Spirituality has a multitude of meanings. For me, it’s about having an understanding of what you as an individual believe and how you want to live. Of course this is never fixed, I have views and feel like I understand myself but I’m always learning new things and I am growing constantly, I look at views I had only a few years ago and how much they’ve changed. I’d like to just highlight my personal point of view on things. People have the right to believe whatever they want. Whatever spiritual ideas or religion, or indeed ideas that work for them. It doesn’t bother me what anyone believes, so long as they don’t try to force their ideas upon anyone else. I’m all about individual differences and I do take aspects of many religions into account but I’d say my religious beliefs are more towards Agnosticism more than anything. I’m not sure what’s out there, and I’m not going to pretend like I do but I am putting forward some simple ideas that maybe you might decide you can apply to help yourself or anyone else. It’s very difficult to try and remain focused, and not go off on too many tangents but here goes.
I don’t have any real answers, I feel like if I can understand myself as much as I can and work on trying to improve on my weaknesses and improve my strengths I will improve myself. I try to stay healthy by eating right, and exercising, and I try improve myself mentally by reading and trying to learn.
I love thinking about philosophy and looking at religion just to look at how different people think. I think there are multiple aspects from all sorts of avenues that I could take aspects from, at the moment I’m just trying my best at what I’m doing. It’s keeping me going, working now so I can relax at some point however far down the line that may be.
If I’m honest one of the main things I look to for philosophical meaning is music. I love listening to music and thinking about what the artist means. Blues music is my favourite, I don’t know why but it just sounds nice in my ears. I feel like it has a lot to say, Bob Dylan for example has a huge catalogue of songs that cover nearly any topic imaginable from “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” to “Masters of War” it really speaks to me. I can’t fully explain what I do or why, and really I wouldn’t try to. I believe that as long as I do my best, then I can’t be disappointed with myself. Whatever you belief just make sure you use it to push yourself forward. A little lyric to end with I think:
“Life’s already been hard enough, without you giving up on yourself. When you’re down at the bottom you know it only gets better.” Patrick Stump
This, to me says that sometimes things will go wrong and maybe we won’t be at our best, but as long as we believe in ourselves no matter how bad things get they will always get better.
Why Is Spirituality a Problem for People With Addictions?
By Elizabeth Hartney
Many people with addictions are put off getting help, because they have heard that there is a spiritual element to recovery, and they do not feel that they can function within a spiritual framework. The 12 step movement, with its focus on a higher power, can be particularly challenging. Some of the reasons that people with addictions feel strongly about this include:
Not having a religious background, and feeling uninformed about religion and spirituality.
Feeling that religion is about controlling people, and not wanting to be controlled or to be part of an approach that controls others.
Recognizing the role of religions in war and other atrocities, and not wanting to be associated with them.
Being an atheist -- believing that there is no God.
Being agnostic -- believing that there is no way of knowing whether God exists, so it is hypocritical to pretend you know that there is a God.
Having had an unpleasant or abusive experience with a member of a church or religious organization, particularly if they were in a leadership position.
Having experienced or witnessed such severe abuse, pain or suffering, that the idea of a God who could have prevented this makes no sense in any positive way.
Feeling uncomfortable with the idea that some religious doctrines associate human suffering with past failings or wrongdoings, and are somehow "deserved."
These are all valid reasons for rejecting or refusing involvement in a religious organization. But they do not, in themselves, exclude you from discovering your own spiritual path. Many people are able to connect their spiritual path with an organized religion, but many others do not require a "religion."