There’s a long standing characterization of someone who goes to treatment for drugs and alcohol. After spending thirty days or more in treatment, they find God, come to believe, and are restored. Today, the picture looks a little different. They go to treatment, do some therapy, practice a bunch of yoga and meditation, then come out zen in the end.
Spirituality is a major part of the recovery process because drug and alcohol addiction affect the self mind, body, and spirit. Defining spirituality and creating spirituality isn’t necessarily theistic. Commonly skipped over in the details of the 12 steps or other programs is that spirituality is what you make it. You get to choose what higher power you want to believe in, if you want to believe in one at all.
If there are different parts of different faiths you’re interested in, you get to mix and match to create your own. Unless you’re attending a specifically faith-based program, your faith is yours for the making. This is a unique approach to God and any kind of spirituality in recovery.
Take What You Want
You don’t have to use the word “God”. You don’t even have to be spiritual. You have to be open-minded and willing enough to look for what works for you. So far, you’ve relied upon drugs and alcohol to get you through. Addiction and alcoholism aren’t working for you anymore. Until you come up with the next best idea, it might be worth taking a look at what the various spiritual concepts of recovery have to offer you.
Pick and choose what you like, what makes sense, and what inspires you. Be open to looking even more deeply at what you don’t like, what doesn’t make sense, and what turns you off.
Leave What You Don’t
Everything that doesn’t work for you, after investigating, contemplating, and reflecting, you don’t have to hold onto. Before running away from recovery of any kind which involves spiritual talk, be willing to take a look. Be willing to leave behind what doesn’t work for you when you walk out the doors of a meeting or in a group therapy session.
Recovery is all about owning who you are. Defining your beliefs and putting yourself in situations to further the depth of those beliefs is the best way to do that.
Lakehouse Recovery Center includes integrative activities, non-recovery approaches, and varieties to the 12 step approach. We know that recovery is a different path for everyone. Your path to recovery starts here. Call us today for information on our residential treatment programs and 12 month aftercare at 877.762.3707.