BrandView
This story is sponsored by Renaissance Ranch. Learn more about Renaissance Ranch.
Addiction grabs hold of the strong and pure in heart just as vigorously as it does the young and reckless, stripping each person down to someone they and their loved ones cannot recognize. Addiction makes the humble defiant, the confident weak, and the soul seekers into lonely shells of what they once were.
But, just as completely devastating as it is to see what addiction can do to a person, it is equally as miraculous to witness recovery, especially when completed with the key aspect of spirituality.
But what is spirituality?
Many see spirituality as something that is only tied to religion. This is often off-putting and deters addicts from seeking help from spiritual-based treatment centers.
It is important to know that to be spiritual, one does not need to have religion or even be religious.
Religion refers to common practices done within a particular group, whereas spirituality is achieved when one recognizes a power beyond his or her own, with a goal to seek purpose in life and to connect with things that are often unexplained. Spirituality is seeking love, finding love and reciprocating love to people and the environment around you.

Why is spirituality important in addiction recovery?
Spirituality is important in addiction recovery because addiction can make people selfish, rendering them unable to see beyond themselves, disconnecting them from their own world and the world around them.
To fully recover from addiction, spirituality must be present. One must be able to look outside themselves to find a higher power beyond their own. They must connect with family and friends through forgiveness and love, search for a purpose in life that is beyond drugs and to pray or hope for strength to overcome the addiction that has taken control of their life.
How can one find spirituality when addiction has taken hold?
Finding spirituality amidst the all-encompassing darkness is a difficult step to take, but it is possible if you are willing.
You must be humble and submissive, realizing that your life has become unmanageable on your own. You need to see that even in your depths of despair, that there is hope — a hope that comes when you put your trust in a power beyond your own. You must accept your weaknesses, seek forgiveness from others and look to forgive those whom you feel have hurt you, too.
To remain spiritually centered, daily prayer and meditation to seek healing and comfort will keep you focused on spiritual things even when addiction is calling your name.
If you or your loved one are searching for help with addiction recovery through a spiritually centered program, Renaissance Ranch has an experienced staff that can help. More than that, it knows that recovery is best achieved when spirituality is present and has a program centered on that.
For more information on how you can get help, go to renaissanceranch.net.
(In the app and can't see the quiz? Click here.)

