Taking Time to Reflect for Thanksgiving

Taking Time to Reflect for Thanksgiving

Recovery is a journey—one that can feel, at times, like an uphill climb. You’re always working so hard to reach for the next step, the next milestone, that it can be difficult to find the time to pause, rest, and reflect.

If ever there was a time to quiet your mind, still your body, and contemplate all the things you have to be grateful for in your journey, however, surely it is the Thanksgiving season.

In fact, pausing for active gratitude is an important step you can take to bolster your strength and your resolve, to increase your enthusiasm, and to give yourself the motivation you need to keep pushing forward.

The question is, how can you be actively grateful? Here are a few steps we recommend for this holiday season.

• Think in terms of your recovery journey. Give yourself a few minutes to sit quietly—perhaps in nature, or in a place that brings you comfort—and to think about what you’ve accomplished in your recovery. Make a list of your milestones, and of the goals you still wish to achieve.
• Keep a gratitude journal. Every day, take a moment to write down just one or two things you are thankful for. Your gratitude journal is something you can continue throughout the calendar year!
• Engage others. As you enjoy festive conversations with friends and family members, ask them what they are thankful for this year, and perhaps it will inspire some new forms of gratitude in you.
• Meditate. If gratitude doesn’t come easy, devote a few minutes each morning to simply clearing your head and preparing for a more mindful and engaged day.

Gratitude is a way of life—and now is the time to start it. You will be amazed at how much it can enhance your recovery journey.

[cta] Start practicing active gratitude today! Connect with us on Facebook and share what you are thankful for. [/cta]