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| Overcoming Blocks to Spiritual Growth |
| Columns - Opinion | |
| Written by Michael Weiner, PhD, CAP | |
| Tuesday, 04 March 2008 | |
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Unlike religion, which is usually decided for us at birth, spirituality
is a more personal way of living. It means different things to
different people. This article reveals what actual patients have said during treatment, and how we, as a treatment team, tried to answer their challenges and move them to a place where at least the word spirituality did not become a block to recovery and sobriety. There are three points that are important in any discussion of spirituality, and in examining the obstacles in thinking a patient might face. 1. Asking for help. We believe that any discussion of spirituality involves the concept of “reaching out” — moving beyond ourselves and seeing that whatever spirituality is, it certainly is greater than who we are. Life, the world, is more than who we are as individuals, and spirituality involves reaching outside of ourselves for something, or recognizing something in others that we are unable to discover in ourselves. Often patients are asked the question, “How are you doing spiritually?” Responses vary from “I have none” to “I don’t know. I feel empty … so very lost.” When we follow up with a question like, “Why did you come into treatment?” the answer is always a variation on, “I needed help.” The “I needed help” response becomes the springboard to a conversation that suggests the possibility that reaching out to another human being for help is the beginning of a spiritual step. I can’t; You can; Will you help me? Want to read the entire article? Don't miss out...Subscribe now to Counselor Magazine—or buy the single issue! It's easy. Just follow the links below:
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Readers have left 2 comments. 2. Untitled Charles L Dick Jr, Unregistered It is only because God reached down to me first, that I can reach out to God. I was created for fellowhip and communion with my Creator and My Lord, however, I was born into this world with a curse that kept a great chasm between me ant that fellowship. It was an act of my will that destined me to addiction, but it was an ultimate act of love and sacrifice that has provided me with the means to fill the void of that chasm which was previously locked by my addiction. Today, the void is gone, and I have fellowship and life through my saviour. The same savior laid down His life for me to be freed from the curse. Just for today, the curse is lifted like it can and will be for "everyone" who regains his will through that same choice: "Life, and Life more abundantly, in fellowship with the great healer of lives. Thank you Lord, and Creator for the freedom I have received because I chose life once and forever! Posted 2008-05-24 19:55:26 1. Untitled Mauricio A. Zamarripa - ASAP Cas, Unregistered Spirituality for me has been about waking up! In the religious sense, when I was involved in the church, spirituality meant that everything about it was about the spirit. I don't think that there is a real meaning that everyone in recovery can relate to about spirituality. There is, I believe, as time in recovery continues, an understanding of the experience of spirituality. For me, everything that I do and experience comes from the core of myself (i.e., spirit). Reaching out to help someone else correlates with the first three steps of 12 step programming, but for people in recovery, it's reaching out to God, to begin the process of healing. Posted 2008-04-01 23:01:31              |
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