The Process of Spiritual Detox: Finally Explained
What is Spiritual Detox?
Gosh! What a heavy experience, spiritual detox can be! I have struggled with the heaviness and darkness spiritual detox can bring for years now. It’s taken me at least three years to comprehend its full force. Spiritual Detox can happen in the body and mind as we let go of patterns that no longer serve us. It’s an active process that starts with us creating changes in our behaviour and thoughts. Once those changes have been triggered, the body has to let go of the old to embrace and make space for the new. That process of shedding the old patterns is called SPIRITUAL DETOX.
Who goes through Spiritual detox?
Anyone that wants to change their life situation and takes action or sets intentions to switch up old habits, behaviours and actions will most likely go through this detox.
Habits that people often want to change are: smoking, over eating, being angry all the time, drinking too much alcohol, sugar addictions etc.
We all have one issue or another that we would like to resolve. For the longest time, I wanted to create flow in my life.. I was always getting distracted by Netflix, books, drama etc. I would often blame my lack of direction in life on pain, stress and other life situations that I just HAD to deal with. There was even a time when I had to quit Netflix cold turkey because I would have anxiety attacks after a series ended!! So yeah, addictions can have many forms.
WHat does it look like? Is it physical? Mental? Emotional? or all of the above?
Let’s say you want to quit smoking. Well the action you would take is to stop smoking even when the urge strikes. That action of not picking up a cigarette when you REALLY want to smoke, will send a shockwave through your system. It will cause a certain amount of discomfort. And the mind wants to be comfortable… So what do you think it will do? First, you will try to find excuses to smoke and if you successfully don’t succumb to your urges, your mind will create disturbances for you. Those disturbances could show themselves in many forms, pain and stress being a couple of examples. These disturbances will again push you to pick up that cigarette and smoke up.
This is where MIND over MATTER is super important. And this is your chance to either go back into the same old habits or choose something new. Using your will-power can help but what really helps is to remove distortions that cause you to go back to your old habits. When you remove those distortions and integrate those new changes in your life – you basically create non-resistance. The desire to change has more power than “Will-Power”.
Is there a process that makes spiritual detox not so difficult?
YES!! This was a learning experience for me. When I started going through my own spiritual awakening journey, I had no idea why my life was more chaotic than ever. Any steps towards spiritual alignment may create chaos in your life. People around you will not understand you as well as they did when you held onto your old identity. In fact they might completely stop talking to you. Family members might even abandon you because this is such an uncomfortable process.
Initially, when I went through this much spiritual detox, I reacted hard. I judged everyone for their lack of support and understanding. I was so angry at myself and the world around me. But these reactions of mine were just how I was conditioned to address uncomfortable situations.
And then it hit me. My spiritual journey was MINE. I had no right to judge another if they chose to distance themselves from me. It was my decision to change. I am the one that wanted to let go of certain identities that kept me safe. I was the one that wanted to “FIND” myself.
This realization was a HUGE relief for me personally because it helped me see the situation I was in from a neutral perspective. And neutrality is the key to an easier path to alignment with self. By simply observing where you are and what you are feeling, and allowing the situation to unravel, you end up creating grace around this detox process.
So if you are going through spiritual detox and its getting unbearable – simply be. Observe the situation and let it flow through you. The more resistance, in the form of thought or action, you create the harder the unraveling process will be. For more tips on how to surrender to this process follow my blog post on the “Art of Surrender“.
HOw do I know I am done with the detox?
This one is simple. Even though spiritual detox happens in waves because you change in waves, you know you are done with the detox when you feel lighter. When you feel more like yourself and happier, enjoy those moments. Because if you are like me and want to keep growing into your best possible self, you will go through a lot more detox.
So take the moment you feel light and free to enjoy yourself. Give thanks to the process and let it unfold.
Over time, spiritual detox becomes easier because you become lighter and start to welcome the detox because you know how you will feel after.
The bright side of spiritual detox...
Going through spiritual detox can also be an empowering experience.
During the process of detox, not only did I develop patience and self love towards myself, I also developed empathy for anyone that is trying to change themselves for the better.
Detox in any form takes time (sometimes years) and hard-work. Even changing my diet from a carb heavy plan to a high fat plan created heaviness that I had to work through. This process developed in me a healthy appreciation for the awakening process that many people go through.
By undergoing my own share of detox, I am now able to help and support my family and friends if they need support.
If you need support as you go through your own spiritual journey, please reach out on instagram or through the contact page.
