Recent studies display that writing just one gratitude letter a week for three weeks consecutively provides significant benefits for up to six months. Interestingly, research has also found that expressing gratitude can be more effective than simply feeling grateful. This means that actively thanking people for their kindness or writing down things we’re grateful for can increase its benefits even further. 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.
We also believe that recreation and relaxation are critical to helping you achieve success in your addiction recovery process. Those who manage to give up any type of substance abuse will usually have a great deal to be grateful for. They have just escaped a possible death sentence and can now look forward to another chance in life. It is possible for people in recovery to completely turn their life around and live their dreams.
Thinking Positively Helps with Recovery
Gratitude is often something that we perceive as being solely for the benefit of others. “Gratitude is a byproduct of https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/recommended-vitamins-for-recovering-alcoholics/ internalizing the 12 steps,” Jacob said. Not all of these items will be applicable to every person, and that is okay.
You may also want to create a dedicated gratitude journal to keep you focused. Journaling has a long-established history as a tool for self-discovery and healing. Journal therapy is a part of many kinds of counseling and group work, but anyone can use a journal to explore feelings, process events, and create conditions for change. For people working toward recovery, a journal can be a place to track progress, uncover causes for addiction, and figure out new ways of dealing with stressful situations. It’s good to revisit your journal to see what you’ve written down that you’re grateful for, especially on challenging days, where you feel like you’re struggling a little more. It will lift your spirits and ‘re-program’ your brain to think more positively, which will ensue happier feelings.
Gratitude and Recovery
Indeed, gratitude provides fertile soil to nurture profound and deep emotions within us–but we can struggle to define this state of being in simple terms. Simply defined, gratitude is an emotion in in which we express a genuine feeling or attitude of appreciation regarding a benefit we have received or are about to receive. To feel gratitude, we acknowledge those things in our life that are truly good. These deeper feelings provide a solid compass to orient us in a positive direction even when life brings unexpected stresses and uncertainty. Choose to go to new, drug free places rather than old hangouts connected to your addiction.
- Again, if you are just starting your recovery journey, this all may be easier said than done.
- Online resources for gratitude meditation, such as apps, podcasts, videos, or articles, are also available.
- Creating a “gratitude practice” starts with simply paying attention to good things large and small – and tools such as journals, lists or meditation can help.
- However, gratitude can help you overcome these difficulties and see positivity in your recovery.
Volunteer your time, or join a support group to share your experiences with addiction and help others in similar circumstances find their way to recovery. When addiction rules most aspects of life, it can be difficult to recognize and take advantage of new opportunities to learn, grow, and change. Recovery allows you to explore new opportunities and make new connections gratitude in recovery without the distraction of drugs or alcohol. Recovery can give people with addictions the opportunity to repair relationships broken by substance abuse, and to move forward in healthier ways. Whether it’s with loved ones, family members, friends, or even co-workers, recovery can give you the option to rebuild, and strength your relationships in life.
What are the benefits of cultivating a thankful mindset in addiction recovery?
By identifying things to be grateful for, you’ll be able to find the strength and motivation to keep moving forward. Acknowledging how much you’ve progressed throughout your recovery journey can be helpful when you’re struggling with addiction. As we’ve written previously, gratitude goes hand-in-hand with healing.
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