Grateful: Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness, thankful.
The holiday season presents us with many opportunities to be grateful – the Thanksgiving holiday itself is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to what is to come. But how do you practice gratitude when you are new to recovery? This can feel like a struggle, when it’s easy to place blame on addiction for taking things away. But in recovery, we are able to step back and recognize what blessings have come from all that we’ve experienced.
Things you can be grateful for this year, even if you’re new to recovery:
- Appreciate the little things – Waking up in the morning, having a job, spending time with family – these might not be things you normally think about being grateful for, but they are things that not everyone is able to do. Staying focused on the positives is a good way to remember all your accomplishments in recovery so far.
- Be grateful for recovery – Staying grateful for recovery, and the people that have helped us along the way is a great way to stay sober. When we start taking our recovery for granted is when we start to experience the hardships that have caused us troubles.
- Spend some time helping others – Volunteer, there are plenty of ways that you can volunteer during the holiday season. Most local soup kitchens are happy to have the extra hands. Help your neighbor rake leaves or shovel snow. Clean out your closest and donate old clothes to shelters.
Gratitude is something you must work toward daily. There are many ways to practice gratitude and work toward living a grateful lifestyle. Follow some of the tips below or come up with your own! Let us know what you do to be grateful, not just during the holidays – but all year!
- Record Your Gratitude Each Day in a Journal
- Make a Gratitude List in the Morning
- Meditation / Prayer
- Show Gratitude to Others
- Focus on the Good not the Bad
- Ask others about what makes them Grateful
- Ask yourself “What’s great about my life today?”
If you or someone you know is suffering from a drug and alcohol addiction and needs treatment, please call us for help. New Day Recovery offers easily accessible addiction treatment. If we aren’t the best fit, we will work with you to find a treatment center that fits your needs. Please call us at (330) 953-3300 or email [email protected]. For more information on all our alcohol and addiction treatment services and resources, please visit the web site at www.ndrtoday.com.