The concept of sobriety often conjures up images of an individual involved in traditional alcohol or drug abuse recovery: abstinence, a 12-step program, weekly meetings, and counseling. But there is a crucial aspect to recovery that is often overlooked—spirituality.
Spirituality is an essential part of living a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and when it comes to sobriety, it is necessary to make spiritual goals part of your recovery plan. Studies have shown that individuals who focus on spiritual and meaningful activities in recovery are more likely to remain sober over time and on average more satisfied with life.
Spiritual goals can relate to any aspect of spirituality that you find meaningful and brings hope and purpose into your life. It can be anything from setting aside dedicated time for prayer or meditation to performing acts of service. It’s important to create goals that are attainable but still stretch you to grow. Goals could range from reading spiritual books to attending a place of worship to taking part in a spiritual retreat.
No matter what spiritual goals you set for yourself, they should be tailored to your unique circumstance. You should think about activities that will bring comfort and inner peace to your particular life situation. A goal to practice daily serenity prayer, for example, might help those who have experienced trauma, while goal to attend daily Mass might be useful for those devoutly Catholic.
Even non-religious individuals can set spiritual goals that are meaningful to them. Setting goals to take time to sit outside and enjoy nature each day, practice yoga, or try aromatherapy can be as meaningful as any traditional spiritual practice.
As you practice sobriety, it’s also important to reflect on your spiritual goals and how progress is being made. If you are struggling with a particular goal, it might be time to assess why that is and re-evaluate if the goal is necessary for your sobriety. By reflecting and readjusting goals if necessary, you’ll be able to make sure that your spiritual goals are in line with your overall recovery plan.
Finally, it’s essential to recognize your progress. Rewarding yourself for achieving each spiritual goal is an important way to feel positive about your recovery and to maintain your resolve. For example, if you successfully meditated for a month, give yourself the gift of a new book or a special outing.
Setting spiritual goals is an essential part of sobriety that should not be overlooked. With dedication and hard work, meaningful and fulfilling spiritual goals can have an impactful role in helping you to stay sober and truly enjoy a life of sobriety.