Thanksgiving is usually when we hear about the importance of feeling thankful. Also known as gratitude, this thankful mindset can aid in your recovery journey and profoundly affect your life.
The Importance of Feeling Thankful
Gratitude can have a wide range of benefits for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Being grateful promotes overall well-being and can help you create stronger bonds with others.
According to a 2010 study published in Psychiatry, gratitude is the “appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself.” It is considered to be a general state of thankfulness or appreciation.
Around Thanksgiving, this concept becomes even more popular. We’re taught to give thanks for the important things in our lives as we gather with loved ones to share feasts in celebration.
The Benefits of Gratitude
Feeling thankful can help you cultivate positive thinking, which allows you to have a better outlook on your life.
According to NIH News in Health, studies suggest that “making a habit of noticing what’s going well in your life could have health benefits.” Gratitude can also help you cope with stress and have a positive effect on your body. Gratitude has even been linked with fewer signs of heart disease.
A 2023 research review published in Psychology Research and Behavior Management found a “substantial positive correlation between gratitude and life satisfaction.” A gratitude practice can help you find more meaning in life, gain healthier social support, and enjoy feelings of good self-esteem.
Feeling Thankful: Benefits for Recovery
According to a 2017 research review published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, gratitude is a “central component of addiction recovery for many.” The authors of the article acknowledge a reciprocal relationship between feeling thankful and recovery. They state that “gratitude and recovery mutually support, inspire, sustain, and give rise to each other.”
An attitude of gratitude can help you more easily move through the recovery process, especially in the beginning. While the beginning of your recovery journey may feel scary or even depressing, cultivating a sense of gratitude can lift your mood. After all, you chose to begin this journey, which is worthy of a huge celebration to begin with.
Then, as you sustain sobriety for longer periods, you may become even more grateful. You may have a more positive outlook on life, feel a greater sense of purpose, and become proud of yourself. These mind states will enable you to succeed on the path of long-term recovery.
Increased Positive Effect
The aforementioned Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment article mentions a pilot study that used a 14-day gratitude exercise among individuals in treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The study found that this practice was associated with a decrease in “negative affect,” like feeling angry, and an increase in ”positive affect,” like feeling calm and relaxed.
Having an increased positive affect can help you during the recovery process in a profound way. Feeling more calm, happy, and grateful allows you to have a better outlook on your recovery. Gratitude can instill feelings of hopefulness to keep you dedicated to your goals. Feeling thankful can also help you find yourself again and rediscover an empowered sense of self.
Feeling Thankful: Create Your Own Practice
The best way to start practicing gratitude is with small, consistent steps you can incorporate into your day.
The Georgia Department of Public Health lists some tips for cultivating a sense of gratitude during the Thanksgiving holiday. These include activities like writing thank-you notes and letters to loved ones, keeping a daily gratitude journal, and counting your blessings.
You can also write thank-you notes or “love letters” to yourself. What are you thankful for when it comes to your own life’s journey? Making a list of all the ways you’re proud of yourself can help you advance toward your goals. Doing these activities can help you create lasting sobriety, happiness, and success in your life.
Mind, Body, and Soul Healing at The Guest House
Here at The Guest House, we recognize the importance of feeling thankful and its many benefits for recovery. This is why we have created a cutting-edge program that includes both traditional therapies and holistic modalities. The Guest House is here to help you broaden your horizons and create a more positive outlook on your life.
We offer meditation, breathwork, and yoga, therapies that are well-known for the sense of gratitude they can instill in your life. Incorporating these modalities into your recovery plan can have great benefits for your overall well-being and shift your mindset.
Our globally renowned Spirit2Spirit Healing program is another excellent way to create more feelings of thankfulness and positivity in your life. This program was created to help you overcome addictions, traumas, and deep wounds by helping you address the root cause of your issues. The program teaches you how to cultivate a more grateful mindset, which can create a more positive reality around you. Spirit2Spirit Healing, as well as all of our therapeutic modalities, are here to help you heal your mind, body, and soul as one. This holistic path can lead to a much greater chance of long-term recovery success.
Around Thanksgiving, we always hear about the concept of feeling thankful. This idea is also known as gratitude, and its been shown to have many positive health benefits for recovery and beyond. Here at The Guest House, we believe in the power of positive thinking. We know that feeling grateful can help you create a more profound recovery journey for yourself. We offer a cutting-edge blend of both traditional and holistic therapies that allow you to create a recovery plan that fosters comprehensive success for your mind, body, and soul. Programs like our world-renowned Spirit2Spirit Healing program will help you get to the root of your obstacles and find lasting success in recovery. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.