Don
can it be as simple as filling the void left by all the stuff that was going through our minds constantly when we were suffering from our abuse ?
I remember my head being full of all kinds of conflicting emotions, feelings, fear- too much stuff to list now. But it was there just about all the time. And these are powerful emotions and preoccupations that take a big mental effort.
So what happens when we move along our recovery, what takes their place ? Initially it was the effort of recovery that occupied my mind, but as I move on these thoughts are needed less and less.
There's a big empty space there, and now that I have learned to think more positivly about myself, Is the feeling of spirituality I sometimes feel just positive thoughts rattling around insted of the old negative stuff ?
Is spirituality just feeling good ?

Or am I looking for something too deep and meaningful ?
I feel good, and that's all that matters, I hope you do to.
Lloydy

Excuse the empty posts above, I've got clumsy fingers and a small keyboard !!

Lloydy,
I like your definition/explanation of this.. think maybe you are on to something here.

Don

Great stuff Lloydy, Mr Don, and everybody. Thank you. For me, it has been the sense of connection and confidence, and the preservation of my possibilities through periods of confusion that seems to describe my own experience of spirituality.
As much fear and shame as I've felt in my current circumstances, and even anger, I've been lead from the Twelve Step rooms to Buddhism and the Church, and this site, and even therapy to provide a nice safety net and spiritual/"medical" framework. It helps me recenter myself, I find. The Buddha's teachings, in particular, help me. In one, he discusses the necessity of taking a step back from daily preoccupations and finding instead of loss, fulfillment.

One thing I like to do is spend time outside in nature,, with the little noisy bugs, flying thingys, chirpy thingsy,,, and yes even the snakes... welll maybe not the snakes. But the times that I can just go and be with the wind as it blows through the trees or the water as it ripples across the pond or even the ducks as they waddle around from place to place; I feel far apart from the things in life which bring me pain. It is a sense of belonging, fitting in, fulfillment and just being in the right place at the right time. Everything seems to be in balance at these times which sometimes is a most welcome relief from my chaotic life.

Don