle. You can do it for them. Commit to get sober for the ones who can’t. Whether you’re getting sober for yourself or for someone else, making a commitment will drive your thoughts, choices, and actions throughout your recovery. It’s the one thing that will hold your entire sober living experience together.