Whether you volunteer to bring joy to those in need, practice kindness to someone you love or give generously without expecting to be repaid, these opportunities will fill you with joy. With gratitude on your side, you can be a positive force in the world. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Happy people arguably have one thing in common — they are grateful for what they have on any given day. As a recovering addict, developing a sense of gratitude about the things you appreciate may help you break free from the darkness of addiction.
Conditioning your mind to be thankful instead of sorry is a sure sign your attitude of gratitude is improving. Another way to practice gratitude is to shift the tone of your conversations to eliminate self-blame. Instead of responding to questions with “I’m sorry,” or worse, using “I’m sorry” as a greeting, like “I’m sorry I’m late,” or “I’m sorry for taking so long to email you,” say “thank you” instead. When you communicate with other people, express what you are thankful for.
Have a Gratitude Routine
No matter what you’re doing with your life, it’s also important that you take the time to create space and moments for yourself to just relax and do things that make you happy without drugs or alcohol. For example, you can spend time with friends, go swimming, go for hikes, go see your favorite movies, get a massage, or anything else that makes you happy. Here, it’s always good if you have hobbies that you truly enjoy, and if you don’t, you can always work on developing some. Taking time out from your busy life will give you perspective, time to take stock and see what you have, and room to enjoy your life. The quicker you can assume a position of feeling gratitude for being sober, the more likely your recovery will be successful and make a lasting impact on your ability to maintain sobriety. Those who view recovery as a burden or see their recovery experience as negative are more likely to turn back to alcohol or drugs.
Get you or your loved one help for addiction or mental health issues today. Whether you have a lot going on in your life or almost nothing, you can likely find even something to be grateful for. Taking stock of what you’re grateful for should be about stepping back and taking stock of what you appreciate, what has gone right, and how things have gone better than they could have.
What are some ways to cultivate a thankful mindset in addiction recovery?
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. 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. It’s difficult to be grateful for everything if you’re constantly working and struggling. Many people jump out of recovery and into trying to get their life back on track, which may include long hours at a job, spending time with children, or even going back to school.
During these Step 10 personal inventories, we can note these tendencies and commit to changing them. Then when we feel gratitude slipping away, we can re-engage with whichever practices help us to feel connected with our Higher Power and other people. It’s an attitude of appreciation where we internally acknowledge the blessings that our life already contains, and we shift our focus away from what we lack.
Gratitude List in Recovery
It’s easy to become irritable, angry, and impatient when we focus on the worst qualities in others. Instead, focusing on the best qualities can help us maintain a positive attitude, develop patience, and be respectful of others, even when it’s not easy. Gratitude allows an individual to celebrate the present and be an active participant in their life.
- 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.
- Gratitude allows us to live in the present moment and appreciate what we have right now.
- When you start being grateful for the people and things around you, you become calmer and more relaxed with yourself.
- From Aesop to Oprah Winfrey, the power of gratitude has transformed lives and healed relationships.
Sometimes addiction can even lead to imagined negative situations, like believing friends and family who just want to help are against you. This self-centered thought process is the opposite of gratitude, which would help gratitude in recovery you see your loved ones are trying to show they care and want to help. In addition to these benefits, gratitude also improves physical health by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving sleep quality.
Substance Use Treatment
Finally, gratitude has been linked to improved physical health outcomes such as better sleep quality and reduced inflammation. This suggests that being grateful not only improves our mental health but also has positive effects on our bodies. Do you find yourself being consumed by negative thoughts and emotions? By focusing on gratitude, you can train your mind to overcome negative thinking. Most people who practice a grateful style of life agree with this.
If individuals are grateful to be on the road to recovery, then it’s less likely they will relapse because they are empowered to move forward. A grateful attitude means they can face the challenges that are before them. Although issues may arise, they view it as a chance to grow rather than an obstacle. This positive way of thinking helps them reach their recovery goals.
At its core, gratitude is about developing a state of openness and vulnerability. It allows you to appreciate what you have instead of dwelling on your difficulties. According to studies, gratitude and happiness are always strongly correlated. In one study, researchers asked one group to note the things they were grateful for. They then asked another group to write about the daily irritations or things that had displeased them. The third group was asked to write about the negative and positive events that affected them.
- As you start to practice gratitude, you’ll notice the power of the words you choose.
- In fact, your body is an amazing resource that is healing itself every day in your journey.
- Having the opportunity to pursue recovery can be a cause for gratitude.
- To go a step further to tie entitlement to addiction, entitlement can be caused by the convenience of being able to use a substance to get a certain effect.
- Gratitude is not just about saying thank you, it is much more than that.
And no matter which way we choose to look, there will be plenty to be found of both. As you reflect on your journey, remember that recovery is about embracing both the present and the future. It’s about building a life where you are in control and can achieve lasting wellness and fulfillment.