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Sometimes the effort involved in recovery can make the struggles of a tough time feel even worse. Gratitude can help keep your focus on the progress, not the setback. 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.
- Although different for everyone, SUD recovery tends to be a challenging portion of one’s life.
- But what happens for most is when we start to think those judgemental and negative thoughts we think of more things about the person or situation we don’t like.
- Perhaps you might be struck with wonder about all that you do have.
- Even if you feel strong in recovery, try these exercises to make gratitude a habit.
- In treatment, you will learn to incorporate practices that help you as obstacles arise.
These effects disappeared within three to six months, which reminds us to practice gratitude over and over. If you or a loved one are currently struggling with importance of gratitude in recovery drugs or alcohol, there is a way out. We offer intervention services to help facilitate your gateway to a new life free of the shackles of substance abuse.
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This self-centered thought process is the opposite of gratitude, which would help you see your loved ones are trying to show they care and want to help. Practicing gratitude is more than just mailing a thank you letter. To practice daily gratitude means viewing the world through a lens of appreciation.
- They have higher levels of positive emotions and feel more alert, alive, and awake.
- 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.
- Most pieces of addiction education literature will tell you to consider writing a gratitude list.
- They found that people with a grateful disposition were less likely to relapse and had a better emotional outlook.
- When we first get clean and sober, our lives are filled with chaos and confusion.
For those in recovery, maintaining gratitude can help reduce risk of relapse, promote a positive mindset, and act as an important tool in managing difficult emotions or situations. Developing a mindset and behaviors that reflect gratitude is a skill, and it will take time to grow. If you’re new to recovery and you’d like to have more gratitude, here are nine practical ways to practice gratitude in recovery. 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 your perspective on life balanced, present, and positive. In addition to practices like these, gratitude is another way individuals practice mindfulness.
The benefits of gratitude in recovery
As we begin to help others recover, our mindset changes from one of selfishness to that of service to others. The entirety of our lives becomes something about which we feel gratitude, thankful that our lives are now firmly rooted in our recovery. You can begin to practice https://ecosoberhouse.com/ gratitude by thinking of what you’re thankful for — like family and friends, your home or a beautiful sunny day — rather than being consumed by what is going wrong. Writing these thoughts down or saying them aloud can even help you stay positive during difficult times.
By expressing thankfulness for everything you have in your life, you can begin to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Additionally, gratitude has been linked with increased resilience, better sleep, and improved physical and mental health. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your recovery, start by practicing gratitude. In the often-turbulent journey of addiction recovery, feelings of gratitude can play an important role in helping you feel secure and connected. On the one hand, gratitude arises from within, helping you focus on and appreciate your own experiences instead of projecting those experiences outwards onto others. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude for your inner resources and qualities, you give yourself a foundation of strength that can help you weather difficult times.