How to Practice Gratitude in Recovery and why it matters
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Just being grateful for the gift of recovery is a great place to start your gratitude practice. The grateful participants had more activity in a part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex, where decision-making and learning happens. The people who participated in gratitude activities showed these active brain changes even three months after the study ceased. It suggests that gratitude practice trains the brain, which over time can truly improve mental health. Sometimes addiction can even lead to imagined negative situations, like believing friends and family who just want to help are against you.
When you are mindful, you focus on the task at hand and clear away negative thoughts that may try to creep in. Whether you’re walking your pup, vacuuming or watering your plants, try doing so mindfully. Mindfulness allows you the opportunity to be grateful for each moment, no matter how mundane. 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. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing.
Why Does Forced Gratitude Harm Your Mental Health?
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.
While some people have strong, pre-existing support systems and communities, those new to recovery might need to search a little. Most everyone has heard the question, “Is the glass half empty or half full? ” this simple question illustrates being grateful and not being grateful. When we walk through life and see everything that is wrong, everything that isn’t going our way, everything that we wish was different, we will continue to see more and more of the same.
The Power of Gratitude in Recovery: A Fall Guide
Our team’s primary goal is to help clients and their families experience the empowerment of a recovery-integrated lifestyle. One of the most powerful ways to express gratitude is by giving back to others. During the holidays, consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank. Helping those in need not only fosters gratitude but also reinforces the importance of sobriety and recovery. Chances are if you have been in recovery for more than a day or two, you have heard someone talk about gratitude.
Addiction also puts people at risk for violence and criminal activity. Having the opportunity to pursue recovery can be a cause for gratitude. Not everyone gets a “second chance” at life, so it is important to be grateful for your opportunity. 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. When we are optimistic we see good outcomes in even the most trying situations.
FHE Health Can Help You Through Recovery
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. 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. Even if you’re struggling through an exceptionally difficult life circumstance, there is always something to be thankful for.
Whether you keep a journal, make a list, or choose some other way to track the positives in your life, a gratitude practice can be a constant, comforting companion on the road to recovery. Addiction can harm the body and mind in many ways, sometimes permanently. If you’ve come out of addiction without major health problems, or if recovery allows you to work on health problems, that might be cause for gratitude. Removing a dangerous substance from your everyday life is a huge step towards healthy living. 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.
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However, the recovery community has known the power of gratitude for a long time. More than creating a gratitude list, actively practicing gratitude has always been essential to recovery success. Gratitude helps promote the focus on channeling inspiration and motivation into sobriety. However, someone who practices gratitude can appreciate the benefits sober living will have in their life and be better able to maintain sobriety. Most people who practice a grateful style of life agree with this.
- This is true for both negative thinking, positive thoughts, and gratitude.
- Even if you feel strong in recovery, try these exercises to make gratitude a habit.
- These are the things — big or small — that make you feel lucky and have helped guide you in the right direction.
- 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.
- Many addicts experience loss of time, as they are not as present when they are using.
And just as with any other habit, with regular practice, grateful thoughts can become your everyday way of thinking. Research into the benefits of regular gratitude practices shows an increase in the body’s ability to fight illness including reducing the risk of heart failure. You stub your toe on the way out of bed or you spill your coffee all over your clean shirt? For a lot of people, this seemingly negative event sets off a train of thought and then everything seems to go wrong for the rest of the day. You’ll hear people say, “I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning.” This reflects the negative thinking that just draws more and more to it.
Why Gratitude?
During the holidays, you may encounter situations that test your commitment to recovery. When faced with difficult emotions or triggers, taking a moment to acknowledge what you’re grateful for can help you stay grounded and make healthier choices. Research has shown how important it is to express gratitude (if you want to be happy). Positive psychology not only impacts your mental health, but physical, spiritual and social health too.
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. After 10 weeks of study, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt https://ecosoberhouse.com/ better about their lives. If you’re already using a journal to support your recovery, you can add a gratitude section or allot part of every entry to record things that you’re grateful for that day. You may also want to create a dedicated gratitude journal to keep you focused.
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