I’m familiar with the term Higher Power. My ally mentions it. I’ve also heard it here…
I honestly don’t believe I have a Higher Power that I can really trust to help me find freedom right now.
Most of the time, I believe in God; sometimes I don’t. I’ve prayed a lot in my life, but I just don’t have much of a connection… and, I need you guys to know, I’m not interested right now in being helped with that particular Higher Power.
I am interested though (if it’s not inappropriate to share) in knowing some of the things in your lives that you turn to for strength, power, clarity, support, etc.
My ally does the twelve steps; has for decades. His Higher Power is Jesus. But, he says that folks in the group seek all sorts of things in their recovery…
I’d love to hear about that.
Also, I will say, I’ve personally found this community to be THE MOST supportive thing that I have ever experienced, when it comes to something giving me the power work at my sobriety.
Whenever I’ve seen the term ‘Higher Power’ I’ve never thought it automatically means God. My understanding is that we are vulnerable in the face of our addictions and so must turn to something greater than ourselves to gather the strength to overcome. It sounds like for you that something is mainly community, and I’m glad you have found such profound connection.
Personally, I believe in god. I believe in the inner light and that gods power is within all of us and that everyone can find their own way to building a relationship with it. For me its being out in nature, cooking, prayer, building things, being creative, music.
Belief in a higher power is not a perfect linear thing I think. Because life has so much variability and so many situations you may feel more or less connected depending how you view things. For me I look for the timing. I see how the timing of things happen in my life and how often they needed to happen in that exact order and that personally helps me feel connected to my higher power. As for other things it’s really being connected with people more than anything. Other like minded people who you can relate to and they can relate to you. Those connections and conversations are very powerful and meaningful. They may even help to find your own path to a higher power. Another is music. The power of certain lyrics and melodies can really shift your mood and perspective. Sometimes I’ll listen to a song when I’m uncertain or down and after it somehow I just know things will be ok. Anyway hope that helps
I actually don’t have a relationship with a god. There was a time when I was staying alive because of love for my (lovely, sweet, disabled) dog and I used that love as a higher power. Since losing her and reorienting a bit, I’ve used a sort of spiritual concept of mother nature to represent a higher power I can buy into. Nature itself and the protections it conveys. I don’t know how much sense that makes but that’s where I land on this issue. Sorry if it’s nonsense!
My HP has changed many times over the course of my recovery. It was at first the NA/AA meetings. Then it was nature. Then it was crystals (like amethyst for example). Then I began learning about the Aboriginal culture thru my support system back home. That was a HUGE HP for me for many years. I participated in drumming, singing, ceremony, picking medicines, smudging, sweats etc. It was extremely powerful for me and still is in a sense. Then I began believing in God. I felt drawn to Him as my HP. I grew up in a Christian home (so I guess God was always sort of in the back of my mind) but didnt feel connected to God or the Bible. And i dont consider myself religious. I consider myself spiritual.
~Religion are for those that dont want to go to hell. Spirituality are for those that have been to hell, and dont want to go back~
I love that saying!! Anyway, my HP (who I choose to call God) is sort of a combination of things. Its a God of my own understanding. I wrote down a list of characteristics that I feel my HP would have. And I pray as if I am talking to a friend. Thats how I work on that daily relationship with Him. I just talk
I like the AA phrase, “To Thine Own Self be True.” I believe that there’s a holy/whole Truth within each of us, and within everything. Breath, Spirit, Soul. I know when I feel closer to connection, and when I’m fading away. I heard one AA speaker liken it to tuning an old radio with dials, having to re-tune when the station gets less clear. I relate to the four Gospel books, and pray to God: the God of my complete inadequacy to understand, and trust that more will be revealed.
Each of you shared a piece of what feels like a puzzle I’m trying to put together… thank you all for honoring my question with thoughtful, helpful answers.
