As you learn to incorporate gratitude into how you view your new life, you may find that your recovery isn’t as difficult as you once thought. No matter what your religious or spiritual beliefs, taking some time each day to say thank you to your Higher Power is a great way to cultivate more things to be grateful for in your life. This multiplies and before you know it your life is beyond your wildest dreams. Using a bulletin board or poster board put pictures, graphics, or words that help you remember what you’re grateful for in life. For example, putting a picture of your dog or children on the board will remind you each day that they are both things in life to be grateful for on a daily basis. Practicing gratitude may seem easy to some but daunting to others.
- We should be patient with our feelings while our minds recalibrate to those details that most deserve our appreciation and respect.
- It can help you feel safe and secure like a spiritual being is looking out for you.
- Just as often, though, our expectations have become unrealistic, and we need to manage them.
- A handful of research studies attest to how practicing gratitude positively affects one’s well-being, which then influences a more optimistic recovery journey.
- This can lead to a cycle of despair and self-destructive behaviors that may be difficult to stop.
- As you focus on being grateful even when things go wrong, you’ll find that there is still so much you can be thankful for.
Getting them a small gift/card, spending quality time with them, or doing a favor for them are all great ways to show gratitude that don’t require words. Gratitude can be defined as one’s inclination to be mindful and appreciative of what is good in our lives and return the kindness we have received back into the world. When combining gratitude mindfulness, you create a strong foundation that helps keep https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-neuropathy-symptoms-and-treatment/ your perspective on life balanced, present, and positive. Within the context of 12-step recovery, there seems to be an implicit connection between gratitude and service. Can gratitude serve as a useful tool or strategy for people in early recovery? The answer is “yes,” according to Director of Sober Skills Art Jacob and his colleague Michael Peerbolte, who facilitates 12-step groups in the program.
Explaining Your Absence Due to Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Having better sleep can improve your mood regulation and therefore your ability to be and to feel rested. Taking care of your physical health makes it easier for you to manage your emotions and to consider the good things. However, developing a mindset and a habit of thinking about good things and being grateful for them can also improve how you sleep. Cultivating a thankful mindset helps in addiction recovery by reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, and enhancing overall well-being.
By doing something kind or helpful for someone else, we not only bring happiness into their lives but also cultivate feelings of joy and satisfaction within ourselves. This can help us to see the world through a more positive lens and inspire us to make changes that benefit not only ourselves but those around us too. One valuable way to use gratitude as a driving force for positive change is by keeping a gratitude journal. This involves writing down three things each day that you are grateful for. It could be something as simple as having food to eat or being able to spend time with loved ones.
How to Practice Gratitude in Recovery (and why it matters)
Not only does volunteering help us get out of our heads and inot the present moment. This helps us to see and appreciate the good things in our lives now. There are many guided meditations on different meditation apps or YouTube that are free. This will not only help you calm your mind but also find things to be grateful for you may overlook.
When we are optimistic we see good outcomes in even the most trying situations. In studies, those individuals who were considered optimistic had better overall health and in some cases aged better too. But if you’re in early recovery gratitude in recovery or beyond, it’s that much more important. Reach out to someone you like and trust, and ask to exchange gratitude. When you hear their perspective, when you see where they look for meaning, your mind will respond in kind.
Committing Your Gratitude to Writing
By practicing gratitude regularly, we can train ourselves to see the good in every situation, to appreciate the people around us, and to find joy in the small things in life. Actively practicing gratitude fosters a mindset of positive thinking, and this can greatly improve mental and physical health. Being grateful helps us focus on the good and gives us energy and confidence. This, in turn, leads to a healthier recovery – creating a beautiful cycle. As you begin your recovery journey, keep an eye out for all the positive things you encounter each day — see each one as a gift!
Yes, cultivating a thankful mindset can be used in conjunction with other addiction recovery methods, such as therapy, support groups, and medication-assisted treatment. It is a complementary approach to addiction recovery that can enhance overall well-being and improve the chances of successful long-term sobriety. Incorporating gratitude into your daily life doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By making small changes in your mindset and habits, you can reap tremendous benefits that will improve your mental health and overall well-being. Daily Practices for Gratitude, including Journaling, are essential for those on the path of addiction recovery. Cultivating a thankful mindset can help people in addiction recovery to overcome negative thoughts and emotions, combat stress and depression, and find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Recovery Coaching
This is particularly true for people in recovery from alcohol or drugs. For instance, seeking gratitude by expressing thankfulness towards a god-like figure combines the practice of spirituality with the practice of gratitude. Spirituality can also be found in prayer and meditation, which allow your mind to wander, giving you the opportunity to focus on thoughts of gratitude. You can further strengthen your concentration on thoughts of gratitude through guided gratitude meditation or gratitude prayers. When you seek thankfulness in your life, you do so through the practice of gratitude.
