By Becky McBoom

Reflecting on our progress can help us continue to learn and grow by identifying areas that can still use some improvements. It’s important to acknowledge both our successes and challenges. It can help us build resilience by reframing challenges as chances to grow. We don’t need to beat ourselves up if we’ve made mistakes, but instead identify what we can do differently if we find ourselves in these situations again. We can improve our decision making skills by understanding the underlying reasons behind our decisions and then making future decisions that are rooted in our values and serve our long term goals. Taking time to pause and evaluate our progress helps us plan our next steps with confidence. 

This handout from Case Western Reserve University lists four helpful steps for reflecting on specific experiences you may have experienced during this course:

1. Look back at a situation or experience 
2. Think in depth about your experience or thought
3. Describe what you learned about yourself or your role
4. Plan what you will do next

In today’s activity, we will be asking you to reflect on your progress so far. Here are some things to think about: Are you spending less money? Have you noticed any improvements in your physical or mental health, relationships, or work performance? Do you sleep better? Are you doing a better job of setting boundaries in your life? Do you have more energy? Has your self esteem improved? What other positive changes have you noticed? 

It’s okay if you haven’t made as much progress in these areas as you’d like. You’ve likely spent years building your alcohol habits, and it is going to take some time to build new ones and see the benefits of them. Use today’s lesson to reflect on both your successes and challenges. And keep up the good work!