You feel a deep sense of pride and accomplishment for all your hard work and good intentions, and you look for opportunities to connect with people, the world, the moment. Recovery is a difficult process, and you’ll likely face challenges. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Addiction is a disease, and neither intelligence, education or great family support can prevent it.

Strengthening Relationships

• While the benefits of gratitude are clear, learning how to cultivate and practice gratitude can be tricky, especially early in recovery.
• Remember that there is no right or wrong way in cultivating gratitude while in recovery.
• After some thought, I have made a decision to serve the songbirds I remember being so plentiful when I was young but have become so much rarer now.
• Experiment with different practices and find what resonates with you.
• Many people suffering from addiction put this step off for years, and some indefinitely.
• I am installing a bath to give them water through the dry summer, feeders to invite them to dinner, and small houses to raise their children.

After her oldest daughter, Jordan, died by suicide in December 2022 at age of 20, Haller learned about plans for the Brandt Center and Retreat. The Brandt Center is expected to open in the next academic year and will serve an estimated 1,200 youth and young adults annually. The facility is the first in New Jersey backed by an academic health leader to offer mental health treatment exclusively for adolescents and young adults. Practicing gratitude in your everyday life is more than just saying “thank you” or being internally thankful for a life that is free from addiction. Practicing gratitude is using your behavior to be an example of a person whose actions are guided by the principles of the 12 steps and then sharing that goodness with other people in your life.

The Power of Gratitude In Your Recovery

Make a deliberate effort to replace old drug related behaviors and thoughts with new, positive ones. Gratitude doesn’t just happen, but it can be easy to develop, just by being mindful as you move through daily life. Creating a “gratitude practice” starts with simply paying attention to good things large and small – and tools such as journals, lists or meditation can help.

Dependence Vs. Addiction

Here’s a breakdown of what practicing gratitude is and five concrete ways you can do it. “Practice gratitude” is one of those platitudes that seems like it belongs in script on a wall next to Live, Laugh, Love. And while it may sound a bit “hippie” and spiritual, this valuable practice is strongly encouraged by most therapists and counselors. In particular, individuals are urged to practice gratitude in recovery. Take time to look at yourself and your life and be grateful to yourself. If you are in recovery, you have accomplished so much just by being sober or trying to get sober.

• For these reasons, seeing life through the lens of gratitude can also help to prevent relapses.
• By expressing thankfulness for everything you have in your life, you can shift your mindset from focusing on what you lack to appreciating all the wonderful things you have going for you.
• Reflecting on how adversity has contributed to growth and personal development can bring a sense of gratitude and empowerment.
• If you accomplished something at work, don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back and let people know how happy it made you.

Family and Children’s Programs

• All of which makes for a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled you.
• Then when we feel gratitude slipping away, we can re-engage with whichever practices help us to feel connected with our Higher Power and other people.
• That’s why gratitude is so important for people recovering from addiction, especially in early recovery.
• According to the American Psychological Association, gratitude is a sense of happiness and thankfulness when to receiving a gift or experiencing a fortunate event.

Increases happiness and satisfaction