It can be difficult for someone new to recovery to find gratitude in addiction treatment. But it’s important that make an effort and from this practice we will understand how gratitude can help. Cultivating gratitude is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of thinking helps connect your behaviors with your thoughts and feelings. Recovering addicts or alcoholics can change their habitual negative patterns to help them better manage their recovery.
As we must make changes in our actions to replace bad habits we practiced during addiction (places we go, people we see) so we must change our attitudes. A person in recovery can become optimistic about life through self-empowering habits that include making positive life choices and decisions. An oft-heard phrase in recovery is to “practice an attitude of gratitude.” Even if you aren’t feeling like it, make time every morning while in addiction treatment to begin your day in the best possible way. Start with gratitude as a spiritual practice that you dedicate yourself to and it will create a new habit. By thinking of (for example) a list of 10 things in your life right you are grateful for, know this is a positive way to manage your recovery and you can take this habit home with you.
One suggestion for cultivating gratitude is to start a gratitude journal. Hand writing in your journal is more powerful because by moving your hand you activate your brain and you will get the thoughts flowing onto the page. Write I am grateful for … and think of what has happened to you in the last 24 hours. Who has supported you? Why have these events meant so much to you? Recovery begins with hope and gratitude. Cultivate your gratitude and find opportunities to be grateful each day that recovery brings.