Having a grateful heart will help you through the ups and downs and different phases of your recovery. Gratitude can help to keep you motivated to learn and grow, come to terms with any past mistakes, make amends and build relationships with loved ones and work hard to sustain the precious gift of sobriety.

If gratitude doesn’t come natural to you, don’t fret. You’re not alone. For many people in recovery, it takes practice. The good news: Learning to count your blessings each day is possible and as you grow a more grateful heart you’ll grow happier and healthier and stronger in your recovery.

Here are some ways to be more thankful in your daily life, no matter how long you’ve been sober.

• Say thank you. Pick up the phone and tell someone close to you just how much joy they bring to your life and how grateful you are for their love, support and unconventional love. Or send a quick thank-you note – whether in the form of a text, email, social media post or formal note – thanking someone for his or her help during recovery.
• Be grateful for you. And this includes your strengths and weaknesses, which make you, well, you. Just take a moment and give thanks for your breath, heartbeat, your life and all the wonderful contributions you can make to the world thanks to your new sober life.
• Start a gratitude ritual. Some ideas: Write in a daily gratitude journal, take time to appreciate all of your senses and surroundings during a morning walk or make a nightly gratitude mediation part of your recovery routine. There are no rules; just get started.
• Give back. Whether you formally volunteer for those less fortunate or just do something nice for a recovery peer or loved one, giving your time and care to others is a great way to practice gratitude. It’s a win-win: you’ll both feel grateful for the day and each other!

Relapse Prevention at Makana Path Life is a gift and having an attitude of gratitude is a great way to succeed at recovery and protect yourself against relapse. At Makana Path, we’ll help you or someone love develop the skills necessary to commit to lifelong sobriety. To learn more about our holistic approach to relapse prevention, call us today: 866-922-0776.