Being Grateful This Holiday Season

While gratitude is an important part of your day to day recovery, it can also play a pretty powerful role in helping you manage the holiday season. And we don’t just mean being grateful for the gifts that you receive. 

The holidays can be tough for those of us in recovery – whether you’re missing friends and family or struggling with some intense (and even unexpected) emotions this time of year – and a gratitude-filled approach for handling it all can help. 

After all, having an attitude of gratitude has been linked with less anxiety, fewer toxic emotions, increased happiness and better sleep. Plus, recognizing all that you have to be thankful for –especially during stressful times – can help foster resilience.

Here are a few ways to practice gratitude this holiday season:

• Start a gratitude routine. Each evening, write down three good things about your day  –and you’ll soon see that there are plenty of large and small blessings to count.
• Focus on the sunny side. The next time you feel overwhelmed by stress, gently guide your focus back to one thing for which you feel grateful. If it helps, jot it down on paper and display it prominently as a visual reminder of how you want to feel this holiday season. The more you practice, the easier it will become overtime to be a thankful person.
• Go public. Pick one thing you’re grateful for this week and post it on your social media or in a forum on an online support group. This will help reinforce your attitude of gratitude.
• Be thankful for things that haven’t yet happened. Sure, it’s nice to count your blessing for today – but what about being grateful for all of those wonderful things ahead in your new sober life? Give this idea from LifeandBeautyWeekly.com a try: “Close your eyes and imagine that you’re standing on a carpet of gratitude. Imagine that you’re walking down the carpet past all the wonderful experiences that await you: a dream job, your wedding day, the birth of your child, a trip to Paris. By thanking the universe for blessings in advance, you’ll develop a sense of gratitude even when things don’t seem to be going your way.”

Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy and gratitude!

Grateful for Female Support

Our "sisters in recovery" are ready and willing to support you through the upcoming holidays. At Rising Roads, women can be fearful, supported, and courageous at the same time. To learn more about our gender-specific rehab, call us today: 866-746-1558. 

How to Show Yourself Gratitude

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give thanks and show gratitude – but being grateful or having “an attitude of gratitude” should also be part of your daily routine during recovery. And this includes thanking yourself -- for showing up, for doing your best and for being you. The better you become at appreciating yourself, the more invested you’ll be in your recovery. And you’ll also be more able to give your time, energy and love to friends and family who have supported you along the way.

Here are a few ways to say thank you for being you.

• Look in the mirror and compliment yourself each day. 
• Celebrate your everyday wins and small recovery victories.
• Turn negative self-talk into positive thoughts. Make a conscious effort to stop yourself when you find yourself talking negatively.  
•  Keep a running list of things you like about yourself – and refer to it when you feel your self-confidence waning. 
• Start a journal and write down what’s good about your life or quotes that inspire you to express gratitude in everyday life. 

Quotes About Gratitude

Here are some inspirational quotes from empowering women to add to your gratitude journal or to hang up as a reminder to be grateful everyday. 

• "Gratitude is looking on the brighter side of life, even if it means hurting your eyes." –Ellen DeGeneres
• "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good." –Maya Angelou
• "'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding." –Alice Walker

A Sanctuary to Find Self-Gratitude

At Rising Roads, we have crafted an environment that will make each woman feel great about her surroundings, which will help her feel great about herself. To learn more about our programs and facility, call today: 866-746-1558.