Choosing a sponsor or mentor for your recovery program is one of the most important things that you will ever do. A sponsor or mentor is like a coach or travel guide. They have walked the early days of recovery and can give you insight and guidance on what to expect in recovery.
A sponsor will be with you as you go through various stages of recovery. They can give you tips and advice on how to stay sober. The sponsor or mentor relationship is a close, personal relationship. There are certain qualities that you want your sponsor or mentor to have.
Honesty is key in this relationship. You will hear things from your sponsor that may feel uncomfortable. As long there is respect, honest conversations are part of the dynamics of this relationship.
Dedication to the program is also critical. You can’t take recovery advice from someone who isn’t working a program or from someone who doesn’t value their recovery above all else. Sponsors and sober mentors lead by example.
Compassion is also an important quality to have. You two will be having real conversations about your life in active addiction. While the sponsor/mentor relationship isn’t therapy, some of the things you disclose may be tough to talk about. Compassion will help you disclose what you need to free yourself from the past.
Tough love is also important. Your sponsor/mentor will tell you things that you don’t want to hear. They will check your motives and encourage you to succeed. Sometimes this may involve a bit of tough love.
Having ears of sobriety is also an important quality for a sponsor or mentor to have. You want to find someone who has more clean time than you. The relationship works best when someone with solid clean time is mentoring a newcomer. That’s not to say that someone new to recovery isn’t insightful, but a sponsor/mentor with years of sobriety has a lot to offer someone who is newer to recovery.
All in all, when you meet a potential sponsor or mentor, you will feel a connection to them. Part of the role of a sponsor or mentor is to challenge you to stay sober. You need to be able to trust them.
Hired Power are experts at helping you learn how to stay sober. Through our range of services and expertise, you can stay sober. Contact us now at 800.910.9299. Let us help you plan the next steps of your recovery journey.