So how exactly does someone practice gratitude and know they’re doing it right? Figuring that out is a natural first step in the mindful gratitude journey. Here’s a breakdown of what practicing gratitude is and five concrete ways you can do it. But if you’re in early recovery or beyond, it’s that much more important. Get a jar of any kind and when something good happens write it on a strip of paper and put it in the jar. Then each day (once you get some stockpiled) take one out and remember what you have to be happy about.

Focus on What you Have

• When you cultivate gratitude, you also avoid negative thinking and behaviors.
• Being kind to loved ones, friends, and strangers, regardless of the type of day you’re having, is an honorable way to live.
• The prompts, Mr. Seftel said in a recent interview, are usually about current events or their own lives, but he never tells his mother what he will ask ahead of time.
• This strengthening of personal ties not only enriches our close relationships but also sets the foundation for broader social impacts affecting larger groups and communities.

This neurological activation prompts the release of dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter, enhancing mood, increasing motivation, and sharpening attention. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

Surround yourself with positive people

Life is full of experiences and challenges, many of which can teach you valuable lessons. If you recently completed drug rehab, you most likely learned a few (if not many) valuable life lessons that changed you for the better. Reflecting on these life lessons and asking yourself what you’ve learned in the last week, month, or year is a great way to practice gratitude and reflect on your own personal growth in recovery. This is striking as this effect was found three months after the letter writing began. This indicates that simply expressing gratitude may have lasting effects on the brain. While not conclusive, this finding suggests that practicing gratitude may help train the brain to be more sensitive to the experience of gratitude down the line, and this could contribute to improved mental health over time.

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And while this is completely true, what we can control is our thoughts. One of the best ways to overcome this spiritual malady is to practice gratitude. And while it may not come easily at first, just like negative thinking is a habit for some, being grateful can become a habit too. https://theseattledigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ 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.

• You can set a reminder on your phone or choose a specific time of the day to practice gratitude.
• One way is to begin journaling about the things in your life that you are grateful for right now.
• Our participants then decided how much of the money, if any, to pass on to a worthy cause (and we did in fact donate that money to a local charity).
• Sadly, people in recovery are often notorious for being grumpy, but that stereotype doesn’t have to be true for you.
• As you start to practice gratitude, you’ll notice the power of the words you choose.
• Remember that there is no right or wrong way in cultivating gratitude while in recovery.

Instead, it can improve your gratitude and remind you that the fight to stay sober is worth the effort. Practicing gratitude is all about being grateful and thankful for what you have. When you focus on all the things Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House you don’t have, it creates an attitude of ungratefulness and fosters negative emotions like jealousy and anger. Negativity can be detrimental to your recovery and make a life in sobriety seem dark, empty, and lonely.

• Dive deeper into your sobriety by expressing daily gratitude for a life in recovery.
• This multiplies and before you know it your life is beyond your wildest dreams.
• Writing down what you feel thankful for helps you notice and remember the good things in your life and creates a record that you can look back on when you need a boost of positivity.
• Gratitude is not a magic bullet that will cure your addiction overnight.