Try to see the good in your friends, family, and co-workers, and let go of any resentment or anger you may be holding onto. Viewing difficult circumstances in this way will also help you avoid relapse and deal with short-term lapses in a more positive and effective way. Practicing gratitude in your everyday life is more than just saying “thank you” or being internally thankful for a life https://trading-market.org/uk-construction-dives-amid-housebuilding-slump-and/ 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. Practicing gratitude may seem easy to some but daunting to others. For many, our brains have been wired and become accustomed to thinking one way—often negative.

Perhaps the gratitude letter writers discussed what they wrote in their letters with their counselors or with others. These conversations may have reinforced the psychological benefits derived from the gratitude writing itself. This suggests that gratitude writing can be beneficial not https://trading-market.org/building-alcohol-tolerance/ just for healthy, well-adjusted individuals, but also for those who struggle with mental health concerns. In fact, it seems, practicing gratitude on top of receiving psychological counseling carries greater benefits than counseling alone, even when that gratitude practice is brief.

Committing Your Gratitude to Writing

For a lot of people, this seemingly negative event sets off a train of thought and then everything seems to go wrong for the rest of the day. You’ll hear people say, “I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning.” This reflects the negative thinking that just draws more and more to it. To learn more about how gratitude and mindfulness might benefit Bored, Bored, Bored, and Overeating your health, reach out to your primary care physician. A review of 70 studies that include responses from more than 26,000 people found an association between higher levels of gratitude and lower levels of depression. But more research needs to be done to understand the association. It doesn’t have to be a grandiose feeling of appreciation every day.

If you have been sober for a couple of days so far, chances are you have heard someone say the word ‘grateful’ in a sentence. While some people have strong, pre-existing support systems and communities, those new to recovery might need to search a little. Practicing gratitude will help your life in many ways, including strengthening your recovery.