23 Nov Gratitude Supporting Recovery by Sara Howard, LMFT

Gratitude is defined as “a feeling of appreciation or thanks,” (Gratitude, n.d., http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratitude). Seems pretty simple, right? Not always. For someone recovering from addiction it can be hard to be grateful. Staying positive and focused on the good things in one’s life is challenging. To aid in this process, a Gratitude List can be extraordinarily helpful. Making a simple list of the things in your life you are thankful for will act as a reminder of everything for which you have to live. The items can be as simple as, “I’m thankful for pizza because it’s delicious,” or as heartfelt as, “I am thankful for my best friend because she is always supportive of me.” Keep this gratitude list handy at all times. If you are having thoughts of relapse, read the list and be reminded of what you have to lose and of all the things you have to feel good about.