Recovery can have so many ups and downs, with heart wrenching moments where it feels nothing will ever be ok again. In these difficult times, I find it helpful to seek out small moments that can bring us grounding, joy and gratitude.

A simple “joy points” journaling practice can be an easy way to start seeing the gifts of recovery and what makes life worth fighting for! Start journaling about what brings you joy, it can be the simplest things in the world: a cup of warm coffee outdoors, your dog resting it’s head in your lap, the sound of birds chirping, anything, try to bring at least one of these things on your list into your every day routine. At the end of each day try to think of at least three things that brought you joy. These are your joy points for the day.

Soul moments are a concept I was taught while working at Monte Nido, and is a moment where you feel completely present and feel completely yourself. It doesn’t have to be a happy moment, but just a time that you feel truly able to be present and alive. It might not seem like it, but we have soul moments everyday, just tiny moments where maybe someone held the door for you, or you noticed a sunset,  or had a heartfelt conversation, it doesn’t need to be profound. Try jotting down some soul moments, keep a running list.

Gratitude lists are a therapeutic tool as old as time, but only recently did I start getting into them. Write down some things you’re thankful for right now in this moment. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

I bet it’s more than you even realized isn’t it?! I have been trying to do this daily (ahem- ok, maybe a few times a week) and have found it super helpful in boosting my mood.

These simple concepts can do so much for our mental health and our mood, take five minutes a day to utilize one of these tools, and notice the benefits over time!

Just a snap shot into what brings me joy:

My Dog Lima Bean 🙂