Is keeping track of milestones essential for success?

Is keeping track of milestones and rewarding yourself whenever you reach one essential for success? I think it is. Addiction makes you feel good whenever you go back to using whatever you're addicted to by causing a rush of dopamine, so I think it's important to reward yourself whenever your each a milestone, and...uhm... get yourself "addicted" to reaching milestones.

I tried this approach before. Didn't work out for me. I am the kind of guy who says "Go hard or Go home".
Anyway, it's good to know that it's working for you. Keep us posted!

I think it can certainly be useful - a day, a week, a month, a year etc, they are all important achievements. Keeping a log of these could certainly inspire you to carry on the good fight!

I think it could help to keep track of milestones. Rewarding your self for each one though might not work. If you are rewarded for every milestone the large ones won't seem as significant. I think of it as wedding anniversaries. Each wedding anniversary is special but there are ones that we plan a big party for. It helps to make them more special. Setting small goals though helps to make the much bigger goal more achievable. So each sober day and each drug free day is special but if we save the celebration for yearly anniversaries they are more special.

If I had to choose between the two addictions, I would want to get hooked on the achievements or milestones. I think making it a point to celebrate could motivate you to keep going for the "goal" so to speak. I was really on board with Missbishi and then I read what Bluzkluz09 had to say and that has some interesting logic as well.

Whatever the case you seem to be on a great path and I wish you success on your road to recovery.

Everyone is different. I definitely think that keeping track of milestones is a good way of keeping yourself motivated, as it is a good way to remember how far you've come. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our failures that we forget about our accomplishments. We should all pat ourselves on the back once in a while.
Also, keeping track of milestones can give you a fresh state of mind. You may feel like a whole new person with a fresh, brand new start, and that is amazing.

It all depends on the person, but it certainly doesn't hurt to reach for milestones! Milestones help sets goals in your path to recovery and also helps keep the big picture in mind as well. Anything that help keeps a person on the path to wellness is certainly worth rewarding!

Milestones are good as affirmations towards accomplishing your goals. It also helps to reflect and guide one to be aware of how far he/she has gone on their path and how far it will be to succeed - track records of one's accomplishments are beneficial, whether one believes it or not. Every successful person I've sensed in life had remembered major milestone points in their lives that changed them, because it served as a "standard" or plateau of achievements to help ground a individual e.g. it's like if one cannot reach a ceiling light bulb, one must find something to set one to be higher like a chair or ladder, but it takes focus, persistence, energy and time to 'measure' the right thing to lift one higher to touch the light bulb.

Milestones are like personal achievements. They allow you to look back on your journey and check how far you have got. I personally view them as journey memories.

I agree having a goal gives someone a purpose. One is motivated to do the best. Every good deed should be rewarded. Keeping those milestones is good because one can see the progress gained. Life is full of challenges and being able to beat the odds is not a small issue. Yes it is necessary to treat yourself well.

Yes, milestones are very very essential. They do not need to be too ambitious or too difficult to achieve. In fact, it will be much more effective if it's done in small increments so that you are not personally intimidated. Also, by all means, celebrate your small successes, not only is it really motivating, it also helps you feel good about yourself.

Milestones don't have to be what you think they are. You could have one or two fixed goals and they could still be considered as milestones in order to achieve your ultimate goal.

I think it is good to do so, because it not only celebrates your achievements but it also marks it and makes you remember how far you've come and what you've left behind so you can be constantly aware of what not to return to. It's not a requirement but it's helpful in keeping self aware.

I'm setting realistic goals. Go without whatever it was I was addicted to for a day then reward myself for that achievement with something nice which I would otherwise not have if I was still enslaved by addiction. This along with my resolve not to look back will probably see me attain victory this time round.

I think it is very essential to know where you have been to know where you are going. Milestones are like little rewards and will give you motivation for a brighter tomorrow. Setting goals and achieving those goals is great positive reinforcement.

I personally believe that any milestone can be realistic if you're able to dedicate yourself to accomplish it.