If you’re not able to practice gratitude in social settings or in your communication with people, practice gratitude introspectively by journaling or creating a gratitude list. Gratitude lists are a helpful tool for people battling addiction, depression, and other afflictions that impact the inclination and willingness to experience gratitude. If you’ve spent months or years soured by a negative outlook, it isn’t easy to swap rose-colored glasses with your current position of seeing everything as gray and stormy. The good news is that gratitude is contagious, and you can practice gratitude with others to help teach yourself to find positivity naturally.
Why is Gratitude Vital in Addiction Recovery?
People who are brimming with gratitude are generally more compassionate, helpful and generous than those who are not. When you are grateful, you are much more likely to want to help and support others. This can foster even greater feelings of gratitude for yourself and for other people.
How Do You Keep a Grateful Attitude Over Time?
Whether volunteering, donating to a worthy cause, or simply lending a listening ear, giving back is a great way to practice gratitude in recovery. When we take the focus off of ourselves and our problems, we can see all of the ways we are fortunate and have so much to offer. On why is gratitude important in recovery the other hand, gratitude can also arise more outwardly towards others who have helped in your recovery process. 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.
What are the benefits of gratitude?
- Research has found that gratitude can lower blood pressure, improve immune function, reduce inflammation, and promote better sleep.
- Call us today at Circle of Hope and let us help you gain your own sense of practicing gratitude in recovery.
- Being around people who are optimistic, supportive, and encouraging can boost your mood and inspire you to perform gratitude more often.
- In active addiction, we struggled with the concept of having enough.
If you are in recovery, you have accomplished so much just by being sober or trying to get sober. Thank yourself for showing up each day to try again, to grow, to face challenges, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-is-the-life-expectancy-of-an-alcoholic/ and to work on being the best version of yourself. Often, those in recovery, forget to show gratitude to themselves for all they have overcome and accomplished.
- At Design for Recovery, we believe recovery is more than abstaining from substances.
- Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States.
- Gratitude can also motivate you to maintain your sobriety by reminding you of the positive outcomes of recovery, such as improved relationships, personal growth, and self-esteem.
- Whether it’s a chance to sleep a little later in the morning or a meeting with an old friend, note it down.
- Keeping your focus on these and other positives in your life can help you develop thankfulness.
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Negativity of any kind can jeopardize your recovery, as can stress. Practicing mindfulness, writing in a gratitude journal, etc. gives you a positive outlet for that stress. When you first start practicing gratitude, it’ll take some time to make it a regular habit. But there are proactive steps you can take to make it a seamless part of your life as quickly as possible.
- But it can be derailed quickly by those hopeless, negative thoughts, and the actions that go with them.
- Gratitude is the key to finding the silver lining in a negative situation, and the thoughtful optimism and clarity that gratitude brings help keep the situation in perspective.
- Being grateful is shown to be helpful for people with mental health disorders like addiction.
- Gratitude is defined as “the quality of acknowledging and being thankful for the people, experiences, and things in our life”, as well as a willingness to show appreciation for and return kindnesses.