Set up your routine to fit comfortably in your life so you can keep up this new habit long-term. It doesn’t have to be a grandiose feeling of appreciation every day. You can simply feel grateful that you made it through or that you didn’t take your bad day out on anyone else.
Practicing gratitude allows you to “switch gears” mentally and see the positivity and hopefulness in the process. Through this change in perspective, you can renew your strength and regain momentum to propel you toward your goals. 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! By practicing gratitude, you will slowly transform the way you look at life, as well as the people you interact with.
Focus on What you Have
This will make it difficult to reach true happiness and can eventually put you at risk for relapse. Practicing daily gratitude promotes a state of positive thinking that can greatly benefit your recovery. You’ll feel better emotionally and physically, which will give you the confidence to keep moving forward in your journey.
- It creates time and space to be mindful of relationships and the underappreciated joys of our lives, like the beauty of a sunset or the random kindness of a stranger.
- If you’ve noticed your appearance starting to improve, or loved ones responding to you better, take that moment to appreciate yourself.
- Gratitude in recovery is being positive and making lemonade out of life’s lemons.
- We cannot take from the earth with only a mere “thank you” in return.
It’s the least you can do to care for yourself to function to the best of your ability. If there’s someone in your life who has been instrumental in your recovery, connect with them and let them know just how much they’ve helped you through difficult times. Ask them about their life, and make a habit of checking in with them every once in a while. importance of gratitude in recovery If you’re having a hard time finding things to be grateful for, slow down and focus on the smallest details in your day—from feeling your feet on the ground to the movement of your eyes as you read this. Now that you know what practicing gratitude is and how it can help you, here are five easy ways to incorporate it into your recovery journey.
Make Gratitude a Daily Practice
Some studies have shown that when gratitude is expressed in romantic relationships feelings of happiness lasted through the following day. One of the simplest and most effective ways to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, take some time to write down a few things you are grateful for. It can be anything from the big (e.g., “I’m grateful for my sobriety”) to the small (e.g., “I’m grateful for a sunny day”). Other studies have also shown that practicing gratitude can lead to increased feelings of well-being and a more positive outlook in life.
The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. When you’re struggling, you can reach for your gratitude journal or reminders to rebalance yourself. It can remind you of how far you’ve come and all you’ve done to get to this stage of recovery. Whatever method you choose, try to set yourself up for success by being realistic. If you’re not a morning person, writing in a gratitude journal first thing is unlikely.
Fill Your Moments With Mindfulness
If you’re struggling with sobriety and want to break free from addiction’s hold so you can reclaim your life, there is help. At Gateway in Chicago, Illinois, we want to support you so you can find a life of gratitude and sobriety. Our evidence-based treatment programs https://ecosoberhouse.com/ focus on addressing your individual needs. As the road twists and turns, some moments will feel like a pleasant stroll while others will feel like a perilous voyage. In treatment, you will learn to incorporate practices that help you as obstacles arise.
Once you start paying more attention to the small details of your life and how they make you feel, gratitude will come more naturally and in abundance. Researchers find that gratitude is especially important for individuals in SUD recovery with the goal of being abstinent. During recovery, it is natural to focus on one’s self and all the difficulties and challenges that are inherent in the process of becoming sober. Many people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction have little sense of self-worth.
Young addicts and alcoholics, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and any other significant family members participate. We’re much more likely to treat the people in our lives with kindness and patience, because we become keenly aware of what we have to lose. Caring for yourself helps show gratitude for all that your mind and body do for you. Some may feel the most appreciative when completing a workout, while others may feel the most gratitude when letting themselves sleep in. Pay attention to what your body and mind need most, and listen to that!
- Gratitude can show others that you do not take your second chance at life for granted.
- Being grateful for your recovery will allow you to be happy and help you stay sober.
- In recovery, we are given the space to be grateful, but it still takes time to practice and train the mind to notice and cherish the beauty in life.
- If you are in recovery, you have accomplished so much just by being sober or trying to get sober.
Take a one bite at a time approach to your addiction, and celebrate all the progress you make on the way. One of the reasons that addiction is such a strange beast is that the goal is very loosely defined. People suffering from illnesses of the body know when they’ve won — it’s when the sickness has left the body. But beating addiction means fighting yourself from using for the rest of your life.
