“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
November: A Month of Gratitude
As the Holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of all the things we are thankful for. A loving family, financial stability, and health and wellness are just a few things to note.
November is a great reminder to create space to sit and reflect on the past year, celebrate our wins, and start envisioning goals for the following year. Life can get a little hectic around the holidays with family gatherings, work parties, and other various holiday events and obligations, so it’s essential that we make time to express our gratitude.
In recovery, our gratitude increases with a supportive community, the gift of sobriety, strengthening our relationships, and a sense of healing and hope are easily added to the long list of things we’re blessed with. One of our past guests on the podcast shared his thoughts on gratitude and how it’s helped him on his own recovery journey.
Finding Sobriety Through Accountability and Gratitude
On Episode 45 of Positive Recovery MD, Dr. Jason Powers and Guest Co-Host, Grif Palmer, were joined by Tom Nunan, Former Network and Studio President, E.P. Oscar Best Picture Crash, UCLA Film Profesor, and Owner of The Writing Intensive.
Throughout their conversation, Tom shared his recovery journey, from growing up with a father who was addicted to alcohol to becoming addicted to alcohol himself, and how he was able to find freedom in recovery. Dr. Powers, Grif, and Tom also discussed what it means to share gratitude with others and how it can increase our personal well-being and happiness.
According to Tom, “Gratitude always puts me in the right frame of mind. The reason my gratitude list is so successful for me is that it immediately gets me out of my head about anything negative, any obsessive, dark thoughts I might be having, such as fears, and right into not only Gratitude for my life today but my Gratitude for so many others.”
One of the beautiful things about Gratitude is that it helps us find peace for today, acceptance of our past, and hope and healing for our future.
Yesterday’s Acceptance
When we shift our mindset to a thankful one, we can see our past mistakes as lessons from which we can learn. Instead of viewing our past in a negative light, we can instead be thankful for these experiences. No matter how hard the obstacles or challenges are faced, we can find Gratitude in knowing that we made it through and we are still here.
You may have faced some of the toughest challenges in life, which nobody should ever have to endure. There may have been a time when everything seemed dark, bleak, and meaningless. And yet, you’re still here. You are stronger than you once were and have gleaned so much wisdom from those past experiences. When we recognize our power over our past, there is so much to be thankful for.
Today’s Peace
Gratitude isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s not something you can do once and never have to do again. Gratitude can play an active role in our lives. Taking time out of our day to reflect on all the good things in our lives creates room for peace. If you focus on Gratitude first thing in the morning while prepping coffee and getting dressed, you can start your day on the right track. On the flip side, if you focus on Gratitude while brushing your teeth and getting ready for bed, the things closest to your heart will be the last thing on your mind before you go to sleep.
Practicing gratitude, no matter how big or small, gifts us the opportunity to hold space for more good things. The more we focus on good, the more good happens. Actively choosing to stay in a thankful mindset creates more things to be grateful for. Like the quote above, “Gratitude brings peace for today.”
Tomorrow’s Future
Gratitude allows us to make sense of our past and find peace for today, and it also aligns us with our future: Our future goals, relationships, and even our future selves. Gratitude casts a vision for our future because it reminds us that there is always something to be thankful for. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but one thing we can be sure of is that there is always an opportunity for something good.
So as we enter the holiday season, as you’re preparing for holiday meals and shopping, family gatherings, or work events, be sure to take some time out of your day to reflect on all the goodness around you. If you look for good, goodness reveals itself. And that is something we can all be thankful for this season.
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Are you or a loved one in need of addiction treatment care but unsure where to begin or what type of treatment is needed? We are happy to assist you every step of the way. We invite you to call us at (877) 697-1383 to learn more about our 14 locations from Houston to Austin’s Hill Country and our full continuum of care ranging from Detox through Aftercare. Together, we can THRIVE in recovery.