The Spiritual Platform™

The first pillar is choice. At its core, choice empowers individuals to reclaim their sense of agency and competence, qualities that addiction so often erodes. What matters most is not the outcome of our decisions, but the very act of choosing itself. Becoming aware of the choices we affirm our vitality as human beings and by doing so it helps us confront feelings of shame.

Each day, we make countless decisions, both large and small. Yet, we frequently expend energy denying this reality, shifting responsibility onto others or external circumstances. How often do we catch ourselves saying, “They made me do it,” “She makes me angry,” or “That pushes my buttons”? These familiar phrases reveal our reluctance to acknowledge our power to choose.

Choice is the cornerstone of freedom and personal strength. While situations and people may appear to limit our options, we always possess the ability to respond in different ways. Recognizing our power to choose injects life with a renewed sense of energy. Even when our decisions are less than ideal, the act of making and owning them is cause for self-affirmation. By embracing ownership of our decisions, we challenge the limiting belief that we are simply at the mercy of chance. Cultivating sensitivity to the process of choosing is what establishes choice as the foundational pillar of spirituality.

The second pillar of the Spiritual Platform™ is risk. To grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, individuals need to take growth-producing risks. They intentionally move beyond their own self-limiting messages and the chemical bonds that cloud their growth and compromise the future.

The Spiritual Platform™ helps individuals living with substance use disorders do what they cannot do in the grip of addiction: become vulnerable and grow through risk. Each time someone takes a risk—whether that’s in a 12 Step group, managing a child’s behavior, or engaging in an altruistic task—they expand their personal horizons and actively participate in the process of change. Through consistent practice of risk, people in recovery can define their own personal expansion and growth. Thoughtful risk-taking is essential for development; real growth occurs when individuals consciously choose to open themselves to change and embrace vulnerability.

The third pillar of the Spiritual Platform™ is relationships. Patients are given the opportunity to redefine personal boundaries, which opens up the capacity for the development of more healthy relationships and, as needed, re-learn their early assumptions about attachment relationships. Patients learn to define and experience relationship through the interdependency between two well-defined separate individuals, whether these are friends or family. The relating is connecting and life-sustaining and the ultimate outcome of the relationship.

The third pillar of the Spiritual Platform™ is relationships. Individuals are given the opportunity to redefine personal boundaries, which opens the way for healthier connections and, when needed, to re-examine early beliefs about attachment. People learn to define and experience relationships through the interdependence between two distinct individuals, whether as friends or family. These connections are life-sustaining and, ultimately, the most meaningful outcome of relationships.

Within the Spiritual Platform™, relationship goes beyond simply connecting individuals; it actively transforms and enriches these connections, making them far more meaningful. Within relationships, people can address both old wounds and cherished memories, allowing authentic engagement with others built on mutual respect and honesty. True spiritual growth flourishes when individuals are willing to be seen for who they are and extend the same openness to others, practicing deep listening and sincere communication. Through meaningful relationships, we learn to establish and respect boundaries, forgive ourselves and those around us, and nurture intimacy through vulnerability.

The final pillar supporting the Spiritual Platform™ is embodied in our experiences of awe and wonder. As humans, we often rely on reason and understanding to interpret the world around us. Yet, when we encounter phenomena that defies explanation, we instinctively craft stories and myths to make sense of the mysterious. Despite these constructs, life continually presents moments, a striking coincidence, an unexpected revelation, that stretch the boundaries of our comprehension. In these instances of expanded awareness, individuals are invited to embrace awe and marvel at the richness and mystery of existence. Such encounters not only deepen the recovery journey but also illuminate a profound sense of connection to something larger than ourselves. It is through the experience of awe and wonder that people embrace their willingness to be surprise and deepen their sense of aliveness.