Practicing mindfulness in recovery is a great tool. So what is mindfulness? Psychology Today describes mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.” 
How can this help in your recovery? Practicing mindfulness in recovery can help manage stress and prevent relapse. It’s been proven effective for building coping skills that arise from various psychological issues and that are often the reason one turns to drugs and alcohol in the first place. Mindfulness can be a great tool in helping to overcome urges and cravings. By fostering mindfulness you might notice:
- That you feel more fully present in the here and now.
- Your self awareness grows and you feel more connected to the world around you.
- You become less reactive to unpleasant thoughts and feelings.
This new way of seeing yourself and the world is great in general, but especially in recovery because:
- You develop awareness of personal triggers and urges. In doing so, you learn ways to create a pause in this seemingly automatic reaction.
- Your relationship to what is uncomfortable changes. You learn how to recognize difficult emotions and experiences and respond to them in more skillful ways.
- You grow more compassionate and less judgmental towards yourself, your experiences, and the world around you.
According to LifeHack.org, here are ten small ways to help cultivate mindfulness on a daily basis:
- Live in the moment.
- Accept things as they are.
- Use the power of visualization.
- Practice mindful eating.
- Start your day without gadgets.
- Accept your weak points.
- Take small steps.
- Wait patiently.
- Free yourself from distracting thoughts.
- End your day on a positive note.
Practicing mindfulness can help you attain the goal of a healthy, long-term recovery. If you would like more information regarding where you can learn more about cultivating a more mindful life, please contact us at ReadyforRecovery@gmail.com.
