Is there a Connection between Spiritual Wellness and Addictive Behaviors?

If anywhere we can see the link between spiritual and physical wellness, it is in cases of addictive behavior. To successfully address and release any form of addictive behavior, we must be able to provide care and support to all parts of our being: to nurture our physical body, our mental and emotional state, our spiritual being, and also the social aspect of ourselves. Many times we see struggle in release of addictive behavior. That struggle can be lessened if care and nurturing are provided on all levels of one’s being. When some of these aspects are neglected, person often faces either failure in stopping their addictive behavior, or replaces one bad habit with another habit that may appear to be less harmful. It is therefore very important to understand and be able to apply spiritual concepts if you are to successfully help yourself overcome an addictive behavior.

Meditation
The act of meditation allows us to still our conscious mind and to experience awareness of just simply being. The practice of meditation opens one to Divine life-supporting energy. This is a doorway into the state where you simply are, without doing or needing anything. Meditation is essential to spiritual wellbeing and has been shown to benefit us on many different levels. There are various forms of meditation varying in their approaches, and each one has its values. Meditation does not always have to be a long exercise or a ritual. It is of great benefit to include forms of short meditations in daily life, to keep balance and connection with the Divine.

Creativity
As human beings we are gifted with the power to manifest into the physical realm that which we conceive at mental level and fuel with the charges on our emotional levels. We do this both consciously and unconsciously. We must understand that it is in the interest of our Highest Good to avoid creating by default. We shall learn to create divinely through mindfulness and awareness. Practicing presence and mindfulness while embracing our creative power is more important than finding out how exactly our creativity manifests and why it does. Remind yourself daily that you have the power of creation within. Every situation can be transformed into a constructive healing experience when you allow yourself to use your own creative power within.

Affirmation
Pay attention daily to ensure that you tell yourself good things. Regardless of what your day is like, make sure that your thoughts make you feel good. Like plants thrive with water and sunshine in fertile soil, we thrive on good positive thoughts about ourselves. It is important to realize that our power of creating follows our thoughts and affirmations. What kind of thoughts will you choose to have today? Make positive statements about yourself and your life all of the time and make them in present tense because they are already true. You simply have to allow and acknowledge the truth.

Non-judgment
“Non-judgment is a state of mental and emotional openness and receptivity to new experiences and new interpretations of past experiences. Observation of people and/or participation in events without the imposing of personal will, perceptions, or criticisms” (Vanzant, 1998, p. 161).
To practice non-judgment means to embrace everyone without placing a value or determination of importance on them based on your perception of normal. It means to accept situations without judging them to be good or bad, but with understanding that they carry within them valuable life lessons. Non-judgment allows you to follow the flow of life without resisting, but through participating and engaging without fear, but with love.

Forgiveness
If there is one critically important and most often misunderstood concept, than it is the concept of forgiveness. Many say that forgiveness is the most difficult spiritual concept to practice and apply. This difficulty stems from misunderstanding and perception that forgiveness is something you do for someone else. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself and for your wellbeing. It truly is necessary for healing to take place. Without forgiving yourself and others you continue to live in the past and prevent yourself from embracing the power of the present moment. It is therefore necessary to forgive yourself and others in order to allow the healing to take place. Only when you forgive are you able to stop giving your power away.

Gratitude
You live in gratitude when you are consciously thankful and show appreciation for what is. It means not only to be grateful for the things you have, but also for the things you are, and for what is. When you live in gratitude, you live in joy and your fears are then dissolved and transformed into acts of love. The Universe provides us with what we ask for by our chosen state of mind. Being grateful puts us in a state to invite and welcome peace, joy, abundance, and love into our life.

Unconditional Love
The strongest power we know is the power of Love. To love unconditionally means to be able to give selflessly, to allow and open self to receiving, and to have no fear. To place no conditions on love means to understand and have knowing that nothing is needed to make it better than it already is. To live life filled with Love is a powerful existence.

Importance of Understanding Spiritual Principles
As human beings we all need to be loved and accepted. When one creates perception of lack of love and acceptance, embracing compassion, forgiveness, and respect for self becomes very difficult. This most often happens when search for these feelings takes place outside of oneself, the process through which most end up giving power to others and to situations outside of themselves. In this process self-imposed limits are created and to help one break free from them you must understand the spiritual principles and the impact they have on personal process of growth and development. Because we are not just physical bodies or bodies simply governed by mind, but spiritual beings enjoying life in a physical body and learning to take control of the creative power of the mind; without spiritual growth and care the release of any addictive behavior is very unlikely to be successful. To heal and grow we must be able to go within to find our purpose and meaning. This is a critically important step in the process of releasing any type of unwanted circumstance in our lives.

When working to release an addictive behavior, one of the important skills to practice is living in the present moment. Through practice of presence, development and practice of spiritual principles takes place in a more effective way and with more profound impact on the person. Another important practice is meditation. Everyone needs time to pull within and to listen in order to access the wisdom of their higher Divine self. Through meditation one can remember their connection to the Universe, Spirit, and Mother Earth. That connection empowers you to appreciate the amazing being that you are and opens you up to Love and deep gratitude. And we must remember to maintain and reinforce the connection with our mother Earth which is very healing to our existence. Being in touch with plants, animals, water, sun, and air daily is extremely powerful aid at time of any kind of healing.

Understanding our life experience(s) directly impacts our well being and degree to which we are able to take responsibility for ourselves and our health.
Empowering healing is about leading one to his/her own place of power from where he/she can make wise choices and decisions to create and care for personal wellness.

Thank you for the honor to provide assistance somewhere along the way on your own personal journey of empowerment and creation of personal holistic lifestyle for wellness.

In Health, Abundance, Love, and Light,

Daniela Sales
Reiki Master Teacher & Wellness Consultant

The Avokado Studio of Arts for Creative Living
http://bodyandmindstl.com/services.html

References:
Dyer, W.W. (2002). Wisdom of the ages: a modern master brings eternal truths into everyday life. New York: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
Hay, L. L. (1999). You can heal your life. Carlsbad: Hay House
Lamothe, D. (1998). The taming of the chew: a holistic guide to stopping compulsive eating. New York: Penguin Group (USA)
Vanzant, I. (1998). One day my soul just opened up: 40days and 40 nights toward spiritual strength and personal growth. New York: Fireside

Disclaimer: The statements in this article are for educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The remedies discussed herein are not meant to treat or cure any type of disease. The user understands that the above information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.