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The road to recovery can feel long and lonely, particularly as you set out to find your new path on this journey through life. Generally, when faced with overcoming addiction, quality of life is low, stress levels are high and your social circle may need to be redrawn (due either to bad influences or the relationship damage caused by the struggles that accompany addiction). At the time you need people the most, they may be the hardest to find and connect with, especially as your habits change.

Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide a good starting point, both socially and philosophically, but many potential participants feel alienated by the religious-focused parts of the program. Spirituality doesnt need to be defined as religious, however, and there are many non-12 step programs that offer holistic approaches as essential components of the healing process.

According to Dr. George Cave of Malibu Hills and Prominence Treatment Centers, two non 12- step rehab facilities in California, There are some who assume spirituality is the same as belief in God as expressed by traditional religious institutions. This is NOT the case. When understood as a power greater than self, spirituality can be thought of as an existing sober community or as an individually defined sense of connectedness or wellness that contributes to ongoing recovery, health and happiness.

The spiritual experience of connectedness comes in all shapes and sizes for some it is in fellowship with others, others experience it in the solitude of nature, still others experience spirituality when participating in acts of service.

So, if spirituality doesnt look like Bible study on a Sunday, what could it look like instead? The true intention of spirituality on a macro level is really to focus on the nourishment of your soul and spirit. Still pretty abstract, right? But at a time when youre looking to build a new foundation for life, perhaps abstract is just what the doctor ordered your prescription is to seek out healthy habits that make you happy and recognize that happiness with a certain sacred gratitude.

Theres a sense of fellowship in spirituality, whether youre sitting in the same cathedral or carrying out the same rituals alone but with a sense of belonging to something bigger. Find your own congregation is it at an AA meeting? A yoga class? A Meetup group for film aficionados? An organization volunteering to change the world? What would you feel better for having done? Seek out people to do that with, and form a common bond thats stronger than the tenuous connections formed from bad habits. The companionship and mentorship from others is incredibly important to living well.

"The companionship and mentorship from others is incredibly important to living well."

Human beings are biologically hardwired to be socially engaged, says Dr. Cave. The sense of connection and healthy interdependence are hallmarks of mental health. Spirituality can be thought of as an expression of these profound human needs, promote sobriety, global health and well-being.

Sounds great in theory, right? But its all too easy to lose sight of the urgency and importance of incorporating spirituality into your recovery when you feel overwhelmed with new emotions, circumstances and realizations it may even feel self-indulgent to dedicate time to seek out pleasure when doing so through addiction has consumed your life. A complete absence of joy isnt likely to lead to lasting contentment or peace either, however, so replace your negative patterns with positive influences.

Spirituality offers people the opportunity to deepen into the wonder and awe of everyday living in ways that may be difficult to put into words but are nonetheless apparent when experienced, says Dr. Cave.

Here are some of Dr. Caves observations on the lesser-known advantages of living a more spiritual life: Sober people who engage in daily spiritual practice, consistently over time, often report a variety of enhanced experiences colors seem more vivid, emotions resonate more deeply, people, places or things they never appreciated or took for granted in the past now seem to suddenly take on new significance and vibrancy.

According to the book How God Changes Your Brain, recent breakthroughs in neuroscience confirm that people who engage in daily spiritual practice (with or without a belief in God) appear to strengthen centers in the brain responsible for contentment, emotional resilience, improved mood, better and longer global health, and relationships proving a biological benefit to connecting with your sense of spirituality. Even something as simple as a daily meditation practice could be a good starting point and isnt difficult or costly to start with the plethora of meditation apps and videos available for free.

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Redefining Spirituality on the Road to Recovery - Beliefnet