The Importance of Gratitude in Addiction Recovery

There are many guided meditations on different meditation apps or YouTube that are free. This will not only help you calm your mind but also find things to be grateful for you may overlook. Research into the benefits of regular gratitude why is gratitude important in recovery practices shows an increase in the body’s ability to fight illness including reducing the risk of heart failure. Gratitude is defined as the quality of being grateful; readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness.

Gratitude Is an Important in Overcoming Substance Abuse

So too is the air we breathe, clear water from natural springs, fruits, nuts, roots, and grains given to us by the earth. Humans are newcomers on earth, wholly dependent on its freely given bounty. Gratitude begins with becoming fully aware of our dependence on these gifts. Like recovering alcoholics and other drug addicts, we need to “make a decision” to embrace the reality of our dependence on the natural world.

Defining Gratitude and its Impact on Mental Health

We are currently located in Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. We can observe our expectations and attitudes while working Step 10, which we should perform on a daily basis. Gratitude is a muscle that develops with training and practice, and when we make a habit of appreciating the better qualities in life, we strengthen that muscle in our mind.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

To get started with cultivating a grateful mindset, try keeping a gratitude journal where you write down three things you’re thankful for each day. Another technique is making it a habit of expressing thanks when someone does something kind for you. Settings aside some daily moments of reflection where you express thankfulness can also work wonders in developing positive outlooks. A handful of research studies attest to how practicing gratitude positively affects one’s well-being, which then influences a more optimistic recovery journey. For example, Robert Emmons, a professor at the University of California, Davis, is one of the leading researchers in gratitude studies. He and his colleagues conducted multiple research studies regarding the impact of gratitude on physical health, psychological well-being, and our relationships with others.

• 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.
• One valuable way to use gratitude as a driving force for positive change is by keeping a gratitude journal.
• Gratitude in recovery comes more naturally to some people than others.
• Eleanor Health is here to help you build your confidence and momentum towards the future you want.
• You could draw, write, paint, garden, smith, smash pumpkins, whatever.
• If you recently left treatment or you’re new to recovery, be patient with yourself.

• The simple answer is that gratitude can help you reframe your mindset to focus on the positive aspects of your life.
• The quicker you can assume a position of feeling gratitude for being sober, the more likely your recovery will be successful and make a lasting impact on your ability to maintain sobriety.
• In particular, individuals are urged to practice gratitude in recovery.
• Settings aside some daily moments of reflection where you express thankfulness can also work wonders in developing positive outlooks.

In order for the practice of gratitude letters to be successful towards recovery, it is crucial that the individual believes they are deserving of this positive affirmation in their lives. Interestingly, research has also found that expressing gratitude can be more effective than simply feeling grateful. This means that actively https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alternatives-to-alcohol/ thanking people for their kindness or writing down things we’re grateful for can increase its benefits even further. So, commit yourself to practice gratitude daily; soon, it will become a natural part of your recovery journey. In any relationship, it’s easy to dwell on the negative and forget about all of the good.

Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude in Recovery

Can gratitude help improve my overall well-being and mental health in sobriety?