Spirituality and Addiction Written by Andrey Rossin Our approach to Divine intervention is very simple: It happens. Why and how? Now that’s a more complicated question. The work that we do atInto Action involves a series of necessary breakthroughs that are vital for one to achieve a psychic change, a spiritual experience sufficient to recover from alcoholism—not one breakthrough but a series, starting with a person opening up and surrendering to the process. Most of us have no clue what this entails or what is going to be expected of us, but it has to begin with openness. I don’t know what I don’t know, and that is so true. But unless I get involved and start digging, I won’t ever find out where I am selfish, dishonest, self-seeking, and frightened. Until I face myself as I truly am, I will be stuck with what I’ve been, and where has that gotten me? On a ventilator, or just an emotional wreck, or totally isolated, surrounded by people that just don’t understand or can’t relate—the list goes on and on.
So I start with a simple conclusion: I have a problem and I can’t fix it myself. Wow! I knew there was a problem, but admitting that I myself can’t do anything about it? Hmmm… that would be admitting failure. So, is it back to oblivion, or is there a glimpse of hope in the admission of failure? Is it possible that admitting defeat could be the beginning of the solution?
What we do has hardly anything to do with any religion and has everything to do with one believing that there is a Power that can restore or bring one to sanity. What’s that, are you telling me I’m nuts? Well, thanks for sharing. Some call that power God, some call it Group Consciousness, and some call it Creative Intelligence. It is irrelevant as long as I am open to help and actively ask for it, willing to
take action as directed because I have recognized the truth about my condition: I can’t solve my own problem because I don’t have all the answers. And with this recognition comes the willingness to jump with both feet into the process.
Semantically, this is all super-simple: I’ve got a problem, I can’t fix it, I’m asking for help, and I am willing to do something about it, right? There’s no work involved in this—nada; just the conceptualizing that we alcoholics and addicts are so good at. Now, my next step is Into Action, otherwise I am back in my misery.
Before I conclude, I would like to offer an example. When you go into the army, you follow the drill sergeant’s commands: you just do it, like the Nike slogan, and the same is true here. You’ve been telling yourself for too long that you can do it yourself, and look where that’s gotten you. It’s time to embrace change and do the work, and that will involve rigorous action—yes, tedious, rigorous action— and unless you do, absolutely nothing will ever happen!
What are you thoughts about spirituality and recovery? Do you know others with different or similar experiences? Continue the discussion on Facebook and be sure to like our page.