Look at these definitions of spirituality. Which ones describe what spirituality means to you?
Spirituality is
1. A person’s relationship with God
2. The deepest level from which a human being operates
3. The philosophical context of a person’s life (values, rules, attitudes, and views)
4. The same as religion
5. Other:_______________________________
The second and third definitions describe spirituality in a broad sense. When it comes to recovery, these broad definitions are the most useful way to think of spirituality. They describe being spiritual as having to do with a person’s spirit or soul, as distinguished from his or her physical being. Some people believe the level and degree of spirituality in a person’s life help determine the quality of life. One way to assess the quality of your spirituality is by answering the following questions:
What do you want from life? Are you getting it?
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On what is your spiritual security based? (What would it take to destroy your sense of self-worth?)
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Who do you have to be before you approve of yourself? (What qualities are most important to you?)
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What does success mean to you? (What does “making it” mean?)
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To live an abstinent life, the person in recovery has to be comfortable within himself or herself. Gaining a sense of spirituality gives many people the
inner peace that makes abusing substances unnecessary. Twelve-Step and mutualhelp programs provide one way to gain or regain a love of oneself and of life.