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Always look for the silver lining. Keep your chin up. Just keep smiling. There are a million motivational posters, sayings, and memes available at the press of a button or two, but why are they so popular? The fact is that positive thinking is actually beneficial in a number of ways. Positive thinking is a tool that can be used to help get through the toughest days of early recovery and continue to help long term. Read on to learn the benefits of positive thinking as well as ways to help keep you positive over time.

First you must realize that positive thinking does not mean that you ignore life’s less than perfect moments. It instead means that you approach any unpleasantness with a productive and positive way of thinking in which you expect the best outcome, not the worst. So much of the world takes a glass half empty approach to life when the benefits of seeing the glass as half full are scientifically documented. A few of the known health benefits of positive thinking include an increased life span, lower rates of depression, better physical and psychological well being, and better overall coping skills. Any one of these benefits would be enough reason to give positive thinking a try, but all combined make something as simple as changing your mindset, a no-brainer.

Though positive thinking is as simple as changing the way you think, it is often a challenge for those who are in recovery. Addiction can alter the way the brain processes situations and thoughts that we take in each day. It can take time, consistency, and practice to break this negative thinking cycle. In fact, you will still think negatively, probably often. When a negative thought occurs, try changing the negative to a positive immediately. Something simple such as oh no it is raining again to the plants will grow well this year. As you practice this daily, positive thinking will become a habit. You should also learn to perceive more and judge less so that you can learn more about others and yourself. Take time to just listen when others speak and observe as you go through life. Often we waste words when silence would do much more good in the situation.

If you do find yourself in a negative situation or one in which something needs to be said, take time to compliment the person on a positive in the midst of the craziness. It may not seem like much but this small compliment can greatly alter how things proceed. A calm and kind word can defuse highly stressful situations if handled correctly.

As you start to change take note of what is working in your life and stick with it. There is no need to focus on what is not broken in the early stages of recovery. In relation to this, remember that you are not perfect. If you do start thinking negatively then simply alter the thought, we all make mistakes. The overall goal is to better yourself, not become perfect as that is unrealistic and unattainable.

Finally, have the courage to face and overcome your fears. Even when things look grim you can have the faith to believe they will get better. If you are going forward, just keep moving in the same direction.

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Addiction creates a lonely dichotomy for users. It is often that we are surrounded by fellow users, gamblers, and addicts, but the disease itself is excruciatingly lonely.  Addiction, in any form, is the loneliest disease. We are typically our own worse critics when it comes to addiction. In fact, we tend to create a vicious cycle in which we turn to drugs, alcohol, or other addiction to combat loneliness and then become more lonely due to the same addiction. When you are lonely, especially over time, you can lose hope and isolate yourself to wallow in self pity, but moving out of this isolation vortex is possible when in recovery.

Try a few of the following suggestions to move yourself out of the isolation of addiction into the freedom that can be found in recovery.

One suggestion is to take time to mourn the loss of drugs, alcohol, pills, or whatever your form of addiction may have been. This sounds odd, but it is something that can be beneficial to many. If you think about the main role your addiction played in your life then this activity makes sense. Addiction can become your best friend, the center of your life, and the first and last thought you have each day. While this is not healthy it means that addiction was a crucial part of your life. Even if it was unhealthy. As you enter recovery that large part of your life is removed and you must adapt. Take some time to mourn this change. Not obsess over it. But mourn all that must be altered in your life. Set a time limit on this mourning.

Take all the time you need to say goodbye to a life that was not doing you any favors.

It is likely that your addiction allowed or caused you to hurt others over time. If you can make amends to these people in some way do so. But only if it is not going to hurt them in other ways. If there are people that have been hurt that you cannot make amends with then allow yourself to make peace with your past and move on. Staying stuck in the guilt of the past will do you no good in moving forward in recovery. Everyone has a past, let yours remain there.

Disconnect with unhealthy relationships while connecting with healthier people online and in person. The great thing about technology is that there are literally millions of ways to connect to others over shared topics and concerns. Use technology to your advantage to further your recovery. Additionally, meet others in your area that are healthy or in long term recovery as a way to further your own. This means you need to cut off old, unhealthy relationships which can be difficult but is worth your new life.

Finally, build your own self confidence. Nothing will further your recovery more than growing as a person who is addiction free. Part of this will be through setting boundaries, building relationships, and changing routines. But for the most part learning to trust yourself will help you fight the loneliness and stay addiction free.

Addiction is a deadly disease that kills you slowly by choking out each part of your life that is not addiction related. You have made a bold choice to enter recovery and should do all you can to stick with your choice. You are worth the effort.

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Finding Joy through Healthy Habits – Recovery is full of changes, some will be simple, others will try your nerves for days on end. How you approach these good and bad days can help determine whether you manage to stay in recovery long term. This is why it is so important to create healthy habits that can bring you joy on the toughest of days. It may be that addiction once brought you joy, but healthier options are now much more important.

Recovery, especially the early stages can be stressful, but if you can find joy then you are more likely to make it into long term recovery. There are some ways to help find joy in recovery. If you use these tips and techniques than getting and staying clean and sober then they will become habit and bring joy throughout your life. Not all tips will work for everyone and as with any change you must adapt tips to fit your personal needs. The goal is to find healthy ways to relax and stay focused on recovery even when the day, week, or month, is going poorly. Read on and try some of the following techniques to make recovery a bit easy through joyful practices.

Start by focusing on your strengths, not weaknesses. It is easy to get bogged down in all you have done or cannot yet do when in early recovery. But you are making steps in the right direction. Focus on what you can do and are doing that is good so you can be the best you that you can be in life. You are so much more than your addiction. Whilst that may be the focus at the moment, hold tight to the other things in life you do well. As you are trying to stay positive, surround yourself with positive people. These people will both help you stay positive and focused on staying in recovery. It is hard to be unhappy around positive people.

Learn how to manage your stress. Each person handles stress differently and can handle different types and amounts of stress. Learn what you can handle and how to handle it in a healthy manner. If you need to make a daily checklist, schedule, or find help then do so. As part of this stress management, practice self-awareness. Know yourself and your reactions to different types of stress so you may be prepared ahead of time. This should include your whole self including thoughts, reactions, and physical states.

When you have the chance, try something new. You may find a new way to relax or learn something important. When these good times and opportunities come along, savor them. Sometimes finding something good once an hour, no matter how small, can make a huge difference. Finally, be grateful and count your blessings, big and small, as the good things will get you through the tough times. Finding joy can be as simple as watching a movie if you choose to find joy in the small things. What will you do to keep joy as part of your recovery journey?

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.