Many people assume religion and spirituality are one in the same, but in reality are completely different. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, religion is defined as “the belief in and worship of a god or gods, or any such system of belief and worship” and spirituality is defined as “the quality that involves deep feelings and beliefs of a religious nature, rather than the physical parts of life”.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is seen to be important in recovery because it requires the individual to act the complete opposite as they once were while deep in their addiction.
Consider this, when an individual is deeply involved in their addiction they are solely focusing on their addiction and blocking out all other connections. They pull back from everyone, live in denial, and most of all they refuse to take account for any actions that affect the world around them. They refuse to seek personal improvement and learn new things to better their lives.
With the individual’s main focus being where they are going to get their next fix from, their life remains stationary without any desire for change or advancement. This perpetuating cycle results in becoming trapped and the continuation of the same selfish behavior. Spirituality is focused on personal growth and evolving into a person that is self-empowering and open to change. The individual must open themselves to the will and power of transformation while recognizing and being grateful for everything the individual has.
When seeking spirituality it requires the individual to be conscious of their current nature and evaluate the importance of their life and what makes life worth valuable. It creates a means of personal evaluation with the intentions to give inner peace for both mind, body, and spirit. Everything happens for a reason and life’s events will unfold the same way.
Opening Ourselves Up
Spirituality can never be forced but must come from within and is always different from one individual to the next. It is found deep inside and self-defined and sought through temple, church, or other religious entity, but most importantly that it is a higher power that aids in finding perspective and helps fill the gap which was being filled by drugs and alcohol.
Seeking a new found life through a spiritual mindset ultimately reinforces an individual’s comprehension on the meaning and purpose for being alive and a life full of purpose coincides with a life of recovery and long-term sobriety.
The past is nothing to regret. But the future is in your hands! With the right support system in place, many addicts find themselves conquering what they thought was an impossible struggle. If you or someone you love is battling substance abuse and is ready to get help, give us a call at (888) 923-7623 today to begin the journey to recovery!