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A spiritual awakening in recovery is a lasting change in how a person sees themselves, other people, and their place in the world. It is less about visions and more about perspective, values, and how you treat other people. The old way of thinking stops making sense, and a new one takes its place. I’m Nicholas, co-founder of Hollywood Hills Recovery, and I have been sober since July 20, 2018.
Where Does the Term Spiritual Awakening Come From?
The term comes from Step 12 of the 12 Steps, which describes “a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps.” The wording matters. The awakening is presented as a result of doing the work, not as a requirement for starting it.
Is a Spiritual Awakening Always Sudden?
A spiritual awakening is usually gradual. The Alcoholics Anonymous literature itself notes that most spiritual experiences are of the “educational variety,” developing slowly over time. People often recognize the change only when they look back and realize they no longer react the way they used to.
What Was My Turning Point?
The day I decided to get sober was the day I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I know a lot of people have heard that cliche, but I really took it seriously this time. A police officer handed me a bottle of water and asked, “Are you thirsty?” I took the man’s water. He wasn’t a police officer that day. He was a man that saw a soul, a human being struggling, wanting a better life. It was a big God shot for me. I tell the full story in do you have to hit rock bottom to get sober.
Why Does Being Seen Matter So Much?
Being seen matters because shame convinces people they are past saving. A single act of dignity can break that belief faster than any consequence, arrest, or lecture. For many people, the awakening is less about a new idea and more about believing an old one, that people can change, applies to them too.
What Role Can Other People Play?
Other people can create the conditions for change even when they cannot force it. A family member, a counselor, or a stranger who responds with compassion instead of contempt can open a door that punishment keeps shut. Nobody can hand someone a spiritual awakening, but anyone can refuse to write a person off.
What Are the Signs of a Spiritual Awakening in Recovery?
The signs show up in daily behavior more than in feelings. 5 common ones:
- Less fear about the future and less need to control outcomes.
- More honesty, even when honesty is inconvenient.
- A growing desire to help other people.
- Gratitude for ordinary things that used to feel meaningless.
- Resentments losing their grip.
How Do You Keep a Spiritual Awakening From Fading?
You keep it from fading through daily practice. A change in perspective has to be rehearsed until it becomes the default, or the old thinking slowly returns. 4 practices help it last:
- Setting a daily intention through prayer, meditation, or reflection.
- Reviewing the day honestly before sleep.
- Helping someone else who is struggling with what you once struggled with.
- Staying close to people who knew you before the change.
A consistent routine, like the one I describe in structure in early recovery, gives those practices a fixed place. The early glow of recovery, often called the pink cloud, fades. Practice is what lasts, long after the early excitement is gone.
Do You Need a Spiritual Awakening to Stay Sober?
You do not need a dramatic spiritual awakening to stay sober. Many people recover without describing their experience in spiritual terms at all, and evidence-based therapy works for believers and nonbelievers alike. The role of spirituality and mindfulness in long-term sobriety explores the spiritual path in more depth.
How Can Hollywood Hills Recovery Support Your Recovery?
Hollywood Hills Recovery supports every path to recovery from substance abuse, spiritual or not. Care begins with medical detox, continues through residential inpatient treatment, and extends into our aftercare program. Call 323-709-7856.
