Gift of Recovery , livre ebook

“Invite The Gift of Recovery to accompany your journey home to yourself. You’ll meet no better guides to support your day-to-day recovery goals than authors Williams and Kraft. Their exercises, meditations, affirmations, and self-inquiry questions are grounded in their non-judging and compassionate understanding of addiction and recovery. This book will help you be kinder to yourself, even as you deepen your self-awareness and commitment to sobriety.”
—Amy Weintraub , author of Yoga for Depression and Yoga Skills for Therapists , and founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute
“ The Gift of Recovery is a well-crafted, beautiful illustration of the power of mindfulness in healing from addiction. From compelling examples to memorable metaphors, the authors use a conversational approach to appeal to their audience and simplify the often-confusing jargon of psychotherapy. Short chapters, organized as ‘gifts,’ compel the reader to redefine their view of the recovery process. Mindful exercises and affirmations help the reader transform thoughts into action. Audiences will find it helpful to use independently or as an adjunct to their work in therapy. Comprehensive, masterful, and approachable, Williams and Kraft have done it again, bringing together the best evidence-based concepts to addiction recovery in this one absolutely essential guide.”
— Gina M. Bongiorno, LMFT , manager of the co-occurring substance and eating disorder program at the University of California, San Diego’s Eating Disorder Clinic; and adjunct faculty member at the University of San Diego
“In today’s world focused on apps and technology, this ‘gift’ brings it back to the fundamental instruments needed to help keep my clients focused and being present. As a clinician, I am inspired to use this as a parallel process and enhance my skill set.”
—Jason R. Allison, SAP, ICADC, LAADC , licensed addiction professional and cofounder of National Therapeutic Alliance
“Sustaining recovery is a complex process—it involves learning skills that will help you get through tough moments, and figuring out how and when to implement them when you need them most. Even more than making healthy choices in the moment, sustaining recovery also comes to life when you learn to be kind, curious, and even forgiving of yourself along the way. The Gift of Recovery strikes that beautiful balance. Williams and Kraft teach practical steps while fostering a spirit of compassion that will facilitate you making choices that honor your values, needs, and goals in an effort to live beyond addiction.”
—Rachel Hershenberg, PhD , assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, and author of Activating Happiness
“ The Gift of Recovery presents a precious path into a new way of living for people recovering from any kind of addiction (or just struggling with life). Williams and Kraft were able to capture every scenario and situation that a person in recovery might face, and give them tools that could literally save their lives. They intimately know the world of addiction and its struggles as well as the way to recovery and its joys. I highly recommend this book.”
—Lynn Rossy, PhD , author of The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution , and executive director of Tasting Mindfulness, LLC
“If recovery is what you’re looking for, look right here. … Without question, The Gift of Recovery has become an integral part of my mindfulness practice and is already weaving its way into programming throughout my three organizations. Highly recommended for all those looking to say goodbye to addiction and hello to serenity.”
— Christopher Bennett, CADC-II, CIP, BRI-I , chief executive officer and founder, Chris Bennett Interventions; cofounder of the Chris Buro Foundation; and founder of Encore Recovery Solutions
“This is one of the few books I’ve read that zeros in on recovery principles I believe are essential in achieving long-term recovery. It is an easy read that identifies issues that lead to relapse, and provides practical anecdotes using mindful meditation techniques. A simple read of this valuable recovery material will be helpful in itself, but practicing the mindful meditation techniques will put learning into practice and optimize one’s comfort level in recovery.”
—Bob Tyler, BA, LAADC, CADC II , owner of Bob Tyler Recovery Services; CAADAC past president and CCAPP founding board member; LMU Extension faculty in the alcohol and drug studies program; author of Enough Already! ; and producer of the DVD, Craving and Relapse
“Kind, wise, and eminently practical, The Gift of Recovery provides powerful skills and practices to help transform the habits, urges, and thought patterns that keep you hooked in unhealthy behaviors. Rebecca E. Williams and Julie S. Kraft offer a generous toolbox of mindfulness skills to help you live your life with joy and freedom. A true gift!”
—Hugh Byrne, PhD , senior teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, cofounder of the Mindfulness Training Institute of Washington, and author of The Here-and-Now Habit
“This is the gift that keeps on giving. In The Gift of Recovery , Rebecca Williams and Julie Kraft provide the reader with fifty-two gifts to guide them through their recovery from addiction. I believe this book is a gift for everyone who struggles with leaving behind unhelpful and unhealthy habitual behaviors. Rebecca and Julie provide great mindfulness skills and multiple affirmations for each day of the week. They make the reader feel that they are with the intelligent and compassionate companions that we all need as we face the challenges on our journey to a healthier, joyful life. This is the best mindfulness book I’ve read in a long time. Give yourself this gift. You deserve it!”
—Michelle Skeen, PsyD , author of Love Me, Don’t Leave Me ; and host of Relationships 2.0
“ The Gift of Recovery will be a valuable guide for anyone wanting to incorporate mindfulness into your path of recovery from addiction.”
—Tim Desmond , LMFT , author of Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy and The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook

Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
The names and events in this book are fictional. Any likeness to real people is coincidental.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2018 by Rebecca E. Williams and Julie S. Kraft
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
Cover design by Amy Shoup
Acquired by Camille Hayes
Edited by Brady Kahn
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file
For Michael,
Thank you for this most amazing adventure.
—Rebecca
For Jennifer Salyer: we are forever grateful that you came into our lives.
For Sarah Nichter, the best friend on planet earth.
And for my Markley boys:
I wouldn’t ride this roller coaster with anybody else!
—Julie
Tell me, what is it you
plan to do with your one wild and
precious life?
— Mary Oliver
Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Section 1 . Beginning Your Mindful Recovery
1 . Welcome to a New World
2 . Understanding Meditation
3 . A Mindful Good- bye to Addiction
4 . Mastering the Breath
5 . Sitting Still
Section 2 . Emotions
6 . Getting Comfortable with Moods
7 . Gratitude for Feelings
8 . Soothing Anger
9 . Releasing Fear
10 . Accepting Everyday Frustration
Section 3 . Especially Strong Emotions
11 . What to Do with Especially Strong Feelings
12 . When Emotions Get Stuck
13 . Honoring and Releasing Old Ways of Coping
14 . Letting Pain Be Pain, Not Suffering
15 . Self- Compassion
Section 4 . Thoughts
16 . Minding Your Mind
17 . Changing Your Thoughts
18 . Tricky Addiction Thinking
19 . Tricky Recovery Thinking
20 . The Inner Bully
21 . Positive Thinking
22 . Racing Thoughts
Section 5 . Cravings and Triggers
23 . Awareness of Triggers
24 . Coping with Cravings
25 . Reconnecting to Cues
26 . Urge Surfing
Section 6 . Mindfulness Skills and Stress Relief
27 . Changing Your Perspective on Stress
28 . Progressive Muscle Relaxation
29 . Removing Unnecessary Stress
30 . Practicing Acceptance
31 . Decluttering Your Space
Section 7 . Cultivating Relationships
32 . Creating a Support System (and Using It)
33 . Relationships That Don’t Work
34 . Dating and Intimacy
35 . Telling Others About Your Recovery
Section 8 . I mproving Relationships
36 . Communicating Well
37 . Resolving Conflict Mindfully
38 . Resentment and Forgiveness
39 . Other People’s Feelings
Section 9 . Bonding with Your Body
40 . Love and Respect for Your Body
41 . Prioritizing Sleep
42 . Mindful Eating
43 . Mindful Movement
44 . Yoga and Recovery
Section 10 . Values and Self- Worth
45 . Knowing Your Worth
46 . Discovering What You Value
47 . Being Money Mindful
48 . Reconnecting to Work
Section 11 . Sustaining Joyful Recovery
49 . Recovering Each Day
50 . Playful Recovery
51 . Special Occasions
52 . Maintaining Recovery Over Time
Resources for the Road
References
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many clients, veterans, and family members who have shared their struggles and successes with us over