With the challenges, stresses, and emotional obstacles that are prevalent at any stage of addiction recovery, having a core set of beliefs and goals is paramount. While each individual will have their own personal beliefs throughout recovery, embracing some kind of spiritual component can be wholly transformational. However, each individual’s journey with spirituality will be just as unique. Exploring the role of spirituality in recovery can empower those in recovery to best embrace their own spiritual center throughout their recovery efforts and daily sober life.
Understanding Spirituality in Recovery
Spirituality can be an enigmatic term for many, especially with the wide array of ways in which each person may develop their spiritual beliefs and practices. The term itself references any kind of belief, practice, or combination therein that connects an individual to any kind of higher or metaphysical power and explores how such beliefs affect a person’s perception of themselves, their thoughts, behaviors, and more. These beliefs also can help those in recovery shape their worldview and perspectives, all while informing effective self-care practices and guiding daily routines.
This definition is left intentionally vague, as there can be many different ways an individual may approach their own best spiritual practices. Each individual may feel their own connection to a greater power or purpose in their own way. Having the opportunity to explore how spirituality can uniquely manifest for each individual throughout recovery is part of its transformative and powerful experience.
The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion
Spirituality and religion can often be compared to each other, and there can be an overlap between the two. For some, the belief in a greater power can come in the form of religion, placing God at the forefront of their healing. However, this is not necessary for all people, nor is there any one particular religion that is somehow “better” than another throughout recovery.
While embracing a religious component can empower those in recovery to explore new communities, forgiveness, and perspectives – and provide a better sense of belonging in recovery – these goals can also be accomplished by constructing each person’s own spiritual beliefs. Those who are agnostic or atheistic can still explore the spiritual component of recovery and accomplish these same goals. Whether a person is exploring a belief in a higher power, their spiritual connection to the natural world, or any other form that their spiritual practices may take, engaging in spiritual healing is always a personal journey that never has to overlap with any kind of religious denomination.
The Benefits of Spirituality in Recovery
Dedicated recovery programs can empower those in recovery to explore new spiritual practices in a safe and supportive environment. While each person may have their own reservations or notions regarding their spirituality when beginning their journey to sobriety, professional treatment and support can provide a plethora of ways to explore spirituality and ensure that each individual is able to find the practices that best allow them to further their own sober goals.
Challenging Harbored Beliefs
One of the greatest advantages of embracing spirituality in recovery comes in its ability to challenge negative thought patterns. Feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and more can all fundamentally embed themselves in a person’s perspectives through the use of drugs and alcohol, especially in a person’s perceptions of self-worth. Spiritual practices can instead create honest, uplifting thoughts and new perspectives to challenge these notions. Such practices can replace harbored self-destructive tendencies or beliefs with newfound direction or purpose that can inform the best practices for ongoing sober efforts.
Guiding Ongoing Recovery
Navigating a person’s continued sobriety in dedicated outpatient care can be difficult, with a myriad of stresses, challenges, hurdles, and more. Creating a basis of spiritual beliefs and practices can help an individual guide their own continued success in sobriety.
For some, utilizing mantras can be instrumental, while others may embrace daily spiritual exercises like meditation or yoga that can emotionally prepare them for the day ahead. Having a set of core beliefs can also help those in recovery gauge their actions and ensure they are always acting in their own best interests. This can provide beliefs that can eliminate unnecessary exposure to high-risk situations while challenging unhelpful or self-destructive thoughts.
Creating a Feeling of Belonging
Feeling connected to others or the world around oneself is a powerful experience. However, prevalent feelings of isolation and self-isolation tendencies that manifest throughout addiction can compromise these feelings of belonging. Exploring spiritual practices can help those in recovery emotionally connect to the world around them by exploring what it means for them to be part of something greater, both fostering social skills and a healthy approach to their own worldview.
However, others may also explore belonging in their daily lives as a result of finding others who share similar spiritual practices or ideas. Creating groups and atmospheres based around continued communal healing or common goals in recovery can foster healthy spiritual healing and practices, all while facilitating continued success in sobriety.
Spirituality in recovery is a crucial part of a truly holistic approach to healing, and the professionals available at Redpoint are prepared to help you explore your options for spiritual healing while also supporting you through daily challenges and exercising new therapeutic modalities. With multiple locations across Colorado, we are committed to creating a community and atmosphere of sobriety, ready to address your individual needs for spiritual healing while also working closely with the local communities to continue fostering this culture of healing and sobriety. From experiential therapies to spiritual guidance and care, recovery at Redpoint considers all of your needs and goals for a healthier life. For more on how we can help you, call us at (303) 710-8496.
