Strategic Spirituality: A Pathway out of Addiction

Vanessa Kredler Author

Mind Body Syndrome, also known as neuroplastic pain, describes chronic pain or other bodily symptoms that arise from suppressed emotions.

When people first hear the word spirituality, many instantly think of religion. And for some of us, that brings up resistance, bad experiences, or the feeling that spirituality simply isn’t for us. But here’s the truth: you can be deeply spiritual without being religious.

Spirituality, at its heart, is about nurturing the human spirit — the inner aspect of us that holds our emotions, character, and sense of meaning. Religion, by contrast, is an organised set of beliefs and practices often shared by a group. You can choose to have both, but you don’t need religion to live spiritually.

Spirituality to me means a secure attachment relationship with a power greater than myself that I can rely on. I can draw on this source of power at any time, through ongoing prayer and conversation (this might be another blog post).

But beyond that relationship with a source outside of myself, I like to think of spirituality as a set of personal values that guide me through life. Spirituality for me is a compass that helps me align my choices with who I truly want to be. And when it comes to addiction recovery, this kind of spirituality isn’t just abstract or “nice to have.” It’s strategic. It’s something we can deliberately use to heal, grow, and break free. We can rely on it. Spirituality has been the cornerstone of my recovery, and still is.

Why Spirituality Matters in Addiction Recovery

In recovery from food addiction, spirituality becomes a powerful tool to:

• Find meaning and fulfillment beyond food
  
  

• Make sense of painful life events
  
  

• Harness inner strength when life gets hard
  
  

• Discover peace of mind in the middle of chaos
  
  

• Cope with change and uncertainty
  
  

• Release our dependence on material or external fixes
  
  

• Connect with a deeper sense of purpose
  
  

• Align our values with our daily actions
  
  

Think of it this way: Spirituality gives us a new set of glasses. When we put them on, we start to see life and ourselves differently. And once we see differently, we live differently.

Spiritual Principles in Action

Here are a few spiritual principles that I believe play a powerful role in food addiction recovery:

Acceptance – This isn’t passive resignation; it’s the courage to face reality. For me, acceptance meant recognising that moderating my trigger foods didn’t work for me. My personal truth was that I had to abstain from certain foods and food behaviours. Instead of fighting that truth, I came to accept that and focus on what does work: daily action that keeps me free from the food noise and compulsion to eat. For me, that was and still is, my food plan. Acceptance has also meant that I need to work with my physical limitations. I need to stop and rest, take care of myself, and not soldier on, ignoring my body signals.

Surrender – When we stop trying to fix addiction by sheer willpower, we stop the exhausting cycle of struggle. Surrender is not a weakness. It’s more like a relief. It’s saying: I can’t do this alone. I need help. That openness allows healing and guidance to finally enter. It’s such an elusive concept. Yet when surrender happens, it’s so liberating!

Integrity & Honesty – Addiction thrives in denial and rationalisation. That’s simply part of the addictive process. The voices of addiction whisper: It’s not that bad… just one more bite… tomorrow I’ll change. Integrity is more powerful than those voices. When I practice honesty on and off the plate, I help to break that internal cycle of denial based thinking. It means owning up to discovering new substances or behaviours that keep me in the addictive loop, and courageously letting go of them and seeking help when I need to. Over time, this kind of integrity hasn't just transformed my relationship with food. It has reshaped every area of my life.

From Fear to Freedom

Spirituality isn’t about being morally “perfect.” It’s about living in alignment. As we cultivate these principles, something profound happens:

• Fear shifts into trust
  
  

• Self-pity transforms into gratitude
  
  

• Resentment softens into acceptance
  
  

• Denial is replaced with honesty
  
  

What begins with food gradually expands into every part of life. Our values and behaviour become one and the same — both at the table and beyond it. So many people in long term recovery tell me that their addiction was the first step to really build a spiritual practice, which is now the backbone of a satisfying, meaningful and aligned life.

This is strategic spirituality: not vague or lofty, but practical, purposeful, and deeply powerful. It’s a path away from addiction and toward freedom, peace, and a life that truly feels like our own.

Categories: : Food Addiction, Recovery