In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the role this state of mind plays in recovery and offer insight into how you can cultivate gratitude in your day-to-day life. A gratitude journal is basically like the intervention used in the study above. Just write down three things you felt grateful for that day or that week.
- When you’re mired in the depths of addiction, other negative situations often come along with it.
- Gratitude is contagious, you’ll find that there is a great deal of it going around at The Edge rehab centre.
- Take time to look at yourself and your life and be grateful to yourself.
- Each day is a gift and each day sober is a new chance to appreciate those things and people in our lives that bless us.
Pay attention to what your body and mind need most, and listen to that! It’s the least you can do to care for yourself to function to the best of your ability. The practice of gratitude, meditation, and deep breathing does wonders for calming your physical and emotional being.
Gratitude Is a Magnet: Our Positive Outlook Draws Out the Best in People
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. However, if you are able to take that negative event and laugh it off or just forget about it, the day often turns around and is a good one. The key is to not let the bad days take over or become too frequent. Many times people think, sure but I can’t control what goes on around me and what others do and say. And while this is completely true, what we can control is our thoughts.
Once your mind starts associating these objects with gratitude, you will naturally begin to feel more positive every time you see them. Gratitude can be defined as one’s inclination to be mindful and appreciative of what is good in our lives and return the kindness we have received back into the world. When combining gratitude mindfulness, you create a strong foundation that helps keep your perspective on life balanced, present, and positive. Expressing gratitude can also encourage you to strive for improvement, as it reminds you of what you have already achieved and demonstrates how much more you can accomplish. By practicing gratitude during recovery, you not only boost your resilience in times of hardship but also lay the foundation for long-term success in all areas of life.
Sober Thanksgiving
If sleep problems persist, it’s worth discussing with your doctor or therapist. However, one way of improving the quality of your sleep is to practice gratitude. One study of more than 400 people between the ages of 18 and 68 found that people who felt more gratitude experienced better sleep quality gratitude and recovery and they slept longer. The results suggest that the primary reason for this is that more grateful people tend to experience more positive thoughts and fewer negative thoughts prior to sleep. This creates a virtuous cycle, since a well rested brain is more resilient and better at regulating emotions.
- However, for those in recovery from addiction, it can also be a period of heightened stress and temptation.
- He and his colleagues conducted multiple research studies regarding the impact of gratitude on physical health, psychological well-being, and our relationships with others.
