“Invite The Gift of Recovery to accompany your journey home to your- self. 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 prin- ciples I believe are essential in achieving long-term recovery. It is an easy read that identifies issues that lead to relapse, and provides prac- tical 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 mind- fulness skills and multiple affirmations for each day of the week. They make the reader feel that they are with the intelligent and compas- sionate 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 the gift of recovery 52 Mindful Ways to Live Joyfully Beyond Addiction REBECCA E. WILLIAMS, PhD JULIE S. KRAFT, MA, LMFT New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 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 pub- lisher 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? —M ary Oliver Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Section 1: Beginning Your Mindful Recovery 1 Welcome to a New World 8 2 Understanding Meditation 12 3 A Mindful God-b ye to Adiction 16 4 Mastering the Breath 20 5 Siting Stil 24 Section 2: Emotions 6 Geting Comfortable with Mods 28 7 Gratitude for Felings 32 8 Sothing Anger 36 9 Releasing Fear 40 10 Acepting Everyday Frustration 4 Section 3: Especially Strong Emotions 1 What to Do with Especialy Strong Feelings 50 12 When Emotions Get Stuck 54 13 Honoring and Releasing Old Ways of Coping 58 14 Leting Pain Be Pain, Not Sufering 62 15 Self-C ompasion 67