Resources for Finding Spirituality and Life Meaning in Recovery

Spirituality is a broad concept that means something different to everyone. In general, spirituality includes the search for meaning and purpose in life, making it a universal human experience. It may also involve cultivating a connection to something bigger than oneself, such as nature, the universe, humanity, God, or another higher power.

Because everyone connects to themselves, others and the world in different ways, different people respond to different spiritual experiences. One person’s spiritual practice may involve attending a place of worship, praying or reading from a holy text. Others may find solace in spending time in nature, considering a piece of art, or listening to music. There is no wrong way to be spiritual — what’s important is to find something that personally speaks to you and helps you find meaning in your experiences. In this way, definitions of spirituality need not remain fixed throughout a person’s life. In fact, most people’s idea of spirituality evolves and adapts as they are exposed to new perspectives and experiences.

Spirituality is often connected to larger questions about life, the human condition and personal agency. These may include:

1. What is the purpose of my life?
2. What does it mean to be a good person?
3. Why do I suffer?
4. Does everything happen for a reason?
5. How am I connected to the world around me?
6. What is the best way to conduct myself in the world?

Because the definition of spirituality means something different to everyone, it is often misunderstood as inaccessible or exclusively tied to religion. This confusion is understandable. Spirituality is often depicted in extreme ways that make it seem remote from everyday life and experience. But anyone who has ever thought of something as “meaningful” has engaged in spiritual practice. To be human is to interpret the meaning of our experiences — even the belief that life is meaningless is still an interpretation of experience.

While religion plays a key role in many people’s spiritual lives, spirituality is not exclusively tied to any religious organization or practice. Religion typically involves traditions, rites, rituals and the search for ultimate truth. Spirituality is a broader concept, including a more general search for personal meaning and interconnectedness. That being said, religion and spirituality are by no means entirely distinct from one another.

Benefits of Spirituality

Growing research suggests that spiritual practices don’t just help people find purpose and meaning in their lives — they can measurably improve physical health, mental health and overall well-being.

Meditation

Meditation typically involves self-regulating the mind’s normal internal monologue, either by breathing deeply, focusing on a specific point in space, or practicing mindfulness. Russel Brand, a comedian, actor, author and person in recovery described it as a “negotiation with your feelings.” In general, meditation is a range of practices used to promote relaxation, increase awareness and develop compassion for oneself and others.

If you’re new to meditation, it’s important that you take it slow at first. Set aside a few minutes to practice, gradually increasing the amount of time as you feel comfortable. Before beginning, find a comfortable position, either seated or lying down, where you will not be disturbed. While there are countless meditation techniques, the simplest involves focusing on the breath, the sensations of the body, or a single word. As you meditate, your thoughts will inevitably drift into your awareness. Try to acknowledge these non-judgmentally and take note of any patterns you notice, but do not engage with them — gently return your attention to the point of focus.

Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is simple — it means taking the time to feel thankful for the positive experiences in your life both big and small. While expressing gratitude is part of many religious and spiritual traditions, this process can also be incorporated into any belief system. Gratitude practices don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming, either; simply setting aside a few minutes every day to write in a gratitude journal or to verbally reflect on what made you feel grateful is all you need. Gratitude practices can also be extended to the people around you in the form of appreciative letters, cards or gestures.

Devotional Activities

Devotionals are any practices that help connect individuals with a higher power or feeling of transcendence. For those who are religious, this could mean regularly going to a place of worship, reading passages from a holy book, repeating mantras, singing sacred songs, or praying to a higher power. For others, devotionals may consist of activities traditionally seen as secular, like listening to music, spending time outside, or contemplating a piece of art. While some devotional activities require that you travel to a specific place, most can be done in the comfort of your own home or neighborhood.

Yoga

A spiritual tradition that began in India about 5,000 years ago, yoga is an integral practice in religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. However, yoga can be practiced in the absence of any particular religion. While it is most often thought of in Western cultures as a mindful practice involving stretching, breathing and moving through a series of poses (asanas), it is part of a greater philosophical system that includes:

• Meditative practices
• Visualization exercises
• Chanting
• Selfless acts of service
• Moral rules discouraging against things like stealing, harming oneself and others, and lying

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to attend classes to begin a yoga practice. Yoga can be done in the your own home with only a other comfortable surface to practice on. Be sure to start out small, beginning with short sessions that incorporate comfortable, simple poses. Gradually work your way up to more difficult sequences to avoid injury. A good place to begin would be the sun salutation sequence, which strings together some of the most basic and fundamental yoga poses like mountain pose, cobra, downward dog, and high lunge.

Journaling

An often overlooked practice, journaling can be one of the best ways to experience spirituality and parse out the meaning of experiences. Setting aside time every morning or evening to contemplate daily events can help you reconnect with your inner life, better understand your own thoughts and feelings, and remain mindful throughout the day. It can make it easier to sympathize with others, too. Instead of taking to heart the small ways others hurt you, journaling gives you the space to consider the greater context of their motivations, making it easier to empathize with the roots of their actions. In this way, journaling helps you treat yourself, others, and perhaps the world, more gently.

The causes of addiction are as complex and multifaceted as the people who experience it. People develop substance use disorders for different reasons, but addiction often stems from a place of emptiness, dissatisfaction or trauma. Drugs and alcohol provide an escape from life’s hardships, and allow those struggling to forget their problems and find temporary solace. But there is no true satisfaction or safety in substance use.  

Recovery is an opportunity for people to reexamine their beliefs and live life in a new, more meaningful way. That search for meaning and greater purpose is in its essence a spiritual journey, though people can choose to describe it in different terms. By participating in spiritual activities throughout this formative time, individuals in recovery can build a solid foundation of meaning to fall back on in difficult times.

For many people, the “higher power” central to the 12 steps is God. For others, it’s something not grounded in religion, like nature, humanity, or the oneness of all things. While 12-step programs are the most common way to bring spirituality into recovery, they are by no means the only way. Incorporating spiritual and meaning-seeking practices like meditation, devotionals, yoga and journaling into an addiction treatment program without the use of the 12-steps can be just as valuable. This is because these activities allow people to become in tune with their innermost desires, better understand their reasons for using substances, and find renewed meaning in a drug-free life.

Benefits of Spirituality in Recovery

Spiritual practices can be beneficial to everyone, but they are particularly useful and vital for those in recovery. In many cases, the allure of drugs and alcohol as ways to cope with life’s difficulties can be nearly impossible to resist without a framework of meaning to fall back on. When you can make sense of suffering in a meaningful way and take constructive, healthy steps to work through hardships, you’re more likely to stay successful in recovery.

Spirituality at The Recovery Village

Spirituality and the search for life meaning are integral parts of treatment at The Recovery Village. Our primary goal is to help each client understand the causes of their substance abuse and find renewed meaning in a drug-free life. Individual therapy, group discussion and other reflective practices build a stable framework for sobriety that can continue long after treatment.

*Activities not offered at all facilities

By participating in spiritual and life meaning activities during the rehabilitation process, clients cultivate a source of support, comfort and clarity that they can continue to practice outside our center. Private reflective activities, guided classes or spiritual communities can be useful for fostering this sense of meaning during the continual experience of recovery outside formal treatment.

A stable network of support is essential to the recovery process. As the friend or family member of someone going through rehab, you can be a vital source of encouragement and stability. If your loved one has chosen to incorporate spirituality into their healing, it’s important that you accept and respect their journey. It’s difficult for someone to truly dive into a spiritual practice or fully commit to recovery if they suspect those close to them will judge them for it. Support can also come from drug and alcohol treatment centers in Rochester, NY to across those the United States.

If you harbor any resentment or anger toward your loved one, you may want to consider the ways spiritual practices could help you, too. Meditative practices, journaling, devotionals, and other methods of contemplation can help you better understand and empathize with your loved one, and make it easier for you to move past any negative experiences you had with them when they were under the influence of substances.

Are you or someone you love ready to break free from the shackles of addiction? Treatment at The Recovery Village could connect you to renewed meaning and purpose in a life free from drugs and alcohol. With centers located across the country in Florida, Colorado, Washington and Ohio, The Recovery Village is committed to helping you heal. Intake coordinators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call. Reach out today.