Spirituality is an important aspect in your plan for living. If you take focused action, with a plan, you can end up with a more centered outlook on life. Please be aware that for our purposes we are not speaking of religion, but rather spirituality. The former being more dogmatic and the latter being more concentrated on your own personal relationship with your own recognition and connection and acknowledgement of whatever Higher Power is acceptable to you.

Naturally, you may call your Higher Power whatever you want to, Nature, God, Force of the Universe. More relevant than the name or label you attach is your the degree of connection and willingness to make use of such an energy permeating in your life.

What follows are some basic tips to help you improve your spiritual self as well as help you develop a stronger and deeper connection with your own concept of spiritual connection. Understand that spirituality, just like Rome, was not built in a day. Work on spiritual aspects of your life in a consistent and gradual way. Doing it this way keeps you from being overwhelmed.

Engage in the practice of meditation

In a consistent fashion, try to establish a time and place where you could spend a quiet moment in the morning or during the evening. Just a few minutes is all it takes. This is also a good time to assess goals or to simply calm and focus the mind. Your mind needs some personal space too.

Praying is a form of meditation. Having a short meditation phrase helps you focus on your breathing instead of any random thoughts that may come and go in your mind.

Go to a worship service of your choice

The point of the matter is involved with like minded people. There are those people who prefer to spend time alone and focus on their spirituality and those who prefer to spend time with people while working on developing their spirituality. See which works best for you.

Get involved with people.

You could try joining a dance class or joining a hobby club. For some of us, having positive relationships and interaction with different people can alleviate that feeling of lonliness.

Never too late to learn

It is always never too late to improve your mind. The mind is like a sponge. Make sure you continually feed it. You could do so by taking some courses at your nearest community college. You can start engaging in a study book group or just by reading books and other materials related to mental health, spiritual concepts or self-improvement books.

Get healthy

One of the blessings we often overlook is good health and the absense of pain. Being fit and engaging in an appropriate diet helps keep the body toned and privdes a clearer and more receptive mind.

Have fun

I like this part. Believe it or not, being spiritual does not only mean being serious at all times. In a paradoxical way, being spiritual allows you the freedom to not take yourself too seriously.

You may also engage in some hobby or activity for the simple fun of it. You could begin by exploring sports, hobbies or whatever it is that catches your fancy.

Help other people out

For some people, doing some volunteer activities or doing some acts of random kindness works best to help them become more spiritual. Giving for the sake of giving not for some personal gain makes people feel good inside. This is a situation where everyone is a winner.

Stop judging

This is difficult because everyone makes judgements all the time. When you judge someone or something you really are comparing them to your own standards. If they are fall below your standards you can look down on them and feel superior. If they exceed your ideas you could feel inferior. This is a lose-lose situation.

Show gratitude

There is quite a lot to be thankful for . The instant you discover the many wonderful things that life has to offer, and appreciate what you already have in life, the world opens up itself to {positive possibilities.

Again, try to practice each day appreciating an aspect in your life you know you are grateful for. Thank the universe for another day to spend and another day to make yourself, your life, or others lives better.

Become objective

Ironically, seeing things objectively helps in developing your spirituality. There may be times when we live seeing life with the isead that there is only one opinion, ours. We then become frustrated when the world does not fails to see that only our view matters.

The world is at it is, most things are beyond our control. The world is what you are, and how you perceive it. All in all, developing your spirituality takes time and effort. The rewards however, for the time invested are limitless

Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help your spirtual connection and enhance your life. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/