Practicing gratitude means recognizing the good in your life and paying it back. It’s more than just noticing the good but identifying the external sources of goodness. Whether it is other people or a spiritual higher power, goodness in your life comes from the outside. For many addicts, drug addiction is both the cause and the result of social problems. Substance abuse can cause addicts to isolate from others so that they can focus on obtaining their next fix.

Gratitude Is a New Way of Thinking, a New Way of Being

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. After 10 weeks of study, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives.

The Power of Gratitude: Expressing Appreciation and Cultivating Joy

Gratitude is usually accompanied by feelings of joy, contentment, and humility. It is a worthwhile trait for any person to pursue and practice, but all the more so when that person has gratitude while in recovery. Not everyone is inclined to take the time for daily journaling. A quick way to practice gratitude is by making a list of things you’re grateful for in recovery each day.

Exploring Gratitude in Recovery – 4 Gratitude Exercises That Can Help Recovery

• Practicing gratitude may seem easy to some but daunting to others.
• However, it complements the journey by fostering appreciation without hindering personal growth.
• 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.
• Just being grateful for the gift of recovery is a great place to start your gratitude practice.
• For this reason, substance use disorder is often accompanied by other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

But a lot about practicing gratitude is focusing your perspective. You need to be realistic in recognizing that sometimes you’ll have bad days. It might be a little https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-addiction-recovery/ harder to find the thing to be grateful for on those days, but you can find it. Practicing gratitude is one of the most popular early recovery topics.

Gratitude Works for Everyone—Not Just Sober Folks

When you communicate with other people, express what you are thankful for. If you accomplished something at work, don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back and let people know how happy it why is gratitude important in recovery made you. When others share their successes, listen, and let their gratitude rub off on you too. Arriving at a point in life where you are making a sincere effort to recover takes time.

• Nothing will ever be “perfect”, and challenges can be used to grow, learn, and even to give you a better perspective on good things in your life.
• At its essence, gratitude is feeling joy for the things you have in life.
• While not everyone experiences this pink cloud, the vast majority of people who do experience it are quickly disillusioned.
• More than creating a gratitude list, actively practicing gratitude has always been essential to recovery success.
• It doesn’t deny the challenges, problems, or negative emotions we may face, but it empowers us to navigate them with a broader perspective and a sense of hope.

How can practicing gratitude benefit my sobriety journey?

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