The Power of Gratitude In Your Recovery

This information should not be taken as advice or specific treatment recommendations; nor should it be used under any circumstances for diagnostic purposes. You are encouraged to make any health-related decisions in consultation with your qualified health care provider. Gratitude displaces entitlement because it is an act of humility that acknowledges I would not be where I am without the grace of God, and the care of others from whom I have generously received. If you or someone you love is experiencing a substance use disorder, help is available. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) could be forwarded to SAMSHA or a verified treatment provider.

• Gratitude looks for reasons to be thankful, even in moments of disappointment and circumstances beyond our control.
• In recovery, you can be grateful for the opportunity to have the freedom to pursue new hobbies, activities and goals with your newfound time.
• If you’ve spent months or years soured by a negative outlook, it isn’t easy to swap rose-colored glasses with your current position of seeing everything as gray and stormy.
• Gratitude isn’t just a nice thing to practice — it’s essential for long-term recovery.
• During these Step 10 personal inventories, we can note these tendencies and commit to changing them.

For instance, rather than viewing relapse as a failure, you can see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. This perspective can help you stay motivated and committed to your recovery goals, even when times are tough. Gratitude in recovery is a choice, but unfortunately, not one that comes naturally to teens and young adults in addiction treatment. Upon entering drug rehab, teenagers are usually more frustrated, fearful, depressed, resistant, and isolated than they are grateful. They often feel hopeless, resentful, and choose to have a ‘woe is me’ attitude. Instead of focusing on material possessions this holiday season, these nine tips can help you practice gratitude in recovery and learn how to be thankful and content with what you already have. Developing a mindset and behaviors that reflect gratitude is a skill, and it will take time to grow.

Gratefulness as the Key to Success in Addiction Recovery

While we can look at each one of these things and find an issue, the power is in finding the good in each. Practicing gratitude may seem easy to some but daunting to others. For many, our brains have been wired and become accustomed to thinking one way—often negative. Those with addiction issues, sometimes have maladjusted ways of thinking which become habits. These thoughts, as mentioned, can tend to be negative, always seeing what is wrong and what we don’t want. When we are optimistic we see good outcomes in even the most trying situations. In studies, those individuals who were considered optimistic had better overall health and in some cases aged better too.

• Our Addictions Content Team has been providing up to date information on substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders for over a decade.
• By thinking positively and being grateful for what we have, we can live a more fruitful, favorable life.
• This type of perspective will cultivate unhealthy attitudes towards life, towards relationships, towards jobs, towards everything.
• In studies, those individuals who were considered optimistic had better overall health and in some cases aged better too.

The quality of being thankful – thankful for all that we have, all that we have received, and all that has not befallen upon us. Gratitude is an acknowledgement of the positive things in life, things both big and small. Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, we are a force of healing and hope ​​​​​​​for families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions. When we worry about relapse or feel resentment or other negative feelings creep in, it’s a great opportunity to cultivate gratitude. For this reason, gratitude and humility are vitally important to practice throughout the process of recovery, and after. Both gratitude and humility oppose and breakdown the emotional and mental walls we build up within ourselves.

Step Programs

For newly clean and sober men and women, gratitude is almost crucial. Not only does experiencing a sense of gratitude help them realize how amazing it is that they are clean and sober, but also by focusing on a positive outlook, the dangers of relapse lessen. 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 why is gratitude important in recovery 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. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, we can help. Purchase a “Gratitude Journal” – Each day, record at least one thing you are grateful for. This will start your “gratitude list,” something you should read over every day as a reminder of the positive aspects in your life.