5 Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude in Recovery
You could draw, write, paint, garden, smith, smash pumpkins, whatever. Get in touch with your creative side, especially if you haven’t before. It’s a great way to process tough emotions and trauma, and it’s a whole new language to view and express yourself. While some people have strong, pre-existing support systems and communities, those new to recovery might need to search a little. So whenever your emotions run high, try to find somewhere to extend your thanks and appreciation. …then read on to learn the benefits, get some tips to maximize your efforts and see how it all ties together to form the happiest version of you.
To extend this lesson, older students could be encouraged to record times when they show kindness to others, the reasons why they did, and how they feel, in a gratitude journal. Or, the class could be prompted to talk about an act of kindness they could do for someone in the school and the teacher can help them put this into action. Susanna’s therapist worked with Susanna to develop a course of treatment that heavily incorporated gratitude. In his 2007 study, his undergraduate students experienced enhanced levels of life satisfaction and happiness, as well as decreased symptoms of depression. Toepfer’s goal of this study was to determine the psychological benefits, if any, for the authors of these gratitude letters (Vincent, 2007).
Exploring Gratitude in Recovery – 4 Gratitude Exercises That Can Help Recovery
When others share their successes, listen, and let their gratitude rub off on you too. By incorporating these top tips into your holiday plans, you can navigate the season with confidence, strength, and gratitude. Gratitude allows an individual to celebrate the present and be an active gratitude and recovery participant in their life. 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.
- 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.
- I’m grateful for you, as a reader, who took the time to process some of these ideas.
- By redirecting our attention to the things we are grateful for, we can shift our focus away from the cravings and towards the positive aspects of our lives.
- The sun could be shining, someone could have wished you a good day, you could have a good book, have woken up happy, or any number of other seemingly insignificant things.
- If you’re struggling with sobriety and want to break free from addiction’s hold so you can reclaim your life, there is help.
- How he fares in the first full-field tournament of the year will give him a reasonable expectation of where he is and how far he has to go.
It reminds us of the progress we have made, the support we have received, and the strength we have found within ourselves. Even if you’re struggling through an exceptionally difficult life circumstance, there is always something to be thankful for. Gratitude is more than just saying ‘thank you.’ It’s a mindset, an approach to life that focuses on appreciating what we have, rather than fixating on what we lack. This shift in perspective is not just philosophically uplifting but also has tangible benefits for our mental health. Studies have shown that gratitude can decrease stress and increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
Showing Gratitude to Yourself
The constant social events, family gatherings, and expectations can create a sense of anxiety and vulnerability. However, by harnessing the power of gratitude, you can navigate holiday stress with grace and resilience. Incorporating gratitude into your daily routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. By making small, intentional efforts, you can infuse your life with gratitude and experience the positive impact it has on your recovery journey. Reserve five minutes each morning to offer appreciation while you enjoy a cup of coffee, head out for an early run or even after you hit the snooze button (the first time). Keep it simple or more profound, but make sure to start each morning in thankfulness and set the tone for the day.
More information on cultivating a sense of gratitude in children can be found here. Students should also think about the ‘cost’ of the figure’s actions, not only in terms of money but more general personal sacrifices. Ask students to reflect upon how they have benefited from the person’s actions and how the whole of society may have benefited. Then, ask students to draw a picture of what they visualized and write a caption to go with it. After the story, in pairs, have students discuss what they noticed in the book, what they connected with, and what they are thankful for. To read about these examples and learn how to measure gratitude, you can read the paper here.