6 Tips for Practicing Gratitude in Recovery

The Importance of Remaining Grateful

Having gratitude in recovery can be a difficult task at times. When we start going through the trials and tribulations of life we tend to forget about the things we should be grateful for. In moments like this we have a tendency to focus on the negative, lamenting on all that is wrong with our life and our struggles, and when this occurs we almost completely lose our ability to have gratitude in recovery.

While this is not inherently a bad thing, as all humans will from time to time fall out of gratitude and into self-pity, for alcoholics and addicts, it is important to not remain in this state for too long, as it could result in a relapse back into old behaviors, or possibly even back to the drink or drugs. This is why, when going through hard times in recovery it is very important to focus on the things that you are grateful for and continue to practice gratitude in recovery throughout your daily life.

Doing this will ensure that you make it through the hard times with the least possible emotional damage, not to mention that remaining grateful when times get tough is a great way to practice faith and strength your relationship with your higher power.

So if you are currently struggling with practicing gratitude in recovery, then hopefully the 6 tips below will help you overcome this, and settle back into a life of gratefulness.

Practicing Gratitude in Recovery

Practicing gratitude in recovery can obviously be beneficial. Gratitude can help take you out of that dark place that can lead to a relapse. When you focus on what you are grateful for, the time that is spent having a negative attitude will greatly decrease. Here are some tips to help with that:

1. Keep a Gratitude List or Journal

Take the time to make a list of the things that you are grateful for. Adding to this list on a daily or weekly basis will help keep it as up to date as possible. If lists aren’t your thing then write a journal about what you are grateful for. During tough times, it can be very beneficial to take at look at these items, reiterating to yourself the gifts and joys that have been brought to you during recovery. This can also help make those tough times move by faster and without incident.

2. Practice Mindfulness & Gratitude in Recovery – Live in the Moment

Focus on the here and now. Focus on the present moment. Really soak it all in, and use all of your senses to do this. Look around and notice the birds in the trees, take a deep breath and smell the flowers in the air. Listen to the leaves rustling from the slight breeze that carries itself across your skin. Experiencing what is currently happening right around you is one of the easiest ways to practice gratitude, and it is also a form of meditation too.

3. Remember How Bad it Can Get

In order to be grateful for what you currently have, you must remember where you came from and where you can go. Realizing how far you have come since entering recovery is extremely beneficial, and by putting this concrete contrast in your head between good and bad, you can really help put things into perspective when you are going through some negative emotions. Where you are now took a lot of work to get to and that’s something to be grateful for in and of itself— to go back to those old ways that you’ve worked so hard to overcome would be tragic.

4. Replace Thoughts of Negativity with Thoughts of Gratitude in Recovery

It is natural to have negative thoughts, but sitting and dwelling on those negative thoughts are not natural. It can also prove to be very harmful to your recovery to keep that negativity in your mind. When your brain thinks of something negative try and replace or overpower that negative thought with a thought of gratitude.

You don’t need to do this with every bit of negativity that comes from your brain, but try and do it with at least one negative thought per day. Think of a loved one that you have in your life or a job that you’re grateful to now have. Be grateful to be alive and in recovery. This may take some practice but having this tool is extremely helpful.

5. Express Your Gratitude to Others

If you are grateful for someone in your life, make them aware of how you feel. Verbally expressing your gratitude to this person will help you realize some important stuff, it will also make that person feel something positive. Try writing thank you notes to those that you are not easily able to speak to. With technology the way that it is, we are almost always connected to each other, so make sure you’re telling the people that matter to you how thankful you are to have them around.

6. Verbalize to Yourself What You are Grateful For

By saying it out loud it will become more real. An easy way to do this is to take a look at your gratitude list or journal and when you are reading that list say it out loud. Repeat it a few times, repetition will help it stay in your mind and stay real.

Get Help Starting on the Road to Recovery Now!

Teaching someone how to practice gratitude is one of the many resources we offer at Find Addiction Rehabs. Through our constantly expanding articles and staff contributions, our dedicated team makes helping others to find recovery their top priority.

If you are looking for effective addiction treatment, we give you the jump start to recovery you need by aligning you with the right provider to meet your needs among our nationwide, accredited partner facilities. Give yourself a break and reach out now to start your sobriety journey today!