Jerry Green | Recovery Services Manager
For me, spirituality is a set of actions. It has far more to do with the actions I take, rather than what I think, feel, or believe in any given moment.
My thoughts are not always correct, especially my reactive thoughts.
When I react immediately without taking the action of pausing and asking for the right thought, then I am in danger of reacting in the wrong way. I have a disease called alcoholism and addiction. It is rooted in selfishness and self-centeredness. Therefore, my initial thoughts often cause me to react in a negative way.
My feelings are unreliable as well.
If I only participated in recovery when I felt like it, I would be missing a lot of the joy and peace that comes from this way of life. Unfortunately, I can’t wait on my feelings to change. Sometimes the only way I have found to feel good about doing something is when I go ahead and do it when I don’t feel like it.
My beliefs are not always constant.
They change over time. The beliefs I had when I got first got sober have been ever-changing. As I continue on this spiritual path, I am sure that they will continue to evolve. This is because I must stay open-minded. God teaches me more every day. Sometimes these lessons are painful. However, their value is undeniable.
What must rule my life is the Divine Spark, the conscience inside of me.
I believe this is the fundamental idea of God which the Big Book tells me lies deep within every man, woman, and child. The more I heed this small still voice within me, the louder the voice becomes until I intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle me. I don’t do this perfectly, but I do it persistently. That may be as close to perfection as I ever get. And that is enough.
I must also act as if every human being is a child of my Creator.
I must learn that from the very lowest of low to the highest of high, we are all God’s kids. Therefore, I must show love and tolerance to each and every one, whether I feel like it or not. Although the selfishness that is my disease wants to judge others and make false comparisons, I must not let it affect my actions.
This brings me back to the starting point; I often cannot control my thoughts.
But I can control my behavior. Fifty years from now, nothing will go down in the record books about what I thought, felt, or believed. All that will matter is the actions I have taken. When I help someone else and they in turn help another, it goes on and on. Like ripples on a lake after a rock is thrown in. It spreads and grows. These are the things that matter. These are eternal.
Origins Recovery Center is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration.
We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety.
For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1019.
