Mar 20, 2018 | By Deborah Kavis

4 Signs You’ve Had A Spiritual Awakening

Recovery

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

Recovery is an intense process. No matter the pace at which you go, if you keep moving forward, you are headed in the right direction. Through the trials and tribulations of deep introspection, admission of powerlessness, and surrendering to your Higher Power, it may be difficult to realize or even accept when you’ve reached a spiritual awakening. Sobriety is a balance and fortunately there are different programs and guides to help your way. Though you might not see a change immediately, a lot of the time other’s will notice before you are even aware of your own change. Here are a few signs that will help you figure out how and when you’ve reached the point of a spiritual awakening.

You’ve Started Giving Back

Part of the recovery process is learning to help others. That is, once you have first learned how to help yourself. When you find yourself having reached a point of readiness to lend a hand to newcomers in your recovery program, it is because you have become comfortable enough with yourself and your recovery process. Much like an oxygen mask on an airplane, once you have secured yourself, it is then time to assist others in need. You will find that giving back to a community that has given you so much brings about a sense of spiritual and personal fulfillment.

You’ve Gotten to Know Your Higher Power

What does your Higher Power look, sound, or feel like? When you come to fully understand your Higher Power, whatever it may be, you are drawing that much nearer to completing your path to spiritual awakening. Not every individual on earth is a person of spirituality. Not everyone believes in a god or godlike entity. Though it may seem that such a perspective would put one at odds with the process of recovery, finding your Higher Power doesn’t mean forcing yourself to believe in that which you do not. A spiritual awakening does not necessarily mean finding god; however, the belief in a higher power – of your own choosing and understanding – will lead you to the point of spiritual awakening. Whether or not you yourself identify as a spiritual individual, so long as you are willing to recognize and accept a power greater than yourself, you are that much closer to knowing yourself. More than anything else, this part of the process is truly about humility and self-awareness.

You’ve Gotten to Know Yourself

Introspection plays a significant role in the recovery process. To better understand how to live drug and alcohol free, it is important to know what triggers the compulsive need for said substances. As the oracle Delphi said, “Know thyself”. Once you begin to look inward, you will find that the answers to dealing with most of your struggles lies within you. When you final find yourself starting to get a handle on who you really are, you will know that your Higher Power is at work, guiding you towards the path of sobriety and serenity.

You Have A Sense Of Well-Being

The feeling of well-being in spiritual awakening is related to a general sense of appreciation. When we have a sense of well-being, we are more likely to feel a sense of gratitude for health, freedom from addiction, loved ones, and good things in our lives. While we were once living in addiction, we took things from granted and failed to appreciate the true value of life. Appreciation is additionally an important sign and symptom in a spiritual awakening, because this value frees us from the state of “wanting.” In Buddhist terms, we become free of craving and so free of the psychological suffering this creates.