A Beginner’s Guide: Meditation in Recovery
Meditation can sound intimidating, but at its heart, it’s simply the practice of pausing — of giving your mind and body a chance to rest, reset, and reconnect. In recovery, meditation becomes a powerful tool for calming cravings, easing stress, and creating space between a trigger and your response. You don’t have to “empty your mind” or sit perfectly still; meditation is about presence, not perfection.
Getting started can be as simple as focusing on your breath for a few moments, noticing the way air moves in and out of your body. Or it might mean listening to a guided practice, repeating a calming phrase, or even walking slowly and paying attention to each step. What matters most is consistency, not length. Even five minutes a day can begin to shift how you feel and how you respond to life’s challenges.
The beauty of meditation in recovery is that it meets you exactly where you are. Some days you may feel restless, other days deeply calm — both are part of the process. With practice, meditation becomes less about “doing it right” and more about learning to sit with yourself in compassion and acceptance.
Journaling Prompts: Meditation in Recovery
What comes up for me when I imagine sitting quietly with my thoughts and breath?
How could even a few minutes of meditation fit into my daily rhythm?
What might I hope to gain from starting a meditation practice in recovery?
How do I usually respond to stress, and how might meditation shift that response?
What would it mean to me to create a moment of stillness in my day?
Closing Affirmation
“Meditation is my moment to pause, breathe, and begin again. In stillness, I discover strength, clarity, and renewal.”
