Not too long ago, we wrote an entry titled “The Importance of Kindness in Recovery.” In that post, we considered the importance of being kind to yourself and to others as a way to make the world a better place while also supporting your recovery efforts in a powerful way. In 2025, we offered a post titled “The ABCs of Getting More ZZZs: The Importance of Sleep in Recovery.” The essentialness of restful sleep—for everyone and especially for those in recovery from a substance use disorder—is a topic we revisit regularly.
Looking back on those posts got us thinking about other practices, ideas, and emotions that are equally important for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. You could think of this as the third entry in a loose and occasional series. This time out, we will consider the importance of gratitude in recovery.
We would be grateful if you would go on this gratitude journey with us.
Gratitude Is a Good Attitude in Recovery
Cultivating a spirit of gratitude sure beats the alternatives.
It can be all too easy to spend our time focused on the negative aspects of life, right? Someone said something unkind to you (or you said something unkind you wish you hadn’t). You couldn’t find your keys or your wallet or your phone or your shoes, and now you are running late. Traffic was slow and gas was expensive, and you feel grumpy about it.
Those examples do not even include the time you might spend ruminating about the past and worrying about the future. Replaying past mistakes—including those connected to your use of drugs or alcohol—can drag you down, and speculating about the future—including whether you will be able to maintain your recovery—can make you anxious.
Shifting your focus from daily annoyances, old regrets, and future worries can be a good way to firm up the foundations of your recovery. And leaning into gratitude is a great way to make that shift. Here are a couple of suggestions for how you might do that.
The Power of Writing Things Down
Many people find that keeping a gratitude journal is an excellent way to bring intentional focus to what they are thankful for. The process is simple: Each day, write down three things you are grateful for. They can be big or small, from that specific day or more general, and the same as the day before or entirely new (or somewhere in between). Whether you jot down that you had a delicious lunch or that you are continually grateful for a supportive and loving friend, the act of putting it down on paper (or noting it in an app or what have you) brings your full attention to the good things in your life.
When it comes to writing in your gratitude journal, we suggest finding the time of day that works best for you. Maybe writing down three positive things when you first wake up is a great way to start your day. Maybe reflecting at lunchtime can help you get reset for the afternoon. Or maybe writing in your gratitude journal just before bed helps you look back on the day through a positive lens and can help you drift off to sleep feeling content and relaxed. Whatever works for you is the right way to go.
A Spirit of Service Is a Reflection of Gratitude
Throughout your life, various people have supported you in many different ways. That might be especially true when it comes to the friends, family members, medical professionals, and others who helped you realize you had developed a substance use disorder and who have supported you through treatment and into recovery.
Finding ways to be of service to others is a great way to pay that support forward. Acts of service reflect the gratitude you feel towards those who have helped you. You might volunteer or make a donation to a cause or organization that does good work in your community. You could help a neighbor with a big project or with various chores they may struggle with for one reason or another. You might concentrate on being a good friend and a strong source of support for those in your recovery community. And, of course, you might work to make amends to those you may have hurt or disappointed while you were using drugs or alcohol.
Acts of service can truly be acts of gratitude—and that is good for those you serve, for you, and for your recovery.
We Would Be Grateful for the Chance to Help
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center is committed to helping people reclaim their lives from drugs and alcohol. We are also equipped to address mental health disorders—like depression, anxiety or panic, and issues grounded in past traumatic experiences—that may be entangled with a substance use disorder. Our approach is evidence-based and personalized to meet a person’s specific needs.
If drugs or alcohol have upended your life, we are here to help you make a transformational change for the better. We have the expertise, experience, and empathy necessary to help you get a fresh start free from the substances that have had you in their grip.
