Being spiritual is not a requirement for addiction recovery, but it is exceptionally helpful. At The River Source, we’ve worked with many patients who entered treatment thinking that they could never be spiritual, but they surprised themselves. Spirituality is not the same as being religious, and you can be spiritual within a scope that is comfortable for you. In other words, there is no right or wrong way to be spiritual.
If you want to become more spiritual but aren’t sure how, we have 10 tips for getting in touch with your spiritual side. Before we get started, let’s explore why spirituality can be beneficial for recovery and your life in general.
Why Does Spirituality Matter?
Spiritual growth is a process that encourages us to let go of our false and unhealthy thinking patterns and replace them with a higher level of thinking. Through this process, you may be able to:
- Awaken your inner self
- Realize who you really are
- Develop inner power and strength
- Become stronger, happier and more responsible
- Get comfortable with the uncertain
- Be vulnerable to change
- Show gratitude for the things you have
- Be mindful of ordinary moments
- Establish honest relationships
10 Ways to Be More Spiritual – Now let’s talk about some of the ways that you can boost your spiritual growth:
- Read spiritual and uplifting books and magazines. Apply what you learn to your everyday life.
- Meditate each day for at least 15 minutes. If you don’t know how, there are many beginner meditation lessons in books, online or through instructors.
- Think positively by opening the door to positive thoughts/ideas and closing the door to negative ones.
- Understand that you are a spirit with a physical body and not the other way around.
- Celebrate the moments that make you feel present and alive.
- Develop patience and tolerance for others. See the good that people can bring to your life.
- Be grateful to the Universe for the things you have been given, whether it’s a beautiful fall day or an afternoon by the water.
- Devote some time to helping others. It reinforces your purpose in life.
- Be happy. Look at the bright side of things and do not let outside factors (i.e., people, money, status) determine your happiness. Happiness comes from within.
- Find constructive ways to make your mind quiet through concentration and deep breathing exercises.
Becoming spiritual is a wonderful path that is entirely unique to you. It’s also part of the mind-body-spirit connection that can greatly improve your chances for a healthy, happy and rewarding recovery.