From new shoes to just having shoes to wear, when we sit and take a look there really is so much to be grateful for each day. Gratitude is defined as the quality of being grateful; readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness. Basically, gratitude is seeing what is good in life and the goodness in others. The flip side is being resentful and seeing what’s wrong in life, not what’s right. And no matter which way we choose to look, there will be plenty to be found of both. These ideas apply to anyone and everyone—being and feeling grateful just makes life better.

Daily Practices for Gratitude, including Journaling

One of the biggest threats to being happy with what you have and being grateful for what you have is consistently trying to measure yourself against a standard of perfection. Unfortunately, life will always have its ups and downs, you will always have your ups and downs, and you will always have things that don’t go as planned. Nothing will ever be “perfect”, and challenges can be used to grow, learn, and even to give you a better perspective on good things in your life. Most people tend to be happier and more satisfied with life when they contribute to others and help them with their own lives. This applies whether you’re volunteering to help others, doing things that make your friends and family happy, or working in a way that contributes to your community and surroundings. Volunteering actually triggers the reward system in your brain, causing you to feel happier and more satisfied.

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These are the things — big or small — that make you feel lucky and have helped guide you in the right direction. Gratitude helps individuals recognize and appreciate the people who support them. It encourages them to seek out healthy relationships and surround themselves with individuals who uplift and inspire them. By fostering social health through gratitude, individuals can find a sense of belonging and strengthen their support systems.

What are the benefits of gratitude?

Most of the time, our friends and family constantly do small things for us that may not seem like much, but are a consistent and constant sign of love. Even if you don’t have any close friends and family, you do likely have sponsors, peers at your self-help group, counselors, and new friends https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you may have made on your way to recovery. Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to reinforce your beliefs and attitudes. You can practice meditation by directing your attention to something or someone you are grateful for and feeling the emotions that arise from that.

• This can lead to a cycle of despair and self-destructive behaviors that may be difficult to stop.
• The more you practice gratitude, the stronger your resilience becomes.
• Let it remind you of how far you’ve come and inspire you to keep moving forward.
• But if you’re in early recovery or beyond, it’s that much more important.

When you’re mired in the depths of addiction, other negative situations often come along with it. Substance abuse strains relationships, impacts personal finances, and can stymie your career, among other potential barriers to happiness. Arriving at a point in life where you are making a sincere effort to recover takes time.

Defining Gratitude and its Impact on Mental Health

• It is about paying attention to both the good and the bad in life without trying to change them.
• Feeling grateful can promote a sense of belonging, increased happiness, and decreased loneliness.
• Using a bulletin board or poster board put pictures, graphics, or words that help you remember what you’re grateful for in life.

Be mindful of sharing your gratitude for others as they cross your path or as you observe good deeds on behalf of strangers. Be generous in sharing and showing your appreciation for their gratitude in recovery actions and efforts as you go about your day. There are plenty of ways to be generous each and every day, but recognizing the opportunities that come your way takes effort and attention.

• Instead of responding to questions with “I’m sorry,” or worse, using “I’m sorry” as a greeting, like “I’m sorry I’m late,” or “I’m sorry for taking so long to email you,” say “thank you” instead.
• But what happens for most is when we start to think those judgemental and negative thoughts we think of more things about the person or situation we don’t like.
• In essence, gratitude helps you reclaim the joy and wonder of life that addiction may have dulled.
• Learning about the forms of negative thinking can prepare you to combat them with a dose of gratitude.

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In essence, gratitude helps you reclaim the joy and wonder of life that addiction may have dulled. Research has shown how important it is to express gratitude (if you want to be happy). Positive psychology not only impacts your mental health, but physical, spiritual and social health too. 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. Those who view recovery as a burden or see their recovery experience as negative are more likely to turn back to alcohol or drugs. Gratitude inspires the mind and the body to turn away from substance abuse.

Defining the Act of Practicing Gratitude

Taking a moment to think about something good you have now can serve as a reminder of how far you’ve come since your addiction. Remembering the way your life was when you were addicted doesn’t have to drudge up feelings of regret or sadness. Instead, it can improve your gratitude and remind you that the fight to stay sober is worth the effort. One of the simplest and most effective ways to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, take some time to write down a few things you are grateful for.

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