It could be something as simple as having food to eat or being able to spend time with loved ones. By taking time each day to acknowledge the good things in our lives, we begin to rewire our brains to focus on the positive. To overcome negative thinking with gratitude, start by acknowledging even the most mundane blessings in your life. From the food we eat to our comfortable beds, there are countless things worth feeling grateful for that we often take for granted. When we make a habit of appreciating these things, we begin to focus on the good rather than the bad.
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. The thoughts can snowball until we’ve worked ourselves into a state of restlessness and discontent. When we practice gratitude in life, we are creating a happy and less competitive life around ourselves, therefore, the overall well being of human beings increases. Grateful people not only lead a happy and healthy life they can build a successful career too. Gratitude benefits self-control in overall life which leads to a highly motivated and disciplined life.
Focus on What you Have
It can also be an incredibly powerful tool for growth and healing. Researchers find that gratitude is especially important for individuals in SUD recovery with the goal of being abstinent. Gratitude can be defined as one’s inclination to be mindful and appreciative of what is good in our lives and return the kindness we have received back into the world. When combining gratitude mindfulness, you create a strong foundation that helps keep your perspective on life balanced, present, and positive. Writing a gratitude letter assists in rewiring our brains to focus on the positive aspects of life rather than dwelling on negative experiences.
- Gratitude allows us to live in the present moment and appreciate what we have right now.
- All of which makes for a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled you.
- Gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation – paying attention to the positive things in your life is an important part of a healthy outlook on living.
Further, practicing gratitude helps you look outward, to all the wonderful things that surround you, rather than keeping you focused inward, which can lead to feelings of negativity and despair. Especially in early recovery, there are a lot of emotions that surface that are no longer being numbed by drugs or alcohol, and these emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming. Chances are if you have been in recovery for more than a day or two, you have heard someone talk about gratitude. As a core principle of many recovery programs, the word gratitude gets thrown around a lot. Changing your language can help you focus on the good in the world, in others and in yourself. When you do this, you’ll start to unconsciously and effortlessly practice gratitude throughout the day.
Learning Center
Settings aside some daily moments of reflection where you express thankfulness can also work wonders in developing positive outlooks. Recovery is difficult, and maintaining a sense of gratitude can be crucial to a full and lasting recovery. By expressing thankfulness for everything you have in your life, you can begin to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
- Other studies have also shown that practicing gratitude can lead to increased feelings of well-being and a more positive outlook in life.
- Gratitude brings about a healthy outlook than anything can be accomplished and problems and difficulties in life can be faced with grace and dignity and faith.
- Gratitude helps reduce or even eliminate emotional and physical triggers as well.
- If you’re grateful for your recovery, you stay committed and contribute to it.
- By practicing gratitude regularly, we can train ourselves to see the good in every situation, to appreciate the people around us, and to find joy in the small things in life.
- If you’re having difficulty staying clean or battling cravings, it might be best to seek help at a reputable drug rehab center.
It’s a simple but effective way to acknowledge the efforts of those around us and recognize the positive impact they have on our lives. Research has shown that expressing gratitude can lead importance of gratitude in recovery to lower stress levels, increased optimism, and improved overall health. Interestingly, research has also found that expressing gratitude can be more effective than simply feeling grateful.
