Spiritual Growth
Recovering from your addiction is not just about going to therapy and meditating but to have faith in yourself. By finding yourself in a spiritual sense is about developing coping habits to learn how to live with your struggles instead of being controlled or negatively affected by them. By allowing yourself to spiritually grow during your recovery, you can achieve inner peace, balance, and harmony in your life.
There are many steps that you learn in Alcoholics Anonymous that will help you connect with your spiritual side. For example, step two is believing that a power greater than yourself can restore your sanity. This step teaches you that you are not alone and that a Higher Power can help you conquer your addiction. It is about ending the old life you had and committing yourself to any faith you choose. It does not matter what you believe in. Only that you are open to the idea of a Higher Power to help you. Even if you do not believe in God, there is always something to believe in such as music, Buddha, nature, love, humanity, or in what is taught in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Step three is to make a decision to turn your will and life over to God as you understand Him. Instead of thinking about giving yourself over to your Higher Power, you are actually doing it. You begin to use the serenity prayer “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done.” This step takes faith one step further and helps give you the strength to let something greater than yourself.
Step five is to admit to God, yourself, and another human the exact nature of your wrongs. This step helps you avoid the worst parts about yourself and how to forgive yourself for the wrong you have done. You can reveal what is most distressing not just to your Higher Power but to the person you trust the most. It is also very important to be open to the advice given to you.
By the time you get to step twelve, you should be able to continue your journey into life with understanding and acceptance. You would be in the position where you can help others who are on the same journey.
Castle Craig Hospital is a landmark of addiction and mental health treatment in Scotland, serving the UK, the EU, and patients from all over the world. Our commitment to long term abstinence has created a successful program of clinical and complementary therapies for mind, body, and spirit. Serving over 10,000 patients for more than 25 years, the Castle Craig model is proven in changing lives. Call our 24 hour free confidential phone-line for information: 01721 546 263. From outside the UK please call: +44 808 271 7500
