When you are experiencing substance abuse, drug addiction, and alcoholism, you easily become overwhelmed and feel like life is out of control. With no sign of the problem getting better, you may feel like there is no hope for your sobriety. Whether you are in a step recovery program or not, keeping a gratitude list and being thankful can be a great way to help achieve both physical and emotional health. Many people struggle to find happiness in their lives and may turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their pain. However, this vicious cycle can lead to self-loathing, shame, and guilt. This article aims to help drug addicts and alcoholics find happiness in their life by using a gratitude list as discussed below:
Set Goals and Implement Them
Set goals and focus on achieving them, even if it is just one thing at a time. A small victory will make you feel better than nothing at all. Consider joining a support group or therapy group so that you can talk with others who are struggling with addiction. Choose three or four things that you are grateful for that day. Write them down on paper, and then keep them with you until the next day. Alternatively, you may walk for 30 minutes daily, exercise at home, or go out with friends once a week. Make sure these goals are small enough to be realistic but challenging enough to keep you motivated over time. Consider writing down more than one thing each day if you want. But you can also write one thing per day. Write what you feel you are sincerely grateful for.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
It can be hard to feel like okay when recovering from addiction. You may feel lost or confused, especially if you have never been in this situation. However, you must surround yourself with positive people who support your decision to stay clean and sober. There should be people who will remind you of what life used to be like before addiction took over and made everything seem so bleak. These people should also encourage you when things get tough because they know how much it can hurt when someone close passes away. Gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions that can help one stay sober and maintain healthy relationships with those around us.
Appreciate the Small Things
Avoiding being grateful for small things is easy when you are a drug and alcohol addict and substance abuser. You can spend all your time focusing on the negative aspects of life and forget the good things around you. People who are grateful for the small things in life tend to live longer, happier lives. That is because they focus more on what they have rather than what they don’t have. Here are some ways to use a gratitude list to improve your mood and outlook:
- Make a list of all the things that you are grateful for every day.
- Add to it during the day as you come across something new or realize that you have forgotten something that you are grateful for.
- Look at your list every morning and night before getting out of bed and going to sleep.
- Keep it in an easy-to-get-at place like your wallet or purse so that it becomes part of your routine, not just something that comes up when you need it most.
There are plenty of ways to stay positive, productive, and in good spirits, if you are struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism. Making and using a gratitude list can be one of the best things you ever do for yourself on your journey to recovery. It is also a powerful way to get you in a positive, happy direction while getting rid of all those negative, depressing moments that have gripped you. Enroll to our sober living home in New Jersey. You’ll get all the necessary help you need to beat your addiction. Call us at 732-392-7311.
