Discover Joy Through Hope & Gratitude

 “The root of joy is gratefulness.”— David Steindl-Rast

Over the last 12 months, GNR has explored the many facets of gratitude, with the intention this year of sharing more about what gratitude is and how transformational it truly can be for us all.

As someone who practices gratitude daily, and has adopted many different gratitude practices over the years, I have witnessed the power of gratitude firsthand and how transformational it truly can be.

Often when we come to the final few days of the year, it seems to be a natural time of self-reflection, considering where and how we have grown, evolved, and transformed in the last year. Sometimes maybe even focusing on our intentions for the year ahead of us. Often taking a look in the rearview mirror will allow you to see just how far you've come this year. Over the last 11 months, GNR has explored a few questions related to gratitude and the connections to other areas such as mindfulness, forgiveness, grace and humility, to help gain a greater understanding of the importance of a gratitude practice. So when reflecting on this year, it seemed fitting as we close out 2023, not necessarily to explore an answer to a question, but to explore a little more about how GNR came to be, where it is today, and our hopes for where it may go. So in December's GNR Blog, we will reflect on this, "how with gratitude, hope is possible, bringing us closer to experiencing joy."

"You can't really know where you are going until you know where you have been." - Maya Angelou

The mantra of "grateful never relapses" was born years ago, as I was sitting in a group therapy session while clients were sharing about the therapy assignment given to them for the week, to identify 1-2 things they were grateful for at the end of each day. As they went around the circle and shared, I noticed a common theme they all verbalized: how focusing on 1-2 things each day that they were grateful for helped them stay more present in the now and not as focused on the future or the past, and in some cases, it reduced cravings to use. This is when the phrase came to be, as I observed their shares and reflections, sharing with them my intuitive belief that "grateful never relapses." After that moment, many years ago, this mantra has become something I not only personally live by, but have continually shared. The intention last year as the GNR blog started and came to be, was truly one of sharing the belief that recovery from anything is possible for all, with a little bit of gratitude. If you reflect back on the tools shared this past year in the blogs, you'll notice gratitude was the foundation.

"Knowing where you are going is the first step to getting there." -Ken Blanchard

Just focusing on one thing you are grateful for can dissipate anxiety, help refocus your thoughts, and connect with what we have and not what we are missing. Yet the true gift of gratitude is what it brings us a little closer to when we practice it, and that is hope. Hope can often be something we feel is lost or not seen, it can be hard to reconnect to it when we are experiencing life's storms. There truly is always something to be grateful for, the air we are breathing, the smell of coffee, even something small such as this can have a profound impact on our thoughts and emotions, allowing us to see the hope within, the belief in the possibility.

Even with one little ounce of hope, one thing you are grateful for in the darkness, the light of hope shines in and helps make all things possible. Over the years, this is the one thing I have experienced, the true connection between gratitude and hope.

Hope by definition means to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true; fulfillment. Hope is a pretty powerful feeling alone, so just a small amount can truly transform our thoughts and beliefs. So our goal for GNR for 2023 was simple, create a community, a safe space for all, where the belief and mindset is one in which recovery is possible for everyone! A belief that through gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness of all that is around us and within us, recovery is possible. A belief that when we shift our awareness to come from a place of gratitude, even in the most challenging or darkest of times, Grateful NEVER Relapses! The hope for creating a brave and safe space to embrace everyone's recovery journey with gratitude. No matter what someone may be healing from, we hope you have found and will continue to find solace here and know you are not alone. So this is what, I hope and believe GNR has accomplished this year. With a little gratitude, hope is possible and seen, bringing us closer to experiencing joy.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” -Desmond Tutu

The common thread weaving all of our topics this year is connection. Being able to embrace gratitude allows us to connect to greater emotions and experiences. When we acknowledge the goodness in our lives, gratitude allows us to connect to something greater than ourselves, whether it is others, nature, or even a higher power. The true essence of gratitude is connection. 

One surprising takeaway I have reflected on is how sharing and writing about each of these topics related to gratitude has had an impact in my own life. As someone who would have honestly shared how gratitude was an important part of my own daily practices, I have noticed how reflecting each month with a more refined intention and topic to explore has again allowed me to further develop and refine my own gratitude practices and in turn, I have become even more present and mindfully aware. Again, empowering the internal belief and mantra that, grateful NEVER relapses!

“Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it.” —Barack Obama.

As we reflect on takeaways from this year, here are a few reminders that I feel are important as we begin to reflect upon our hopes for GNR in 2024.

What we tell ourselves matters. What type of power are we giving up with our words and thoughts? Are they negative or positive? One of the most significant points here is that we explored is how we don't necessarily have to believe it, it is possible to weather any storm you are experiencing, by saying "I can, and I will and I am." Our words are powerful, as shared in April's GNR Blog.

Both a growth mindset and a grateful mindset are choices; they are conscious decisions we make to move through to the other side. It is an intentional connection with the past (reflection) that embraces growth through gratitude in the present.

Grit and Gratitude help us in connecting to the growth mindset. Without the ability to grow and learn, we may feel stuck. Especially if we are in the midst of one of those life storms or seasons, as we discussed in several GNR blogs this year. By practicing both grit and gratitude, we open the door to improving our wellness and enriching our growth.

Gratitude compliments grace, as grace acts as the golden thread that truly connects and weaves this all together. Grace is an intentional action that we give or is given to us, helping to alleviate hardship, grace strengthens us. Grace is self-compassion, the process of turning compassion inward towards ourselves just as we often freely give compassion to others openly (Self-Compassion is Self-Love). When we turn grace inward, we learn to recognize our hardships as a part of the human experience, with kindness and compassion, it connects us to ourselves and others.

Humility is another important part of connection we have explored this year (Humble & Hungry for Gratitude). When we begin to ask for help when needed, we no longer see our problems as our own, but see ourselves as part of a greater human experience. This connection invites us to make a difference in the lives of others' and in turn, our own life.

"Joy is never tomorrow; it is always now." -Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

So this year, I hope that GNR has brought each of you a little closer to gratitude, feeling a little greater connection to the power of a gratitude practice and in turn, shining a bright light on the hope within. And that little glimmer of hope, that came from your connection with gratitude has ignited that little flame of joy within. As with gratitude, hope is possible, bringing us closer to experiencing joy.

While we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, we hope you have found some connection here over this past year, and we look forward to making more connections with you in 2024. Remember, we do not heal alone, we heal together, and I am grateful for each of you who have shared in the GNR experience this past year. Our healing work may feel singular at times, but its impact is collective. We look forward to bringing you more blog topics, as well as gratitude meditations, some merchandise as well as more giveaways in the year ahead.

Please remember if you subscribe to this blog, share it with a friend, tag someone, like it on LinkedIn, or follow Grateful Never Relapses on Instagram and/or Facebook, you will be entered into a drawing for the GNR giveaways in 2024. The final winner of 2023 will be posted on 12/30/23. The more you share and like, the greater your chances of winning. (You will be contacted via messenger or email to tell us where to send it.) Keep sharing the love, grateful beings!

Stay tuned for GNR 2024 Giveaways! Next year we will be sharing gratitude on a more frequent basis, so the more you share the greater your chances are at winning.

About Grateful Never Relapses

Welcome to a community where the belief and mindset is one in which recovery is possible for everyone! We believe that through gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness of all that is around us and within us, recovery is possible. When you shift your awareness to come from a place of gratitude, even in the most challenging or darkest of times, Grateful NEVER Relapses! The hope for this forum is to offer a brave and safe space to embrace your recovery journey with gratitude. Whatever you may be healing from, we hope you find solace here. We plan to share useful resources and tools to help you embody gratitude into your daily life. While we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, we hope you are able to share in the power of gratitude in your own healing journey and realize the doors it may open and the walls it may take down, while recognizing and embracing the power of gratitude within!

By: Laura Anne Pasker, LCPC, LMHC, CCTP, Owner & Clinician at Clarity Counseling Solutions, LLC and Chief Gratitude Gangster at Grateful Never Relapses