Even More Recovery Readings and Meditations - December

[bluidkiti]

December 9

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Faith is spiritualized imagination.

~ HENRY WARD BEECHER ~

Scientists have been trying to prove or disprove the concept of God for centuries. Philosophers have been debating the issue. But no one has concrete evidence either way. It takes faith in a Power greater than ourselves, not proof.

I seriously and diligently tried every means in my control to break free of my compulsion to use nicotine, but was unsuccessful. Our Fellowship provided the strength I lacked. Not only do we provide each other the ability to get and stay free, we help each other learn to live better lives.

To me the efforts human beings have consistently made over centuries in becoming better people are evidence of a greater Power.

Today, I will look for the good in every person.

Nicotine Anonymous World Services

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

TRANSFORMATION

Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator.

~ Robert F. Kennedy ~

We humbly ask God in our Seventh Step to remove our shortcomings. We are asking God to do in other parts of our lives what He has done to our addiction. Each moment we experience freedom from our disease, we acknowledge God’s Power. Many of us lost our desire for our addiction quickly. Others waged a long and painful battle to reach a point of surrender. How will God work on our shortcomings? Will it be immediate or will it be over time?

Our Fellowship suggests that we live our lives one day at a time. Personal change occurs but one day at a time. We must resist the temptation to set God’s clock to fast forward. The long-sought-after changes will occur in ways we cannot predict and should not expect.

I have not been the best judge as to what is good for me. I must trust God in all things, even those that are most personal to me.

by Anonymous

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

It has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly.

~ Isaac Asimov ~

When a serious problem comes into our life, the first question most of us ask is, why me?

It’s a question with no answer. But we know that being born means we will face problems and challenges. No life is free of them. Our development is as much about learning to deal with problems as it is about learning to avoid them. Most of us have tried mightily to not deal with our problems by hiding from them or denying them. We have also tried bulldozing our way over problems with the force of our will.

Now we have a new tool for facing problems; it’s the paradox of powerlessness. Now we understand that we cannot control many of life’s challenges. When we boldly face difficulties that we cannot control, we accept the facts. Accepting our powerlessness over a problem surprisingly makes us stronger. It changes everything. It even transforms our life.

Today I will face difficulty head on and admit the situation as I see it.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

We are ruled by that which we choose not to see.

~ Clara Rosemarda ~

Why do we choose to ignore particular experiences? Some would say it’s because we want to avoid taking the action that our conscience demands. Others suggest it’s out of fear: what we can’t see can’t hurt us. On the contrary, unaddressed situations, whether acknowledged or not, make their demands on us. We will pay in time.

How do we make sure we are dealing with problems that affect us? Being willing to see what’s going on is the first step. Focusing our thoughts on the present comes next. We need to remember the slogan “One day at a time.” We certainly know that, but it’s hard to live by it consistently. Little by little, we’ll realize we are changing, that we are more aware of what’s happening around us. The result is that we’ll come to understand the influences in our lives. We’ll no longer be ruled by mysteries.

What I pretend not to see has power over me. Being consciously in charge of my life will decrease my anxiety today.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am learning to pray

Before I started learning about the Steps in my recovery program, I did not pray. I did not have talks with a higher power. I was angry and I felt too alone and unloved to trust. I could not admit that I needed help, although I needed it badly.

Now, after only a few months in dual recovery, I have already seen prayer work for others. By quiet example, they are teaching me how to pray—simply, personally, any time, any place. I can now admit to my higher power that I need help. And I feel strong enough to ask for that help in a spiritual way. I am learning the power of prayer. I believe mine will be heard. *

I will stop whatever I am doing, close my eyes, and make contact with my higher power.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

I often turn in a crowded city to stare at a face on which experience has written a pattern of celebration.

~ Mary Francis Shura Craig ~

A beautiful soul can’t be dimmed. A soul lit by joy brightens all our features and makes us beautiful beyond measure. Even though our bodies often show wear, an internal zest grows stronger and shines brighter.

Living our lives with vigor and involvement fuels the spirit and keeps us getting up each morning expecting good to come of the day.

This doesn’t mean we expect all joy and no sadness. It doesn’t mean we don’t anticipate challenge. It has been said that we couldn’t see the beauty of the canyon carvings without the windstorms of life. By surviving and growing through life’s windstorms, we find ourselves more weathered and more real. We also find ourselves trusting more in our Higher Power. Time is teaching us that our surface beauty may be temporary, but the beauty of a joyful spirit, the beauty of God, is forever.

Today let me value my joyful spirit and love myself for the light that shines from my human struggles.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

It is very difficult to be wholly joyous or wholly sad on this earth. The comic, when it is human, soon takes upon itself a face of pain

~ Joseph Conrad ~

Recovery encourages you to recognize and manage your feelings so you can reduce your chance of relapse, develop open and honest relationships with others, and improve your overall health and wellness. Feelings are sometimes referred to as positive or negative. Positive emotions include love, joy, happiness, pride, and excitement. Negative emotions include hatred, anger, jealousy, fear, and guilt.

But such labels can be limiting. Take, for instance, the emotion of pride. When you feel proud of something, it can infuse you with positive energy But if you feel too much pride, you run the risk of displaying an overblown ego. On the other hand, anger is often considered to be a negative emotion. However, anger can also be seen as positive, especially when it provides you with a valuable warning that your boundaries have been encroached, when you have been mistreated, or when you are feeling tired or vulnerable.

Consider the positive and negative aspects offered by any emotion you feel. They are your most honest expressions of what is going on, so pay attention to them.

I will pay attention to my feelings so I can better understand myself.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

Risk! Risk anything! . . . Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.

~ Katherine Mansfield ~

Many times when we feel fear we don’t realize it’s related to a risk that we have the option to take. A risk doesn’t have to be as dramatic as climbing a mountain or placing all our money on a bet. A risk can be walking into a new meeting, smiling at a familiar face, or purchasing our first program literature.

In the beginning, we may feel fear taking small risks. As time goes on, we learn there is nothing to fear at a new meeting, at smiling at another, or reading literature that tells us who we are. Then we begin to take greater risks, like asking someone to be our sponsor, going out for coffee, or taking the Fourth Step.

The safety and security we feel when we take risks in the program will help us take risks outside the program. With time, we can learn to trust others, share our needs, and set our limits at home, at work, and with friends. Taking a new risk allows another to soon appear.

What is there to fear in taking a risk? Help me learn that each time I take a risk I open another door. 

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Being healthy

Because we are clean and sober, we now con-front matters we had previously overlooked or snubbed. One concern new to many of us is the importance of taking care of our bodies.

After years of mistreating ourselves, we can’t expect to be perfectly healthy. Some conditions may be permanent. The next time we start to feel sorry for ourselves because our bodies are not perfect, let us breathe in and out and listen to our heartbeat. Can we say our Higher Power hasn’t been good to us?

How is my spiritual health?

Higher Power, help me to remember that mind and body are connected and to know that the healthier my thoughts are, the healthier my body will be.

I will improve my health today by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

~ KAHLIL GIBRAN ~

Newcomer

Someone told me that she liked what I’d shared at a meeting and asked me to be her sponsor. I explained that I don’t have a full year of recovery yet and that I need to wait until the year is up before taking on a sponsee. I’m flattered that she asked me, but sponsoring someone seems like such a big responsibility.

Sponsor

What a lovely acknowledgment of your growth, your love of the program, and your clarity. Her request that you sponsor her indicates respect for you and your recovery. I trust you can accept the compliment. Sometimes we’re not aware of how much we’ve grown until people who’ve seen and heard us sharing let us know that they appreciate our words and example.

You are wise, too, to have said no to this particular request. Customs vary from program to program, group to group; in some places, people may begin serving as sponsors before they themselves have completed a year of recovery. But giving ourselves time to go through an entire year of focusing on our own recovery ensures a more solid basis for helping other newcomers. The time will come. Meanwhile, there are many other ways to give service.

Today, I’m aware of the difference my recovery has begun to make in the lives of others.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Remember when they used to tell us, “If you don’t stop drinking you’ll go straight to Hell”? What a laugh that is — trying to tell us about Hell when we had been living in it for years. If we had told them about the Hell we knew, it would probably have scared them into drinking.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Silence: Cultivate silence.

2) Work(ing): You don’t have to understand how the Steps work for them to work.

3) STANDARD ACRONYMS: WISDOM: Words In Steps Do Open Minds.

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

For the Spirit of Prayer

Help me, Higher Power, to cultivate the habit of prayer. Enable me to know Your will. I pray I may conform my actions to the demands of Your will. I will pray with concentration of my mind, and I will pray with all my soul. I will pray to You in words of devotion with all my heart. I will pray to You aloud, and I will pray to You in silence. For You hear my prayers, even in thought, and measure my feelings and know my aspirations. I will pray, O God, that prayer may lift me to You and make me Yours.

~ Adapted from a Zoroastrian prayer ~

*******************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE EVERLASTING GATES

Read Psalm 24.

The Twenty-fourth Psalm is the great summing up of the Bible teaching on letting God come into your life.

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…

The key to the true meaning of this first stanza is found in the two pivotal words Lord and earth. In the Bible the word Lord means the I AM. The earth is a general term covering all expression or manifestation under the jurisdiction of the I AM. Now all trouble of every land really arises from the belief that the earth is subject to the dominion of some outer power or law that is able to govern it independently of the I AM. But the Law of Being is, that man is the image and likeness of God, and has full dominion over all his conditions, and this psalm emphasizes this wonderful fact by adding the world, and they that dwell therein.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?

The hill of the Lord, or His holy place, means the realization of God. It is that vivid, real sense of the Presence. When one attains to this he has a marvelous power of helping and healing others. To reach this state is the real object of all our prayers.

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…

But who are the pure in heart? Fundamentally, purity means complete loyalty to the belief in one single, all-embracing, Omnipotent God, Our Father which art in heaven. Hold unswervingly to God—this is purity.

To keep one’s mentality consciously loyal to the One Power is only half the battle. The other half is to purify and re-educate the soul, not merely from the grosser sins that everybody recognizes, but from the thousand-and-one concessions to limitation belief that fill the everyday life of humanity. This is to have “clean hands,” and to be able to ascend that wondrous “hill of the Lord.”

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Withholding Tax

When we’re hungry, love will keep us alive.

~ from the song, “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” by The Eagles ~

Would you like more love in your life? Do you long to be closer to other people? Is your heart yearning for more intimacy and safety? If so, here is a practice that will ensure all of these goals if you put its principles into action.

Begin to notice the ways you are withholding love from others. Such an introspection requires courage and honesty, for we are prone to avoid facing or admitting our resistance to love. If you can do it, you will be rewarded far beyond any fear you have to walk through in order to get there.

Withholding love is made visible through the symbols we attach to love. Are you withholding money from anyone, refusing to pay them, diminishing the amount you will pay, or delaying payment to get back at them for something they did that hurt you? Usually divorce-settlement fights over children or assets have nothing to do with the objects, which become pawns in the ego’s game to withhold love to punish. Do you withhold sex from your partner? Do you withhold the completion of your part of an agreement? Do you withhold your presence by making yourself so busy that you cannot be there in quality relationships? Are you consistently late? Do you withhold sharing your feelings for fear of being hurt? Do you withhold generous words of praise when someone deserves them?

While the ego perceives that withholding these things is protecting us, it only hurts us. Whenever you withhold love, you are the one who loses. In our efforts to punish another, we punish ourselves. In attempting to maintain worldly security, we lose our spiritual security. Only giving love can keep us secure. Love is the real food of our soul; the way we get more is by giving it away. Begin to discover where you are holding back from giving what would heal you; there you will find the doorway to the peace you seek.

Show me where and how I can love more.

I give all the love I would receive. The more I love, the happier I am.

[bluidkiti]

December 10

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Life is a dance. Am I dancing?

~ UNKNOWN ~

Am I enjoying life? Am I trying to enjoy life? Am I giving myself a break and practicing, “easy does it” on myself and other people?

I believe God wants me to be “happy, joyous and free.” I believe God wants me to live free of addiction and at times dance to the music I feel inside. I believe God wants me to help others dance to the sounds of their own music.

And if I am not careful I am inclined to be too busy to dance and enjoy life as I was when I was feeding my nicotine addiction.

Today, I thank God for helping me enjoy this precious gift of life.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

GLAMORIZING

I’m slipping when I begin to remember more of the good times than the bad.

~ Anonymous ~

We must keep our memories of the years before the Program in proper perspective. By the grace of God the compulsion was released from us. However, the addiction was not; it is always waiting for us to lower our guard. A danger sign we watch for is the voice that rewrites our past history.

The scenes we remember are parties, new partners, romance, laughter, music, sex, ballgames, intimate conversations, poolside play, Sunday brunch, getting ready to go out and “party hearty.” Seldom do we remember the bleary-eyed mornings, the waking up with horrible strangers, the embarrassments, the lost jobs, wrecked cars, wet beds, the toilet-hugging, the divorce that broke our hearts.

When my addiction talks to me about the good times, I need to remember “the rest of the story.”

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

What comes from the heart goes to the heart.

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~

Most of what we say and do is laden with implication and feeling. We can say the same words with many different inflections and convey very different meanings. When we have something very important to say, we may worry whether we will be understood. We can rely on the truth that when we speak from our heart to a trusted friend, and when we have his attention, our message will strike a chord.

A man was worried about speaking at a meeting. His friend told him, “Say it from the heart, man! Say it from the heart!” Communication at that level is instantly clear. We all have things in our hearts that we may be afraid to say. We can say them if we remind our-selves that a message from the heart will be heard by the heart. As we grow in our strength and recovery, we become more comfortable and we speak more and more from that level.

Today I will keep my heart open and speak to others from that level.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

As I learn self-acceptance, I have less need to rely on others to feel tall.

~ Kathy Kendall ~

How do we develop self-acceptance? What does it feel like? During the initial stages of our recovery, self-acceptance probably didn’t sound all that difficult to attain. But now we know the truth: practicing self-acceptance is rarely easy. Judging ourselves as failures and putting ourselves down for our mistakes has become habitual and “easy” to do; practicing self-acceptance, by contrast, is at first much more difficult.

While struggling to like ourselves, we perhaps fall easily into the trap of building ourselves up by judging others. As our recovery strengthens, however, we feel increasingly uncomfortable, even shameful, about judging others. And shame makes us feel even less acceptable.

Coming to believe that we have been chosen for this journey, that we have a caring Higher Power who loves us, is the best route to self-acceptance. When we’re finally comfortable with the idea that we each have a gift that’s unique, we’ll no longer struggle to accept ourselves.

I really am as good as I need to be today. Being here, now, means I have a unique gift to give.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I know now that I find no relief when I drink

I tried to handle my deep sadness and anxiety by using alcohol. When I drank, I paid less attention to my feelings. (In fact, I seemed to have fewer feelings.) But when the drug’s effects wore off, there were the deep sadness and anxiety again.
There too were guilt and shame and a headache. All this pain—and still I wanted to drink again.

Now in recovery when I have painful feelings, with the help of my higher power, I don’t drink—it would only increase the pain. I don’t try to erase the feelings. As best I can, I let them be and apply the tools of the program. Slowly, eventually, the pain lessens. Slowly, I heal. When I abstain, I can find relief.

Because urges tend to pass in four or five minutes, I will try counting slowly to 300.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Music drives the devil away.

~ Martin Luther ~

How many times have we seen a movie and liked the music so much we went out and bought the sound track album? It may have been classical music in the background, or country and western, or jazz, or even rock music. Perhaps the music was soothing, or fun and spirited. It made us want to sing or dance. It was so good to listen to it made us feel good all over!

Music of many kinds can enrich the spirit, drive away our worries, and soothe tension. It’s a gift we all can have as long as we can hear. And many who are hearing-impaired may still benefit from the rhythmic vibrations of music that are felt more than heard, but which can still be soothing.

When we take some time each day to stop and listen to music, we contribute to our physical wellbeing and our spiritual health. And we appreciate it when those who have the gift of making music share that gift with others. We may even find a music-making gift in ourselves that we can share and enjoy.

Today help me take time from the hectic part of my day and allow music to heal and refresh me.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Treat your friends as you do your pictures, and place them in their best light.

~ Jennie Jerome Churchill ~

Long ago, a ship was wrecked during a storm at sea. Two crew members swam to a small island and decided to pray for their survival. They fashioned a challenge to find out whose prayers were more powerful and they agreed to stay on opposite sides of the island as they prayed.

The first man prayed for food. The next morning he had a fruit-bearing tree on his side. The other man’s land was barren.

The first man prayed for companionship. It so happened that another ship was wrecked, and he welcomed a woman. The other man had no tree and no woman.

Finally, the first man prayed for rescue. The next day he saw a ship anchored close to his side of the island. He boarded the ship and decided to leave his friend behind. As the ship was about to depart, a voice from the heavens called out, “Why are you leaving your friend?” The man answered, “My blessings are mine because of the power of my prayers. His prayers went unanswered. So, he is not deserving.”

The voice replied, “Your friend had only one prayer, which I answered. He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”

I will treat my friends with kindness and wish them to receive everything they need.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

Actually, these are among the most important times in one’s life, when one is alone. Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; the writer, to work out his thoughts; the musician, to compose; the saint, to pray.

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

Most of us are alone for some time at night, whether we’re commuting home or sitting down for a few minutes of meditation. Time alone—with ourselves and our Higher Power—is a valuable part of our day. In this stillness, we can listen to ourselves and feel our feelings without the constant distractions of the day.

Being still with ourselves means not running away from the silence around us. It means feeling our feelings, whether they’re good or bad. It’s a time of reflection and prayer.

For every moment we can be at peace with our-selves, we are that much closer to being a part of life. For as there is peace in nature, so it is in our nature to feel peace.

Am I at peace with myself now? Have I prayed to my Higher Power to help me at this time?

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Being loving people

Many of us considered ourselves to be loving people. When we learned that we weren’t as loving as we’d made ourselves out to be, we became reproachful. We knew we couldn’t truly love other people and presumed it was our fault. But our only fault was in not realizing that to give love we need to receive it. To give love, we need first to be open to receiving it from our Higher Power.

We didn’t know that to find love we only needed to ask for it. When we feel love for our enemies, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our Higher Power is with us. We know in such situations that we could not produce this kind of love by ourselves.

Do I have the gift of love?

Higher Power, help me be willing to love any person you set in my path.

Today I will ask my Higher Power for love in my relationship with

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

When you take the alcohol out of alcoholism, you still have to deal with the ism.

~ SAYING HEARD AT MEETINGS ~
Newcomer

I’ve had a falling out with someone I’d been spending time with recently. She’s been in recovery a couple of years longer than I have, and I assumed that she’d be normal by now or, at the least, more stable than I am. But she is needy and difficult, and I just can’t do and be what she wants.

Sponsor

Recovery doesn’t give anyone instant maturity, insight, or a gift for stable relationships. Even after we’ve let go of addictive substances and behaviors, we still have work to do. This work isn’t identical for all of us and doesn’t follow a prescribed timetable. We’ve entered recovery at different times in our lives, having had different experiences, and we may face a variety of challenges in addition to our common problem of addiction. Once in recovery, we have the opportunity to address underlying issues; that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll resolve them quickly, or that all of us are maturing at the same pace.

We can’t assume that someone’s length of time in recovery guarantees that he or she won’t have unreasonable expectations of us. Good relationships develop over time, if we have the willingness and ability to take responsibility for our own needs, to communicate with love and patience through periods of conflict as well as harmony.

Today, I have realistic expectations of myself and others.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

It is hard for us at times to understand the misfortunes that befall us when we are doing the very best we know how, to live right by both God and man.

It is only in times that try men’s souls that the soul develops and grows stronger. Like a muscle, it develops with hard work.

If you would produce an exceptional rose, you must prune the brush of every budding branch so that all the strength goes into the single bloom. It’s not what the bush would want, but it develops the perfection in the rose you desire.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Al-Anon: I’m a Friend of Lois W.

2) Drink(ing,): Each day, you are either a step farther from your last drink or a step closer to your next.

3) Heal(ing): Feel, Deal and Heal (Feel it, Deal with it and then Heal from it)

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Father of Light

O my Father, Father of Light,
Who watches over us all,
I have no words to thank You.
But with Your great wisdom
I am sure that You can see
My willingness to change
And how I value Your glorious gifts.

O my Father, when I look upon Your greatness,
I am confounded with awe.
O Supreme Being,
Ruler of all things earthly and heavenly,
I am your warrior,
Ready to act in accordance with Your will.

~ Adapted from a Kenyan prayer ~

*******************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE KING OF GLORY ENTERS HERE

Read Psalm 24.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face….

To many it may seem that the purification of the heart will be a long and wearisome task, but we have to remember that when we pray it is God who works and not we. If you will use the power of the Word, old habits of thinking will fall away and new ones come in; and this is because you will receive your righteousness, or right thinking, from God. You have sought His face, and you must begin to express something of His nature, for we always grow unto that which we contemplate.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Gates and doors symbolize understanding and it is only by the attainment of a higher degree of understanding that the King of glory—the vivid realization of God which we are seeking—can come to our souls. We are then told to ask ourselves who the King of glory is, and for what He stands. He is nothing less than the Lord; strong and mighty in battle, and the battle he fights, of course, is our battle.

The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Just Sit There

All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right-about-face which turns us from failure toward success.

~ Dorothea Brande ~

Rev. Diane Winter has established a unique prison ministry in which she spends most of her time teaching spiritual classes, counseling, and assisting inmates before and after their release. When I asked Diane how she got started, she told me, “It wasn’t easy. I went to the administrator’s office and told him that I wanted to teach a class on spiritual growth. He told me I had to go to another city two hours away and get permission from his three supervisors. Then he told me, ‘I will think about it.’ I knew he was just trying to put me off, and I made an appointment to meet with him again. Then he forgot about me and never showed up. But I wasn’t about to quit. His secretary refused to make an–other appointment for me, so I decided I would just go to his office and sit there until I could see him. If I had to sit there every day, all day, I would. But I didn’t have to; that day he saw me and gave me permission. I later learned that he and the other administrators made bets on how long I would last; the longest estimate was three months. That was five years ago. These have been the five most rewarding years of my life. ”

Sometimes we need such depth of determination to accomplish our dream. We have to be willing to sit there every day, all day, until we get results. Our will to succeed must be stronger than someone else’s will to put us off.

In light of the success, service, and joy that Diane has achieved, her initial efforts seem minor in comparison. If you feel discouraged or put off, remember the bigger picture, and paint it as you choose.

I pray to be sufficiently dedicated to my goals that I fulfill my dreams.

I can do anything I set my mind and heart to do.

[bluidkiti]

December 11

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

I always pretended that it was no big deal to be around non-smokers, but it was a total pain in the a$$.

~ NICOTINE ANONYMOUS: THE BOOK ~

How true for me. It got so I would avoid going places with non-smokers because it interfered with my smoking. And that included most of the population out there, eventually even including my girlfriend.

Things are different now. After I quit smoking I thought it was cool to hang out with people who were smoking. I try to avoid this now. I am still a smoker in recovery and I do not need to be around people who are actively smoking. I like the smell of tobacco too much.

So I avoid bars and other places where people smoke, not completely but mostly. And I always try to be compassionate toward smokers and other nicotine addicts and give them their right to live as they are living.

I am grateful to live in a time and place where the rights of non-smokers are so great. I remember the days we were allowed to smoke everywhere except church and elevators, and I even lit up once or twice in elevators.

Today, I will be tolerant of others regardless of our differences.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

FORGIVENESS

I’m slipping when I say forgive, but don’t forget.

~ Anonymous ~

When we join in an act of forgiveness, we bring relationships whole again. Forgiveness is not a state of mind. It is a state of being. If we do not forgive deep within our hearts, we have not really forgiven. Forgiveness which stays up in the head is really only the intention to forgive.

We know we have not truly forgiven when we can’t forget what caused our resentments. If this wound is still open and sore, we did not forgive from the heart. We remember to give ourselves time, talk with our sponsor and fellow
members, and pray for help. It is good to share our resentment in a meeting and ask for suggestions. Finally we must wait. God will heal the wound in time if we let Him.

My willingness is the key. If I am willing to let go, I will be given the power to truly forgive.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

The Eskimo term for sexual intercourse is “laughing together.”

~ Anonymous ~

This Eskimo term teaches us that sexuality is a God- given gift intended to bring pleasure and create bonds between two people. Problems surrounding sexuality are common among recovering men, and it is another area where we can grow. Some of us attached great anxiety to sex and used chemicals to handle our anxiety. In sobriety we become faced with the anxiety again. Some of us used sex as our drug, an addiction that served more to escape our feelings than to enrich them.

Our sexual desires and feelings provide energy for our intimate partnership. There is no more shame in having a sexual problem than there is in having a communication problem with someone. We can learn that taking sexual pleasure within a loving relationship is hardly separate from giving it. Talking to our intimate partner and a trusted friend can relieve many problems. Just as we can lighten the burden of any other problem, sexual matters are solvable too.

Today I am grateful for the pleasure and the gift of sexuality.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

The Twelve Steps have taught me to feel my pain—and then walk through it.

~ Joan Rohde ~

Getting clean and sober has not meant an end to the pain in our lives. Being human gives us many opportunities to feel and grow through painful experiences. But what is different now is that we have the support of a loving God and the Twelve Steps to give us hope and clarity. We also have the friendship of many women who understand us. Our journey through the unknown is made in the company of these friends.

Sometimes we wonder why we have been graced. Most of us are befriending women who still struggle without the benefit of this program. We see our former selves in them, and we wish we could give them what we now have. In our past, every experience had the potential to devastate us; today no experience is too much for us to handle.

We are free: free to enjoy every moment; free of the fear that we have to solve our problems alone; free of dread about what the future may hold.

I am looking forward to my experiences today, for they will be the right ones for my growth. God will help me handle the hard parts.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am getting used to my meds.

I thought that taking psychiatric medication would help fix my problems, not cause them. While it has helped with my psychiatric problems, the price is some unpleasant side effects. I don’t like having a sensitive bladder, a limited diet, a dry mouth, or some temporary sexual problems.

But lately I’ve come to see that these dis-comforts are minor compared to the disasters caused by my psychiatric illness. Deep down I am grateful that medications exist that can help me cope and adjust. I can learn to live with some side effects.

Today I will look for a positive aspect of two negative situations in my life.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

I’ve taken my fun where I’ve found it.

~ Rudyard Kipling ~

Today we’ve all been given another day to use and explore. Why on earth would we spend so much time and effort on recovery if we don’t plan on having fun? What’s the point? God gave us today and if we don’t put some joy into it, we’re at fault. If we’re rusty at having fun we have all kinds of willing participants at meetings. There is always something to enjoy if we only look for it.

When we bring joy and laughter into our lives we gain perspective, we lighten our load of worry, and we make ourselves more open and receptive to others who may like to get to know us. We also celebrate the sobriety we have worked so diligently to nurture in meetings and in partnership with our Higher Power. Fun is not only a reward for our efforts, but another step in our healing.

Today let me live each moment gratefully and openly.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Happy or unhappy, families are all mysterious.

~ Gloria Steinem ~

Children often adopt roles to help them cope within a dysfunctional family. You may identify with these roles.

• Hero. Your role was making everyone in the family look good. Your struggles today are with your need for perfection and learning how to face conflict.

• Mascot. Your role was to make light of the bad situation in your home. Your struggles today are dealing with anger and resentment, and understanding the difference between humor and sarcasm.

• Lost Child. Your role was maintaining silence and staying out of everyone’s way. This timidity is something you need to learn how to overcome today so you can find your voice, express your feelings, and take risks.

• Scapegoat. Your role was to act out in ways that created distraction from the addict and family problems. More often than not your actions resulted in punishment and abuse. You need to come to terms with childhood abuse and the consequences of rebellious actions.

• Caretaker. Your role was to try to make everyone happy. Your struggles today are learning how to balance taking care of others with developing the ability to focus on yourself.

I will shed my childhood role so I can become who I need and want to be.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

You cannot be anything if you want to be everything.

~ Solomon Schechter ~

Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by the amount of things we believe we have to work on at one time. We may feel stressed under the pressure of working a full-time job, attending school, working on a relationship, caring for ourselves and a family, and growing in recovery. Sometimes we may want to put up an “Out to Lunch” sign and take off for parts unknown.
Anytime we feel overwhelmed it’s our mind’s way of telling us we need to set limits. We can’t do everything and expect to get very far. But we’ll get far if we do some things and leave others alone for a while.
Tonight we can look at our overbooked schedules and see where we can make changes. We first need to leave some free time for ourselves. Then we need to prioritize our obligations. Once we try out our new schedules for a while, we may see some changes or find others that need to be made. Starting tonight, we can stop feeling overwhelmed with life and take charge of it.

How can I reorganize my schedule so I’m not so overwhelmed? Tonight I can begin to take charge of my life and mold it to fit my needs. 

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

On the move

Do we remember the “geographical cure,” when we rationalized that if we changed our location our problems would melt away? Some of us left a city. Some left a state. Others thought the communes had the answer. Some even sought the answer in other countries.
Wherever we went we always brought our selves along. Unless we changed our selves, no place in the universe could resolve our problems for us. Invariably, we found that our program was the only answer for us.
Have I changed within?
Higher Power, let me hear the “still small voice within” and know that change begins with me.
Today I will analyze my changes, including

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

~ SAYING HEARD AT MEETINGS ~

Newcomer

I know that doing service is suggested, and I’ve done a lot of it. But I want to take some time off now. You’ve said before that this program makes suggestions, not rules, so I know there’s no rule that I have to keep doing service.

Sponsor

We need to look carefully at our motives. Some of us do a great deal of service early in recovery—chores like setting up chairs, making coffee, and cleaning up. This has kept us busy and helped us get to meetings and stay away from our drug of choice. Perhaps now we want to give other new-comers opportunities to serve the group. Or perhaps we’d like to try something new. These are legitimate reasons for changing service positions. Perhaps, however, we’ve been harboring feelings of resentment about responsibilities we’ve taken on. We may feel overextended or unappreciated.
Or perhaps we want to pull back from the program. We may even be unconsciously laying the groundwork for a relapse.
Service is essential to recovery. Without it, meetings wouldn’t take place, newcomers wouldn’t find sponsors; phones would go unanswered. Others’ service makes our recovery possible; we do the same for those who want what we have. Each of us is responsible for giving service that’s appropriate to our schedules and abilities.

My willingness to give service today expresses my gratitude for recovery.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Every man is both human and divine, both good and evil, strong and weak, wise and foolish. The body, soul and mind are the battleground of our conflicting natures, and while these conflicts rage, we can have no peace. It is only when we bring our conflicting emotions under control that victory over self is possible. We alcoholics have learned that we are unable to accomplish this without outside help. With that help, real peace is obtainable. No other way has worked for us.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Opinion(s): Group conscience: There’s room for more than one opinion and none of them has to be wrong

2) Silence: Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

3) Work(ing): You have to work a full program in a half way house.

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Better Relationships

I pray for the opportunity to form better relationships now that I am in recovery. The Program has revealed a need to completely overhaul my attitudes about intimate and personal relations. I pray the working of the Program will help me be a better partner in relationships. Most of the time I never really needed better partners. I just needed to be a better person.

*******************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

People sometimes accept the idea that a change of thought, plus turning to God in prayer, will transform their lives into harmony and freedom. The logic of this principle appeals to them, and they set to work upon it in earnest. Then, after a few days, they say, “Nothing has happened after all,” and they drop back into their old negative thinking.
That is extremely foolish. The results of many years of general negative thinking are seldom corrected in a few days.
No one who goes upon a new physical diet or medical regimen expects to reap the advantages in so short a time. You must keep up the new way of thinking and refuse to be discouraged by seeming failures at first.
The right motive for adopting right thinking is that it is right, and that wrong thinking is wrong; and we should do right whether it seems to pay dividends or not. Of course, it does pay dividends—fabulous dividends—but it usually takes a little perseverance in the face of preliminary slowness.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Christmas Gold

It is in your power to make this season holy, for it is in your power to make the time of Christ be now.
~ A Course in Miracles ~

There is much more to the Christmas season than meets the eye. This is the time of year when the human race publicly acknowledges the presence of divinity. It is a time when angels are accepted as real, and people sing openly in the streets. It is a time when we are urged to reach beyond self-involvement and bring joy to others. It is a time when we take a respite from our worldly activities to remember the importance of friendship, family, and love. For many, the Christmas season is a challenging time. The call to love brings forth everything unlike love, and some of us find ourselves feeling stressed or depressed. We face unresolved family issues, and our yearning to be with a special person at a special time is sometimes met with frustration or disappointment. We face unwanted obligations to give to certain people or be present at certain gatherings, and the general level of rush, stress, and conflict does not decrease in the spirit of Christmas, but only escalates in the name of fear.
Consider the Christmas season an invitation to master love, an opportunity to practice the presence of Christ in the face of vast materialism and insanity. To love in a world of love is ideal, but to love in the face of illusion is mastery. Heightened materialism during the season is the ego’s response to the increased spiritual energy on the planet. Rather than surrender to love, the ego tries to distract us from Spirit by dangling gold before us. But the real gold is within. You are the gold, and the game is to find the gold in your brothers and sisters.
This year, honor the Christ in you by remaining at peace. If you never send one Christmas card, show up at one party, or give one present, but remain in love, you will give the greatest gift of all. As you go through your Christmas activities, be kind. That is all that Jesus would care about. Help me to remember the reason for Christmas. I pray to keep my heart open.

I honor Christ by living His peace.

[bluidkiti]

December 12

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.

~ MARK TWAIN ~

My selfishness is the root of my troubles, before and after recovery. I was such a selfish smoker, expecting non-smokers to accept my smoke in their air. I was irritated when a friend put a sign asking people not to smoke in her work area, thinking how selfish she was. I was angry when the company eventually banned smoking from the workplace except in designated areas. My brother is still this way, and it drives me away from him now that I am free of tobacco.

In recovery I see in my Step Ten inventories my selfishness is still very much with me. It comes out in fear, self-pity, jealously, and many other ways. And yes, subtly when I step on the toes of my fellows they retaliate in their own ways, if only to steer clear of me.

Today, I will ask God to relieve me of the bondage of self and allow me to be of loving service.

Nicotine Anonymous World Services

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

DEFECTS

The greatest of all faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.

~ Pliny ~

One of the first things we heard in our Program was that we probably had defects of character. We first admitted we were powerless over a substance or behavior. Then we learned that those who believed they had no faults of character were mistaken. Little progress could be made without looking at our defects of character.

Such a self-analysis, in order to be thorough, must include assets. But the big challenge is to understand our faults and to use the other Steps of the Program to get rid of them. We are not, never were, and never will be candidates for sainthood. We never try to be perfect, but give continual attention to character growth.

By doing my inventory on a daily basis, I make myself aware of my character defects and what I need to do to grow out of them.

by Anonymous

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

~ Michel de Montaigne ~

The spiritual path is filled with paradox. One example is the word defeat, which has a bad reputation. In recovery we learn that brokenness can be the beginning of changes for the better. Sometimes the drive of our ego takes us on a very exciting but destructive ride. Only in defeat do we open our eyes and begin to understand the deeper truth and go in a direction that fits our better self. That is every man’s story in recovery. Out of defeat we find a new form of triumph.

This may be a day in which we face particular worries or losses. Our first thoughts are about the pain and difficulty—we don’t yet know what we need to learn from them. We only need to stay focused on the kind of man we choose to be. From that will come the wisdom and the wherewithal to create the kind of life we will feel good about.

Today I am grateful for the sustaining power of this spiritual life and will stay focused on the kind of man I choose to be.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

When you are down, get back up and fight!

~ Iris Timberlake ~

Our attitude determines how we handle every experience. If we feel defeated by circumstances— say we’ve lost a job or a friend has abandoned us— we will not be ready for the next opportunity our Higher Power has in store for us. No door is ever closed without another one being opened. However, if we are focused on what’s no longer ours, we’ll miss what can be.

This is not to say we shouldn’t grieve our losses. In order to accept them, we must feel them. Then we need to get back on our feet and go on with this moment, this day, this life. Not to do so is to deny trust in one’s Higher Power. The Third Step promises that we have a caring God in charge. Yesterday’s closed doors didn’t mean our lives were over. Nor will today’s.

I will relish the strength I feel today when I remember that God is opening (and closing) all the right doors for me.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I have not one, but two illnesses

I knew I had a problem with drugs—I kept losing jobs by going to work high. But it wasn’t until later, when I finally got into treatment, that my doctor diagnosed my psychiatric illness.

In treatment I learned that I have two no-fault illnesses, addiction and depression. I learned that I need to stay clean and sober, and I need to stay stable with my psychiatric illness. To do this I am now taking medication and learning healthy ways to cope with the symptoms of my biological illness. It’s hard to accept a dual disorder, but now that I know what my problems are, it is easier to do what I need to do to recover.

I will attend a Twelve Step meeting that supports dual recovery and stay in touch with my personal and professional helpers.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

I have more memories than if I were a thousand years old.

~ Charles Baudelaire ~

Inside us we carry our entire lives imprinted like photographs. And like photographs, these memories can bring back all the feelings we experienced at the time. They’re all locked away, the good times and the bad.

During active addiction and sometimes in early recovery we tend to remember only the bad times. We created such unhappy lives that it became easy for us to hate ourselves. We seemed to punish ourselves by dwelling only on the bad times, our faults, shames, and sins.

But now we’re finding the other side of life again, the positive and joyful experiences of yesterday and today. When we need inspiration we can tap into all the good that’s come to us. Like a photograph, it’s all there for us to enjoy again — a special family gathering, sunset over a church steeple, the face of a special friend, mountains at twilight, the first time we saw our newborn children. It’s all there, waiting and ready, our own personal album of positive experiences for us to draw on. It’s a part of us that comes back more and more as our recovery progresses.

Today let me remember the good times instead of the bad. Let me focus on joy instead of pain.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

We are what we think.

~ Buddha ~

When you learn there are members of your fellowship who are using again, you may wonder what they were thinking about before they made the decision to drink. “Why did they choose to throw away all the work they have done and all the progress they have made?” Those who relapse often do so because they have been over-whelmed by the slick talk of the Demon of Denial. Like the sirens of lore who, with their beautiful singing, lured ships to crash into treacherous rocks, the Demon provides seductive enticement.

At this time of year, the Demon uses the upcoming holidays as a good excuse to resume drinking. But the Demon also entices with other excuses: stress, family dynamics, finances, an illness in the family, or the anniversary of the death of a parent or loved one. The Demon is skilled at convincing recovering alcoholics that because their life is better now, it was not their drinking but something or someone else that created past problems.

Beware of the Demon! It can show up at the most un-expected times to push, prod, and influence. Resist the Demon whenever you feel its presence by enlisting help from your sponsor.

I will beware and be aware of the Demon of Denial.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.

~ Japanese proverb ~

For the next hour, how will we act or feel? Will we toss and turn filled with fear and worry over the night? Will we be anxious and stressed over our day’s activities and unable to sleep? Will we feel lonely and abandoned in our isolation? Or will we be able to sleep peacefully?

If we let this next hour determine how we would feel for the rest of our lives, which feelings would we choose? We might find it easy to let go of the negative feelings we feel right now if we knew we’d have to feel that way all the time.

For the next hour, we can choose how we want to feel just as if we were making a permanent character mold. Chances are we want a good night’s sleep, so we can face the new day relaxed and filled with good feelings. Then we can approach the day an hour at a time, maintaining those positive feelings. Imagine what good we can feel if we look at our lives as a series of hours that can be changed and improved as each one is completed!

For the next hour, I would like to relax and begin a peaceful night’s sleep. Then I can face tomorrow in a positive mood.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Dealing with turmoil

Our emotional reactions to people and events—not the people and events them-selves—are the source of our turmoil and strife. Other people don’t make our lives un-bearable. The turmoil is not in the event but in our reaction to it.

If a friend slips and falls, do we react with, “Look what you’ve done to me”? Most likely, we’ll offer a helping hand and some compassion. We don’t take the happening personally. When we’re upset or frustrated with others, we can choose to fill our hearts with anger, sadness, pain or—in the spirit of our Higher Power—with love and understanding. Have I stopped reacting?

Higher Power, I pray that I may gain strength in your love and turn away the strife caused by fear and uncontrolled emotions.

Today I will handle any frustration placidly by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

One must talk. That’s how it is. One must.

~ MARGUERITE DURAS ~

Newcomer

Someone I’m involved with is active in this disease again, after time in recovery. I’ve felt ashamed to talk with you about it or to share it at meetings. Am I jeopardizing my recovery by staying loyal to this person?

Sponsor

Some of us are already in committed relationships when we enter recovery. A partner, child, or family member may have problems of addiction. We know we cannot give recovery to another person. But it’s appropriate to raise the question, as you have, of the impact of this situation on our own recovery.

While we want to avoid gossip, accusation, and blame of those we are close to who are still active, it’s essential for our own recovery that we don’t keep secrets. At meetings, we can share about the ways that a relationship challenges our own recovery, keeping the focus on ourselves. We can talk in more detail with a sponsor or counselor knowledgeable about addiction. We can avoid any tendency to enable another’s addictive habits. We can pay close attention to our own addictive thinking and not let ourselves drift away from meetings and from using the tools of recovery.

While it may be painful and challenging to remain close to someone suffering from addiction, we can maintain our own recovery if we use all the help available to us. We can pray for our own and others’ healing, as we continue sober practices that have worked for us.

Today I protect my recovery by honest sharing about any challenges to it.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

If our God. as we understand Him, is a personal God, then it is reasonable to assume that He is so close to us that He is residing in us. He is then part of us and we are part of Him. As we cannot have two different personalities at the same time, we can assume we are either worldly or Godlike, depending upon the characteristic that has dominance at the moment of any specific action.

We cannot expect this God in us to help us unless we are in accord with Him and are endeavoring to help ourselves; otherwise we would be working contrary to ourselves.

Give the God in you a chance—He has given you a thousand.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) STANDARD ACRONYMS: WOW: Willingness Over Willpower

2) Al-Anon: It’s Al-Anon, not Ala-Mom.

3) Drink(ing,): Eventually every alcoholic will have his last drink. Those of us in AA get to talk about ours.

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

God’s Love

I pray that I may walk in Your love, God. I pray that as I go, I may feel the spring of Your power in my steps and the joy of Your love in my heart. A consciousness of Your loving presence makes all life different. You have brought me relief from the cares and worries of my daily life. I pray for the freedom and serenity of a sober life.

~ Adapted from Twenty-Four Hours a Day, September 8 ~

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN

The Bible mentions the existence of an unforgivable sin, and this has greatly frightened innumerable Christians.

Let us be absolutely clear upon one point. There is no sin that a human being can commit that God will not forgive but there is one sin that he cannot forgive until we make it possible. This sin consists in shutting ourselves off from fresh inspiration or guidance from God. If your mind is already made up about everything appertaining to God; if you decide that you now know all the truth, and that you could not be mistaken; then it will not be possible for the Holy Ghost to open your eyes to error and lead you into higher truth. Naturally, as long as this is your state of mind, no help or improvement can come to you; and in that sense only is your sin unforgivable—unforgivable while it lasts. When you do change your attitude, enlightenment will come, and the sin will be destroyed.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

God Is My Agent

I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, for He who sent me will direct me.

~ A Course in Miracles ~

When I self-published The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, I went to New York with $5,000 of borrowed money and made a deal with a printer. As I rose to leave his office, he remarked, “You know, they say you don’t make any money until your third book.” His words took me by surprise; I felt as if he was trying to dump a load of manure on my dream. Hardly thinking, these words came out of my mouth: “That’s what they may say, but what they may not know is that my agent is God.”

The printer looked at me, puzzled, and I went on my way. The book became an instant success, my investment was returned, and it went on to be quite profitable even long before my second book was published.

When your work proceeds from Spirit, the universe will take care of you. The laws of right livelihood far supersede the norms and expectations of those who are in business simply to make money. Don’t work for a living; create for a life. If your idea or product is the result of prayer, intention, and a dedication to true service, you will prosper in miraculous ways. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

You do not need to fight to champion your cause; instead, let God open the doors for you. This does not mean that you do nothing and sit around and wait for the money to pour in. If a result is to come through your efforts, Spirit will tell you what to do. You do not need to fret, struggle, scheme, and sweat for your good. The same God that gave you the idea will help it succeed.

I turn my work, my relationships, and my life over to You to guide, knowing that Your love and wisdom will prosper me in wondrous ways.

I take care of God’s business, and God takes care of mine.

[bluidkiti]

December 13

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

One may know how to gain a victory, and know not how to use it.

~ PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA ~

All those wasted years I smoked from my teens into my late forties. It was inevitable for me as the child of two heavy smokers. I lived in the lie of believing that smoking tobacco was helping me live a better life, at such a high cost in so many ways that only smokers understand. So many wasted feelings numbed with the drug nicotine.

Thank God for our Twelve Steps and Fellowship to guide me away from my drug and toward each other and God. After almost nine years of living free of nicotine, I know with certainty this is the best way to live, free from addiction and living with God as I understand God, trying to “do the next right thing.”

Today, I am grateful for smobriety and being able to share this precious life.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

ENVY

There is not a passion so strongly rooted in the human heart as envy.

~ Richard Sheridan ~

In the past when we drank, used, or misbehaved, our self-worth was beaten down to the point of feeling less than everyone around us. We wallowed in feelings of worthlessness, awkwardness, sadness, and self-pity. We were envious of those who had what we wanted.

Envy brought hatred, jealousy, anger, fear, disrespect, and distrust. We wished failure and disaster on people who had become successful or had gained in any way.

Before the Program, we wanted what others had, but we didn’t know how to get it. Now we’re happy with the miracles we receive in recovery. We have discovered that doing is more important than having and experiencing is more important than possessing.

Today, I’ll remember when I practice love, caring, and sharing, I experience little envy.

by Anonymous

********************************************


~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

~ Marcel Proust ~

We have awakened with new eyes as men with new lives. We are walking in the same world but seeing it with new clarity. We were asleep in the darkness, pursuing pleasures that ultimately brought only pain and pursuing control over that which could not be controlled. What once was confusing and beyond the grasp of our understanding we now find simple and interesting in the bright sunlight of our new lives. This path of healing is based on honesty with ourselves and acceptance of our powerlessness.

On this path we feel like real human beings. We may see that we have much work to do, but we have hope for our lives. Healing has become an exciting adventure. We are gaining a sense of self-esteem, our friendships are deeper, and we are more productive at work. When we feel discouraged, we have new choices for handling our feelings.

Today I am grateful to be awake and to see the world with new eyes.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

When I started feeling the pain of my story, my healing process began.

~ Helen Neujahr ~

Healing is a crucial element in our recovery, and the Fourth and Fifth Steps are oftentimes the catalyst to get the process going. Doing a careful Fourth-Step inventory helps us to recognize the sources of our wounds. Sharing our darkest secrets in a Fifth Step takes away some of the shame that has kept us sick.

Forgiving ourselves for our past transgressions is a hurdle we must clear in order to sustain the healing process. The bonds of intimacy we are forging with other women help us know how very alike we are. None of us are without a tarnished past. Sharing our stories will help us heal.

Forgiving the other significant people in our lives is also necessary for real healing to occur. The past abuse we may have suffered left scars. But we can heal. We can help each other heal too. The Steps and our Higher Power will guide us.

Sharing some of my story with another person today will help both of us heal.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I know what I need to do

Some days I wonder, What did I do to deserve this dual disorder? Sometimes I am hard on myself and think, People don’t get this sick without a reason. With thoughts like these I feel ashamed and guilty.

But in recovery I need to counteract these messages. It helps when I recall a most important lesson: Even though I may feel bad, and even though it feels like people may treat me differently, I am not a bad person. I do not deserve my dual illnesses. They are not my fault. Instead of giving in to guilt, fixating on the negative, my task is to work my dual recovery program daily, to simply do the best I can.

Today I will make a list of all the steps I am taking to recover from my illnesses.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

~ William James ~

We have a choice today. We can look at our lives as drudgery and the tasks before us as painful and hopeless, or we can choose to take the high road. We change a lot in recovery. We have decided that sobriety is better than active addiction. This decision itself is our affirmation that life is worth living.

Now we are not only beginning to see the real value in ourselves and our lives, we are starting to add to that value. We feel and share our feelings now; we have friends who care about our struggles; we have hope; and we have a Higher Power helping us feel at home in the universe. These are all tangible results of a simple belief — that life has more to it than pain and the denial of addiction. Each time we act on this belief we add more to our lives.

When we do simple, caring things for ourselves — like going for a walk, taking time for a long bath, or for communing with our Higher Power — we place ourselves more squarely in our new lives. By growing spiritually we enhance not only our own joy but the joy of those around us.

Today help me create another layer of happiness in my life by taking time for myself.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

No individual raindrop considers itself responsible for the flood.

~ Author unknown ~

A story has been told about a young girl who loved to play the piano. Her mother bought tickets to see a famous pianist perform. On the night of the concert, the mother took her daughter into the grand venue. They found their seats, and the girl sat spellbound as she stared at the piano onstage. When the mother spotted a friend in the audience, she left her daughter alone for a few moments. Then the lights flickered to signal the concert was about to begin. The mother returned to her seat and found her daughter missing. As she was about to alert an usher, she heard a familiar song being played on the piano.

A hush fell over the crowd and everyone looked to the stage. The girl sat hunched over the piano keys, slowly tapping out her practice piece. Before anyone could escort the girl offstage, the pianist walked over to her. He observed her, then joined her at the piano and whispered something in her ear. The girl stopped playing.

Then, together, the great pianist and the novice played her simple piece together. A few times the grand master placed his hands over hers and guided her movements. When the song was concluded, the audience erupted in wild applause.

I am ready to give newcomers a helping hand.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

We cannot build until we have laid foundation stones. We add to our foundations every time we meet our difficulties well, however insignificant they may be.

~ Charles B. Newcomb ~

A house without a foundation will not last. As the ground shifts in hot and cold weather, so will the floors. The wood placed upon the ground will rot. The rooms will be cold and damp with no protection from the temperature of the ground. Before the program, we were houses without foundations.

A house built with a strong foundation will provide warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. Though the ground may shift, the foundation will absorb the movements and keep the rooms level and unharmed. The foundation will protect the precious wood. In the program, we are houses with foundations.

The strength of our foundations will depend on our commitment to recovery. If we keep the program ever in our lives, work the Steps, and take regular inventory of our progress, our foundations will be strong and durable. They will protect our houses through all kinds of weather for a long time.
Tonight I can make repairs upon my foundation and strengthen it.

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

Although we know that on some level we are always connected, our most common experience is one of estrangement.

~ MARGOT ADLER ~

Newcomer

I’ve had a huge disappointment in my life recently. The details may be too private to share at a meeting, but not sharing them is making me feel more and more distant.

Sponsor

Our own preferences determine how much detail we feel comfortable sharing at meetings. Numerous details may not be necessary, however, for the process of sharing to help us begin to heal. Simply speaking up is always useful; just sharing a few words about how we’re feeling today can accomplish a lot. It’s a way of saying, “I’m here today; I’m a part of this group of recovering people; I’m staying sober- no matter what.” It can keep us from isolation and self-pity.

It is important to share the details of whatever may be having an impact on our lives in recovery with at least one other person. Conversations with a sponsor, a trusted friend, a therapist, or a spiritual adviser are essential. While such conversations may not give us solutions to our problems, they can be a source of support as we find our own way to solutions. Writing about our experiences and speaking with our Higher Power in prayer can also help us go through challenging events in recovery. We don’t have to struggle on our own.

Today, my sober life includes people with whom I can share in depth.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

One of the great satisfactions resulting from sobriety is the ability to drop into bed at night with the knowledge that the day has been completed, all chores finished and no regrets.

There will always be affairs to be taken care of on the morrow, but we know that tomorrow will find us physically and mentally prepared for most any eventuality. Remorse and Fear are no longer our bedfellows.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Heal(ing): God has no reproach for anything that God has healed.

2) Opinion(s): Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

3) Silence: You may often regret your speech, never your silence.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

God of Our Life

God of our Life,
There are days when the burdens we carry
Hurt our shoulders and weigh us down,
When our lives have no music in them
And our hearts are lonely.
Flood our path with light, we pray.
Turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise;
Tune our hearts to brave music;
Give us a sense of fellowship with others,
And lift our spirits so we may encourage
Others who journey with us on the road of recovery.

~ Adapted from writings by St. Augustine ~

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

PRACTICE MAKES REAL

The only part of our religion that is real is the part we express in our daily lives. Ideals that we do not act out in practice are mere abstract theories. Actually, such pretended ideals are a serious detriment, because they drug the soul.

If you want to receive any benefit from your religion you must practice it; and the place to practice it is right here, where you are; and the time to do it is now.

A writer on prayer has said: “Knead love into the bread you bake; wrap strength and courage in the parcel you tie for the woman with the weary face; hand trust and candor with your coin you pay to the man with the suspicious eyes.” This sums up the Practice of the Presence of God.

Give to him that asketh thee…(Matthew 5:42).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Goods for Guns

The nations shall beat their swords into plowshares.

~ Isaiah 2:4 ~

An amazing phenomenon is sweeping the country. In many cities, police departments are offering valuable donated merchandise in exchange for street guns. Many thousands of people have traded in dangerous weapons for tickets to sporting events, stereo equipment, and discount coupons on valued commodities. On a news program, I saw a huge pile of guns that had been voluntarily turned in.

The Goods for Guns program is built on a key principle: Bad habits do not leave unless we have something more positive with which to replace them. If you want to lose weight, it is not enough to just despise your excess weight; it is only when you embrace a vision of yourself at your ideal weight that you gain the leverage to shed the unwanted pounds. If you want to take a dangerous object out of the hand of a child, he will cry if you yank it away Give him another toy that he enjoys, and he will not miss the first one.

The mind needs something to chew on, and it is just as willing to chew on dog food as fine cuisine. If you are plagued by negative or self-destructive thinking, you will not succeed by trying to simply stop your mind; you must fill it with something more productive. When the mind begins to worry or chatter with self-criticism or doubt, immediately substitute thoughts that will take you where you want to go, such as “Peace, Be still, I walk in love,” or “God is the source of all supply.” If you are vigilant and diligent, eventually the constructive thinking will take root, and you will automatically think with truth, not against it.

I open myself to positive living and feed my mind and heart with healing thoughts and visions.

The word of God is my strength.

[bluidkiti]

December 14

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Never give up, for that is just the place and time the tide will turn.

~ HARRIET BEECHER STOWE ~

I read the Bible for strength, hope and encouragement. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your place.” This is so great for me because cigarettes were a sedative. When I know someone cares this much it is very soothing.

I now have eight months without nicotine. It is so rewarding. I did not feel real well yet, but I hiked for two miles with a group knowing oxygenating my blood would be beneficial. It was a great hiking party. I would not have done that as a smoker.

Today, I will take time to enjoy healthy activities.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

SPADE WORK

Count your garden by the flowers, not by the leaves that fall

~ Dixie Willson ~

Stories we hear as lessons should be shared with friends so they too can benefit from them. One such tale is about a young woman seeking spiritual growth.

When told, “You weren’t promised a rose garden,” she replied, “No, but I appreciate the garden I’ve been given. I know I’ll never enjoy lovely roses unless I personally spend much time weeding, hoeing, mulching, fertilizing, watering, spraying, and pruning. Only after working in my garden can I pause to smell the roses. And if I am unwilling to risk getting stuck by thorns, I’ll never have the joy of gathering beautiful flowers to give to those I love.”

Life is like a garden. Enjoyment of it depends on how well I do the spade work. Many an old-timer reminds me “pray for potatoes but pick up a hoe.”

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Man is the only kind of varmint who sets his own trap, baits it, and then steps in it.

~ John Steinbeck ~

It’s a universal truth that we often reap the results of our own bad choices. We are drawn to substances and behaviors that seem so pleasurable at first, but lead us far astray from the kind of man we want to be. Our bad choices may be self-indulgent escapes from the challenges of life. Ultimately the escape becomes the trap. We are in the company of millions of would-be escapers, but some of us did a bigger job of it than others.

Life as a spiritual path means that we learn from our mistakes and we get better at facing our challenges head-on. There is no need to berate ourselves for being human. When we learn from our experience, it isn’t a total loss, and we grow deeper.

Today I am grateful for what I have already learned, and I will keep an open mind to continue to learn from my mistakes.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

To let go is to wander often into dark, unknown, scary places. The darkness fades as we stretch out our hand and feel the touch, the grasp, of another.

~ Margo Casey ~

It’s not surprising that we fear letting go. We spent years trying to control other people and circumstances. And just because we generally failed at our attempts doesn’t mean that we understood why. Most of us have continued to think, “Maybe this time . . .” How lucky we are to have this program as a daily guide. We are getting the message. Some of us may take longer hearing it, but all of us will learn that letting go is possible. Every time we do so successfully, we ensure that we will let go even more quickly the next time.

Besides the serenity that comes when we let go, we feel the soft touch of our Higher Power, who has been awaiting our reach for help. Letting go gives us not only peace but also the spiritual connection that will help us let go more quickly the next time.

I can let go of any problem that troubles me today. God will be there to take my burden and my hand.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I want to show my gratitude

When I was experiencing strong symptoms of my emotional illness and using street drugs every day, I was angry at the world for my problems and angry at myself because I couldn’t fix them. I felt grateful only when I could get high and find some relief from pain.

These days, it’s different. I feel deeply grateful to my helpers and my program because I’m abstinent and my psychiatric symptoms are in check. I feel acceptance, strength, and much good will. I want to give back to others with a dual disorder some of what I’ve recently received. I want to help carry the message of hope and recovery.

I will do two acts of kindness today: one for a stranger and one for myself

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy can live.

~ Bertrand Russell ~

During active addiction, we rarely felt content. Quite the contrary, we lived in constant turmoil. We had no models for a quiet mind, much less a quiet life, and so we lived with a constant noise in our heads, like static on the radio.

In recovery we learn again and again that our old ways of coping no longer work. They make too much noise, and we don’t tolerate the noise as well as we used to.

Now, we welcome quiet. We seek out quiet places, calm people, and serenity in our daily activities. We also find that we enjoy a calmer life and no longer need the quick pace of excitement all the time. We enjoy our daily communing with our Higher Power, and appreciate our quiet time in the morning and evening.

Today help me quiet my mind. Help me seek serenity one day at a time.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Realize you are licked, admit it, and get willing to turn your life over to God.

~ Ebby Thacher ~

On December 14,1934, Bill Wilson was at Towns Hospital, a detox center located in Manhattan. He had been there three times before. Each time, he resumed drinking once he was released.

While he was at the clinic, Ebby Thacher, one of his old drinking pals, paid him a visit. Thacher had given up liquor and replaced it with religion. As he spoke with his friend, Thacher advised him to give up drinking for good. “Realize you are licked,” he advised him. “Admit it, and get willing to turn your life over to God.”

The story of Wilson’s recovery from addiction recounts that later that evening, while suffering through intense withdrawal, Wilson cried out that he was willing to try anything. He asked God to show himself. At that, Wilson reportedly saw a vision and felt he was being released from the hold of addiction. Upon his discharge from the clinic, he began attending Oxford Group meetings, a Christian fellowship. There he met surgeon Robert Smith, who was a heavy drinker. Smith, who later became known as Dr. Bob, gave up drinking on June 10,1935, and, with Wilson, founded Alcoholics Anonymous.

Today I celebrate the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and the help they have given to me.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

In the old days, if a person missed the stagecoach he was content to wait a day or two for the next one. Nowadays, we feel frustrated if we miss one section of a revolving door.

~ Modern Maturity ~

Many things today can take place overnight. We can cook a turkey dinner, mail a package several states away, or travel to another continent in a matter of hours. Because the world moves at such a fast pace, it’s only natural that we absorb some of that frenetic activity into our own lives.

We become accustomed to wanting change to hap-pen right away. When we share that at a meeting others may laugh, but it’s because they, too, have had the same feelings. It’s not unusual to want miracles with the blink of an eye.

But just because the outer world is at a frantic pace doesn’t mean we, too, have to operate at such a pace. When all the world is a raging stream, we can have a small peaceful stream of serenity flowing within us.

Tonight I can learn patience that things will happen in my time, not the time of the world. Everyone moves at his or her own pace, and I need to move at mine.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Giving it away

We can’t give away what we don’t possess. We can’t teach others to live what we don’t live. Before we tell others about the joys of a chemical-free existence, we must live that chemical-free existence. We must be spiritual.

Our Higher Power guides us to the people we need to carry the message to.

Do I give it away every day?

Higher Power, I pray that I may be a channel of your blessing to others.

Today I will give it away to

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask, but when we are challenged to become what we can be.

~ ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL ~

Newcomer

So many things continue to be frustrating for me. I’ve been working so hard at my recovery, but my Higher Power doesn’t seem to want to reward me.

Sponsor

Trust in a Higher Power includes trust that our lives in recovery are unfolding over a long period of time and that, though we can’t always foresee where our journey is taking us, we’re on the right path. Our work in recovery includes the work of learning patience, gratitude, and trust.

Should we turn our backs on a Higher Power simply because we haven’t been given some material thing, some recognition from others, or a relationship we’ve been fantasizing about? Or because our Higher Power’s timetable differs from our own? The true dimensions of our recovery are not always visible to us. If we’re feeling frustrated about our progress, it helps us see things in perspective when we remember how far we’ve come in the relatively short time since we walked into our first meeting. Surely our recovery will continue to take us far beyond what we can imagine today, just as it’s already taken us beyond what we imagined a year ago.

Today, I remember that I’m a work in progress.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Our greatest enemy was alcohol and we have learned how to protect ourselves against it, but we are in constant danger from some of our well meaning friends. They constantly tell us how wonderful we are in that we have cut out our drinking and, unfortunately, we sometimes believe them to the point where our heads begin to swell.

At that very moment, that very necessary ingredient of sobriety, HUMILITY, goes out the window and sobriety frequently accompanies it.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Working with Others: A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.

2) STANDARD ACRONYMS: WWBBD: What would Bill and Bob do?

3) Al-Anon: It’s not your business to keep their secret.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Power of Choice
<>Dear God, I pray for Your help
in making the right choices.
I am, at any given moment of my life in recovery,
the sum total of the choices I make.
I pray for Your guidance in choosing between
positive and negative,
humility and arrogance,
gratitude and self-centeredness;
And if at times my choices prove wrong,
help me to learn from those experiences.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

IS THAT YOUR HAT?

Why has not your prayer been answered? Perhaps it has. Strangely enough, it often happens that we receive an answer to our prayer and do not recognize it. Some of us have had demonstrations in our possession for weeks or months and have not known it. This mistake is caused by outlining. We have unconsciously decided that the demonstration must take a particular form, and because that form does not appear, we think we have failed. Actually we probably have an even better demonstration than we expected, but for the moment we are blind to it.

If a boy prayed for a man’s hat (because he thought it would look well on him or make him grown up) he would not get it; since divine Wisdom knows that he could not wear it. He would get a good hat of the sort that would be useful to him. We often pray for things for which we are not really prepared; but if we pray scientifically this will not matter, since Creative Intelligence will send us the thing that we really need.

Seek God for His own sake, for the joy of being with Him, and demonstrations will take care of themselves.

I will be glad in the Lord (Psalm 104:34).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Soul Required

It’s all about soul.

~ from the song, “All About Soul, ” by Billy Joel ~

In a parable, Jesus told:

The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:17-21)

While a traditional reading of this parable might interpret “your soul is required” as passing from this world, there is a practical lesson here for enrichment of daily living. At any given moment, our soul is required. We must bring forth the riches of our spirit to be fully present and alive in our relationships, career, and spiritual path. If we become preoccupied with material pursuits, worldly worries, or self-protection, we dampen the light of our soul, and miss the true joy of living.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. Do not cover your light with a basket.” The light is our true nature. The basket is the mountain of distractions we generate when we invest our energy in building a kingdom on earth (the outer world) instead of heaven, the true inner life.

At every moment, our soul is required—not for death, but for greater life.

I want to live in the kingdom today. Help me remember that my only true joy is in spiritual aliveness.

Clothed in majesty, I walk in the glory of my spiritual identity.

[bluidkiti]

December 15

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

The door to wisdom is never shut.

~ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ~

I believe with all my heart and soul that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself to allow me to live free of addiction and do so much more in my life.

When I was a teenager, around age sixteen, I started using nicotine and about the same time quit going to church and praying. I decided I did not believe in the church I was raised in and almost subconsciously threw out believing in God. I gave up God and figured I could live by my own power. This proved to be a huge mistake. I did not realize I could give up the human church and go directly to God.

This mistake cost me dearly with years of chemical addiction, depression, suicidal negativity and wasted years.

I am so grateful that the Twelve Steps, people in recovery, and God brought me back to a spiritual path. I feel the power of my Higher Power and my faith in service and kindness.

Today, I dance to God’s songs of gratitude and joy and living “one day at a time” free of addiction.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

SERVANTS

A servant who made service seem divine.

~ Longfellow ~

The recognition of the fact that we have servants to make growth possible is one of the first great discoveries that developed when we joined a 12-Step Group. These servants are as genuine as the sense of love that makes us truly sharing and caring people. Without the emotional servants that make possible changes in attitudes, we could never reach a new style in living. These servants are positive and active.

If the first thing we hear when we reach for recovery is “let us love you until you can learn to love yourself,” the second may well be, “honesty begins within your own self.” We recognize a long list or helping hands that join in steering us toward a comfortable recovery. These hands join in helping us find the way toward that wonderful destination.

My servants are the tools I find when I enter my Program. Some of them are called gratitude, perseverance, vigilance, belief, humility, tolerance, and acceptance. I must count the many, many more.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

~ Duke Ellington ~

The nature of life is that we are consistently faced with problems. We don’t directly choose the puzzle that presents itself to us, but we choose how we will respond to it. The puzzles we get and the responses we choose shape the kind of man we become. Some of us are tempted to balk at our circumstances and refuse to deal with them. We get stuck on the idea that it isn’t fair for us to have our particular problem, and we want to quit trying.

Sometimes, facing the fact that we cannot change a problem and accepting it is the highest form of character. Other times, digging deep within ourselves to pull up the best we can muster and facing a difficult challenge turns us into a better man than we knew we could be. The challenge itself is the inspiration that brings out our best.

Today I will accept the problems I face and give them the best I can muster.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

It takes two to tango, and my husband and I tangoed for nearly sixty-three years.

~ Thelma Elliott ~

Spending time with another human being means having plentiful opportunities for compromise and artful negotiation. It also means putting another’s needs and wants before our own on occasion. To fruitfully share even portions of our lives, we must be willing to be available to each other.

We weren’t created to be sole survivors, independent of other people. We have been introduced to many individuals because of the path we are meant to travel together. Our significant other is one of those from our community of travelers. With that person, we have the opportunity to learn new truths and to grow in wisdom about the art of vulnerability and compromise. No doubt, the most profound of our lessons is learning to let go.

The gift of learning how to let go is that we can apply it everywhere once we’ve come to understand its power in our lives. And our dance with others will never be the same.

I will be willing to back away from a tense encounter today. I don’t need my way to be okay.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I can change

When I was using I did not like how I felt or how I behaved. I suppose I continued to use because (a) part of me always believed it would be different the next time, (b) it was familiar, and (c) I thought it kept me safe (even though it caused serious problems at the same time). When I got into dual recovery, I just wanted relief from my psychiatric symptoms, my emotional pain. I wasn’t looking to become a “better” person.

And yet through recovery meetings, therapy (and short-term medication), not only do I feel relief, but I am growing and developing as a person. I feel it especially as I work Step Seven and ask that my shortcomings be removed. I am open to change. I don’t know how I’ll change through this Step, but I trust my higher power that all will be well.

I will write out the Seventh Step Prayer (p. 76 in the Big Book) and carry it with me.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

~ Albert Einstein ~

We’ve been hurt more than once in our lives. And more than once we’ve wondered, “Why me?” We may also have wondered why a person we trusted could hurt us so, or why someone else behaves the way they do. We may wonder when it will all stop and we won’t be hurt, puzzled, or caught unawares any more.

Only God knows the answers to those questions. And we can choose to let God take care of us while we embrace the mystery of our lives. It’s enough of a task just to live each day to the fullest without also trying to figure out things we’re not able to know.

In many ways, we are lucky. We’re alive, we aren’t starving. We’ve found a recovery program to help us rebuild our lives, and we have survived the trials of life so far. What more could we ask?

Now our task is to enjoy, to grow more fully human, to explore the mysterious; not to take it apart and know it, but to enjoy God’s work.

Today let me accept what I don’t understand.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

The Belly and the Members

One day it occurred to many members of the body that they were doing all the work and the belly was having all the food. So the members decided to go on strike until the belly agreed to share in the work.

But after a week had passed, the other members began to feel strange. They discovered they could not perform any of the work they had previously done. The hands could hardly move. The mouth was parched and dry. The eyelids began to droop. The mind felt jumbled. And the legs found themselves unable to support the rest of the members.

What they discovered is that the belly had been working all along. Even though its work was done quietly, what it accomplished was of benefit to all of the body’s members. Without it, none would be able to function.

The moral of the story: All must work together.

If each member in recovery decided to focus solely on individual needs and desires, there would be no unity, no support, and no outreach. The fellowship is one based on unity, made whole by its many members.

I honor and support the work of others, as they honor and sup-port the work that I do.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

When you pray for God’s guidance, don’t complain when it is different from your preference.

~ Our Daily Bread ~

When we were children we sat on Santa’s lap with our lists, or asked the tooth fairy for more money, or begged the Easter Bunny for more candy, or prayed to God for that shiny red bike we wanted. Yet we usually ended up with things we didn’t even ask for, but needed, like warm jackets and winter boots or pajamas.

Today we may still pray to God for things we want. Maybe not shiny red bikes, but shiny new cars, more money, better jobs, greater security, or the health of loved ones. Our prayers might not be answered in the way we’d like them to be. We may never win a lottery, we may lose a promotion, or we may experience the death of a loved one.

Yet what we are given is what God feels we need. Though we may be sad or disappointed, those things help us grow in the way we need. Sometimes we may get just what we pray for, and that’s wonderful. But if we don’t get what we ask for, we must remember that what we get is the gift God feels we need. 

I can pray for guidance without any expectations. I know I will get what I need.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Gaining understanding

Most of us have things happen in our lives that we don’t understand. Many things we’ll probably never understand and may not need to understand.

We have the most to gain by trying to understand recurring negativity. We can get insight from the fellowship, from the Steps, and from our sponsors. The cycle can be broken if we unmask old ideas and habits that initiate the recurrent misfortunes. When we understand the problem, we overcome it by seeking the seed of opportunity within.

How well do I understand myself?

Higher Power, help me to give up ideas and habits that lead me down my old path time and time again.

Today I will look at the problems and negativity in my life and seek to understand them by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

We say: made with joy. We should say: wise with grief.

~ MARGUERITE YOURCENAR ~

Newcomer

I’ve seen some movies lately that weren’t very good, but that had a powerful impact on me anyway. One, a horror movie, really scared me, and one was a sentimental movie that made me cry. Neither film was even very believable, but I got emotionally involved. What’s happening to me?

Sponsor

First, let me reassure you that your mind is working as well as, or better than, ever. When we’re not dulling or depressing ourselves with addictive substances and behaviors, our thinking becomes clearer and sharper.

However, we may also find ourselves more responsive to emotional stimuli in recovery than before. An event that seems to have nothing to do with us—a film, a news item, another person’s triumph or tragedy—triggers tears, laughter, or feelings of fear or anger. Often, this triggering event is not the true source of our feelings. The tears we shed in response to a scene in a film may be releasing some of our old, accumulated sadness. It’s nearer the surface, easier to tap into, when we’re ready to begin letting it go.

Our feelings are freer to flow, now that they’re not blocked by addiction. Emotional release is necessary and natural.

Today, I am in touch with my feelings and unafraid to express them.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Faith is a fundamental requisite of success in retaining our sobriety — faith in God, faith in the Program, and faith in ourselves.

It can be likened to swimming: Every normal person can swim, if he has faith in the laws of buoyancy and allows himself to be submerged enough. Those people who cannot swim are those who are afraid of the water and try to raise themselves above it.

Faith in the laws of Nature and in yourself enables you to swim, and a like faith in God, the Program and yourself, will enable you to achieve our way of living.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Drink(ing,): Every alcoholic’s favorite brand: More!

2) Heal(ing): God will heal your broken heart, if you will give Him all the pieces.

3) Opinion(s): The character of God is not determined by your opinion of Him/Her.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Procrastination

Higher Power, it was so easy to put things off during my addiction. I pray to remember that postponing facing up to reality is really self-pity in action. When I procrastinate about solving problems, I am only making the problems worse. Let me remember that solutions come from taking action. I pray to stop wasting precious time.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

YOU CANNOT HAVE BOTH

You cannot have your cake, and eat it too.

You cannot have peace of mind, and have your ailment too.

You cannot have a sense of divine Love, and have your jittery nervousness too.

You cannot have a feeling of toleration and kindliness and faith, and have your digestive troubles too.

You cannot have harmony continually unfolding in your life, and enjoy gossip and criticism too.

You cannot have power in prayer, and the luxury of resentment and condemnation too.

You cannot build a new consciousness and a new body, and live mentally in the dead past too.

…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

I Forgot

The past is over; it can touch me not.

~ A Course in Miracles ~

An old and sour priest in the Philippines heard of a woman who was reputed to speak to Jesus daily. In an effort to discredit Rosa, he asked her, “Do you really speak to Jesus?”

“I do,” she answered in a matter-of-fact way.

“Then the next time you talk to him, would you ask him what was the sin that I committed when I was a young man in the seminary—”

”Come back in one week, and I will have your answer,” Rosa told him. The priest left smugly, knowing that Rosa would be unable to answer and be exposed as a fraud.

A week later the priest returned and asked her, “Did you talk to Jesus?”

“I did.”

“And did you ask him how I sinned in the seminary?”

“I did.”

“And what did he tell you?”

“He said, ‘I forgot.’”

Real forgiveness is the complete and utter letting go of past memories that hurt. What the world calls forgiveness is a trick of the mind. We make “sin” real in our mind, and then proclaim to overlook it. But any memory of the act as an offense ensures continued subconscious pain and separation. We bury the hatchet, but then we remember where we buried it.

I know a couple who have been happily married for many years. I asked them, “What is the secret of your successful relationship?” The wife laughed and answered, “Just get over it! We can’t afford to hold on to the past. We just keep letting go and coming fully into the present moment with each other.”

We are told to “forgive and forget.” They are one in the same.

Help me to release the pain I have carried, and to live in the present moment where love abides.

I renounce the past and come fully into the love here now.

[bluidkiti]

December 16

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Even if one glimpses God, there are still cuts and splinters and burns— No wall or avoidance or denial can keep the rawness of life from running through us.

~ MARK NEPO ~

There are some days when the best I can do is make it through the day without using nicotine. There are days when after eight years of recovery I feel so raw and burned I feel like nothing is worth anything. Then by the grace of God I bounce back and feel grateful and healed and ready to go.

I am grateful those bad days are short-lived. In the addiction period of my life those dark clouds would cover me for weeks or months or years, with suicidal storms passing through. Since recovery and practicing the Twelve Steps I have a daily reprieve from the worst of it.

But I still get those days. Sharing with my home groups in recovery, my sponsor, and God helps pull me out of the negativity which seems so familiar to me. 1 am reminded that the rawness of life runs through me at times and that is OK, to be accepted and embraced as the way life is for me. Was I trying to run away from life’s fullness when I was using nicotine?

Today, I am grateful to live free of addiction, truly experiencing all of life and enjoying the adventure.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

DON’T JUDGE

Don’t judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.

~ Anonymous ~

God did not make different classes of human beings. It has taken mankind several thousand years to understand this fact. Even now, the understanding is not always practiced. We learn in our recovery that we are all equal in our ability to be human.

Recovery from our disease does not free us from being human. It gives us a way of life to deal with this fact. For there to be serenity and peace in our lives, we have to learn to accept our humanness.

If people act as we think they shouldn’t, then we have to change the way we think. It is just that simple. The acceptance we seek goes beyond things and events. The Serenity Prayer also refers to people as well as things. We are really asking our Higher Power to accept people as they are. We can’t change them.

Today, I’ll remember to live and let live. This removes me from the position of judging others.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

You must do the thing you cannot do.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

We are faced with what we cannot do. We are up against a stone wall. A fundamental wisdom about adulthood is that we have not grown up until we grasp our powerlessness and accept its lessons. Easy answers from the immature and inexperienced tell us to buck up, never give in, and do it alone. Every adult faces this wall in his life, whether he is an addict or codependent or not. If he hasn’t faced it or doesn’t accept it, he has not yet truly grown into manhood.

When we have tried every tactic and every control maneuver to manage what we cannot change, there is another option. We can accept that we are powerless to change the stone wall. This acceptance feels like defeat at first. But it also makes us wiser and leads to deeper insight about life. In the Twelve Step program, surrender is only the first Step to a new beginning. We are next led to a spiritual connection that makes the impossible possible. Out of the collapse of our old ways can rise a new way of life—and a new man.

Today I am grateful that I was guided out of despair into new possibilities.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Mother Teresa’s words aren’t new to most of us. Program sponsors often suggest this idea to us too. What we give comes back to us.

We often note people who excel on the job, in a sport, at a creative pursuit. We may envy them and think we should excel at everything we try. Why are we so lacking in talent? we wonder.

We have not been shortchanged. The truth is, we may not have learned to concentrate our attention so fully on an activity that we come to love the experience simply for the sake of the experience. Those who excel are not easily distracted by others’ actions or their own ongoing inner dialogues or fear of failure. Their intense focus and love for what they are doing allows their talent to be realized.

When we’re putting love into our actions, we, too, will discover our own excellence.

It’s not what I do but how I do it that counts. Being in love with my life today is a choice I can make.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am gaining some perspective

I was feeling angry and sad, so I got together with some friends. I thought that simply being with other people would help. But I still felt empty and distant. To top it off, I started feeling sorry for myself because I didn’t get what I wanted or expected. And then I felt guilty because I wasn’t much fun to be around.

But after meditating for a while, I saw my emotions in a different light and I realized three things: (a) Because my friends were willing to get together with me, I know they accept and support me. (This idea feels good.) (b) Maybe I can’t “fix” my moods; maybe I need to accept them for a while. (I don’t like this notion, but it helps to be realistic.) (c) Even though my expectations were not met, I learned something. My attitude is changing for the better. *

The next time I feel bad about something I’ve done (or not done), I will take a time-out to meditate and improve my perspective and self-understanding.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Every moment that I am centered in the future, I suffer a temporary loss of this life.

~ Hugh Prather ~

For the most part we find that leaving the pre-sent moment for some future projection leads to frustration. We need to make necessary plans for future events, but idly pondering life’s outcomes often converts our present into negative experiences. We lose a piece of today in the process. And we risk sabotaging our recovery by igniting fear and anxiety.

Old habits can be attractive. We used to feel comfortable worrying about the future, or fantasizing about it. This was our escape from an unhappy present, and it ensured that the present remained unhappy. Now we are facing life in the present, and, for the sake of our recovery, we can’t afford to abandon this moment.

When we remember that this one day is really all we have, live it with a sense of trust, and give it our full attention, we are living our lives to the fullest. This is the ever-present gift of recovery that is ours every day.

Today let me live my only moment — the present.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Rest is not a matter of doing absolutely nothing. Rest is repair.

~ Daniel W. Josselyn ~

The phrase “positive addiction” refers to those activities that have positive benefits to their pursuit: a hobby, following the game schedule of a favorite sports team, exercise, and volunteer work. But as you know from your own addiction, too much of anything can be harmful.

Whenever your focus and energy are committed to things in ways that cause you to neglect the people and responsibilities in your life, everyone suffers. Even being obsessive about the number of meetings you attend in a week or being overly committed to serving the fellowship can put the people in your life and your personal and professional responsibilities on a back burner.

Today think about how much time you spend in activities and pursuits you enjoy, and how much time you spend taking care of your responsibilities. Are they in balance?

Too, develop greater awareness of all of your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. For example, pay attention to how your body feels. There will be days in which you feel energized and vigorously engage in exercise or activity. There will also be days in which you need to still your body so your muscles and your mind can be rested.

I will pay attention to my mind, body, and spirit. Each day I will seek to create a healthy balance between activity and rest.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

Some days confidence shrinks to the size of a pea, and the backbone feels like a feather. We want to be somewhere else, and don’t know where—want to be someone else and don’t know who.

~ Jean Hersey ~

Who are we? Where are we going? What do we like? Are we happy? What do we want from life?

These certainly are not easy questions to answer. In fact, we may have been struggling with the answers for a long time. We, who thought we knew ourselves so well, are now finding we aren’t who we believed we were. We are so much more, but we may not be able to put our finger on the so much more.

I am just starting to discover who I am. I may not have all the answers tonight, but I know so much more than I did before.

We may never get to answer all the questions. For some of us, the answers may change on a daily or even hourly basis. We are just starting to learn who we are without the definitions of people, alcohol or other drugs, or any other addiction. The process of finding out who we are takes time and patience and a whole lot of change from the way we used to be. The answers, like the questions, will come to us when we’re ready.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Honesty

We have to learn to be rigorously honest with ourselves. If we can’t be honest with ourselves, we can’t be honest with others, we can’t be honest with our Higher Power, and we can’t expect to change.

If we call a cab to one address, and we are, in fact, at another, we can’t expect the driver to find us much less pick us up. So it is with our Higher Power. If we ask to be healed of something but mistake our malady for another, we can’t expect the change we’d hoped for.

We have to begin listening to how we re-ally feel. Most of us have very tricky heads but very honest guts!

Do I acknowledge my gut-level honesty?

Higher Power, help me to know where I’m really at and to accept it.

Today I will explore my gut reactions to things by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

there is nothing between me and my soul but myself.

~ JANE MEAD ~

Newcomer

Certain situations in my life are putting a lot of pressure on me. I’m lonely and frustrated. I don’t want to act out my addiction today, and I don’t want to be preached to.

Sponsor

There are times when recovery seems to be the only thing we can rely on. Nothing seems to be going our way. No one seems to understand. We feel as if we’ve already heard it all, and well-intentioned advice only makes us feel more alone with whatever is troubling us. We feel self-protective, perhaps somewhat defiant, as we declare in meetings that we don’t want any help today. Our declaration, though it’s intended to ward people off, is also a way of letting others in recovery know what we’re going through; it is evidence of a certain degree of trust in ourselves and others.

Recovery, at such times, doesn’t seem to be the source of happiness, joy, and freedom that we’ve felt it to be. Still, recovery has become so deeply ingrained in us by now that it almost feels as if it is us. We know that returning to active addiction won’t make whatever it is we’re feeling disappear. Some part of us knows that the deep discomfort we’re feeling today will prove to be temporary, if we stay in recovery.

Today, I acknowledge the transformation in my life that has eliminated active addiction as an option. No matter what happens, no matter what I’m feeling, I can count on my commitment to recovery.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Every alcoholic has at one time or another had such a load of troubles that there was surely no prospect of his ever being happy again.

On the other hand, there were moments of ectasy that were so great that our lives seemed completely filled and no cloud could ever possibly enter our lives again.

Both conditions existed only a brief while, until another mood appeared. Both, to a great extent, are products of our state of mind. Unhappiness can be guarded against and happiness can be cultivated.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Simple: An alcoholic is an individual who takes the most simple program and works on It until he has eventually reduced it to its most complicated form.

2) Working with Others: Carry the message, don’t carry the drunk; however, if necessary, carry the drunk to the message.

3) STANDARD ACRONYMS: YANA: You Are Not Alone

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

A Peaceful Pace

Today, God, help me focus on a peaceful pace rather than a harried one. I will keep moving forward gently, not frantically. Help me let go of my need to be anxious, upset, and harried. Help me replace it with a need to be at peace and in harmony.

~ From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie, page 90 ~

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

MAKE IT WORK

Buy thy truth, and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction, and understanding (Proverbs 23:23).

All you have of Truth is what you understand of it—and what you understand you always demonstrate. It naturally follows from this that the only way to improve yourself and your conditions is to gain an increase in understanding. And the only way to gain an increase in understanding is to make practical use of the Truth you already know. Knowledge that you do not actually use is only intellectual knowledge and is barren, and even that fades out in time through lack of use.

You will never demonstrate or progress on mere theories that you have not put to the test. You will never demonstrate or grow spiritually on what is in a textbook or a lecture until you have begun to put such knowledge into practice. It is far better to have a thimbleful of spiritual knowledge and use it than to have a whole mountain of correct spiritual doctrine most of which you have never made work.

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Beyond Coincidence

A coincidence is a miracle in which God wishes to remain anonymous.

~ Dr. Gerald Jampolsky ~

“You may have noticed that the airplane didn’t land,” the pilot announced to the passengers. Of course they did. The plane came within a few feet of touching down on the Chicago runway and lifted off again. “That is because another plane was on the runway and there wasn’t room for both of us.” Good thinking. “We’ll circle around and land again in a few minutes.” During that time, my friend Charley struck up a conversation with the couple sitting across the aisle. When John and Bari mentioned that they had just bought land in Hawaii, Charley told them that he and I were about to conduct a seminar there. Charley told them about my book and wished them well. At home in Boulder, John and Bari found my book, signed up for the seminar, discovered they had just enough frequent-flyer miles to make the trip, attended the program, had their lives change immensely, and moved to their property two miles from my home.

How marvelously Spirit orchestrates life! Who put Charley, John, and Bari next to each other on the aircraft? Why did that particular airplane have to abort its landing? How did their frequent-flyer award work out perfectly? How does it all come together? Ah, the sweet mystery of God! If anyone sat down to try to maneuver the miraculous meetings and events in a lifetime, he or she would be boggled in an instant. Meanwhile, every day a billion synchronicities keep the great cogs and wheels of the universe running flawlessly.

Great Spirit, I bow before the mystery of Your wisdom. I quit trying to manipulate life, and trust You to keep me in my right place at the right time, meeting the right people for the right purpose. Thank You for Your exquisite love.

I rejoice in the loving wisdom of God in my life.

[bluidkiti]

December 17

A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness … it is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

~ MOHANDAS GHANDI ~

My most sincere and heartfelt prayer is, “Thank you God.” It is gratitude.

Yes, I pray with many words and express desires, fears and feelings other than gratitude. Those prayers share the theme of “please help me.” They are genuinely felt prayers, admissions of my weakness, and I believe they are heard by God. But nowhere do I feel that sense of sincerity other than in praying, “Thank you God for this life to share with You here in this moment.”

Prayer and meditation are so solidly recommended by the Twelve Steps. They are my bridges to know God. I cannot thus far in my recovery let go of the more selfish prayers but in meditation I reach out to God for anything that comes.

Today, I will add prayers of gratitude to any cries for help.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

MEETINGS

It takes the good and bad meeting—the good and bad speaker — to make the Program work

~ Anonymous ~

We are told that every meeting we at-tend will be a good meeting. Our sponsor will tell us that there are no bad meetings; all meetings are good, some are just better than others. Newcomers are asked not to even consider whether the meetings are good or bad. “Just bring your body and the mind will follow,” and “take what you need and leave the rest.”

Even when we think we didn’t get much out of a meeting, we will find that many others who were there benefited a great deal. We may remember something we heard at a “baa” meeting more often than what we heard at a “good” meeting. The old-timers tell us, “The most important part of any meeting, for you, is the moment you walk through the door into it. It’s not so much what you do there, it’s the fact that you are there.”

Today I’ll remember some meetings may be better than others, but it’s more important that I’m there.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Until you are willing to let go of your parents, you continue to conceive of yourself as a child.

~ Frederick Peris ~

Emancipation is a lot more than living away from our parents and supporting ourselves. Many things can still hold us within the limitations of childhood. Some of us haven’t shaken the criticisms we heard as children. Some of still turn to indulgent parents who pick up the pieces and don’t expect us to stand on our own two feet. Some of us hold onto resentments about our parents. These things imprison us within our expired childhood.

By its nature, emancipation cannot be handed to us. It is only won by taking it—by our own maturity. Letting go of our parents means we choose to be grown up and independent. We tear up the I.O.U. and go forward into manhood. After letting our parents go, we can have adult relationships with them and enjoy them for who they are.

Today I am letting go of my parents so that I can live in the present as an adult man.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

When I remember to listen and savor another’s experience as valuable and sacred, I touch a sense of mystery.

~ Rita Casey ~

As much as we may want to deny it, few of us are truly attentive listeners. We try to listen. We even work hard to keep our own obsessive thoughts quiet. But turning our entire attention to a friend in need is a trait we may never perfect. Even so, listening is a worthy pursuit, because very frequently God’s wisdom comes to us through another person’s words.

Our intimate moments with another soul are never accidental or inconsequential. We are like dancers in a ballet. Each of our movements has its complement in another’s movement. We have been drawn together to complete the story for one another. And it’s imperative to hear another’s words if we are to fulfill our very special role. We can know God’s will if we listen closely to the words of others.

We should remember that God is present always in our friends with the message our souls await.

Dear God, help me listen today to your message as it is expressed through my friends.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I want to succeed

I’ve tried to stop using alcohol and drugs many times on my own, and I’ve tried many ways. Here I am again, looking at yet another way, the Twelve Step fellowship. Sometimes I wonder, what’s the use? Why should I believe that this will work any better than the others?

Yet from what I’ve learned about the Steps in talking with my therapist about my using and recovery, I feel more open and willing. I’ve learned that: (a) The Twelve Step program is considered especially helpful for people with addiction. (b) At dual recovery meetings, for example, I would be with people who experience and understand my addiction and mental health problems, (c) At meetings, there’s no requirement (except to listen) and I will not be judged, (d) Since I’m tired of going it alone and failing, I might as well give the fellowship a try.

I will make a commitment to attend six Twelve Step meetings and give the program a chance to work for me.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

The sweetest of all sounds is praise.

~ Xenophon ~

When we were little and had just learned a new skill such as tumbling head-over-heels in the grass, the first thing we wanted was for Mom or Dad to watch us do it. “Look at me… look what I can do,” we said. If we were lucky, our parents praised us, and we soaked it up and felt grand.

As small children, we knew we needed praise and we weren’t shy in seeking it. Sadly, as adults we often pretend we don’t need any praise, or else we feel we don’t deserve it. And even if we did deserve it, it wouldn’t be “proper” to ask.

But today we are learning that we do indeed deserve it, and it’s okay to want and seek recognition. If we can’t yet ask for it anywhere else, we can always find it in our fellowship. Soon, as we learn to ask for and accept praise, we also learn to praise ourselves and to value our own opinion as much as we do others’.

Today help me believe I deserve praise and give me the courage to ask for it.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

One should eat to live, not live to eat.

~ Moliere ~

The stress of the holidays, combined with holiday gatherings offering delicious treats, can tempt you to over-indulge. When you consume too many sweets or junk food, your overall health can be affected.

You can satisfy your nutritional needs and boost your energy by planning meals that include a bright array of colorful fruits and vegetables. Depending on their color, fruits and vegetables offer a range of beneficial effects.

Green foods such as green beans, grapes, and dark leafy lettuces have antioxidants, promote vision, and reduce the risk of cancer. Orange and deep yellow produce such as carrots, peppers, and butternut squash strengthen the immune system and promote vision. Purple and blue foods such as eggplant, blackberries, and blueberries contain antioxidants, improve memory, and enhance urinary tract health. Red foods such as cranberries, strawberries, and red peppers offer heart-healthy benefits and may reduce some cancer risks.

If you cannot find fresh fruits, substitute frozen fruits and use as a topping for oatmeal or in a smoothie. Eat a balanced meal before you go to a gathering and then limit your intake of sweets and empty calories as you socialize.

I will pay attention to my nutritional needs to enhance my health and wellness.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.

~ Fulton Oursler ~

Some women who had been victims of violence banded together to “take back the night” in a series of public demonstrations. Rather than hold regret over the violence or their fear of what might happen, they chose to live in the moment with no fear or regrets.

Tonight we can “take back the night” from our own fears. This can mean easing our minds from the stress of the day so we can have a peaceful sleep. It can mean letting go of any fearful thoughts so we’re at peace in our homes. It can mean blocking out crazy thoughts that will make us toss and turn.

This night is ours. It’s our time for uninterrupted sleep, pleasant dreams, and gentle rest for our weary bodies.

Tomorrow will be waiting for me, after I’ve taken back the night to feel peace, trust, and serenity. 

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Remembering

We are survivors! We lived long enough to let our Higher Power save our lives. We managed not to OD or die of cirrhosis, in a car accident, in jail, or by a bullet. We somehow avoided meeting these and countless other horrible ends associated with our disease.

By the grace of our Higher Power, we may never have to live in that world again. If we forget where we came from, let us visit the detox units of our local hospitals. We will be reminded by observing addicts with DTs, brain damage, and many other injuries resulting from the abuse of mind-altering chemicals.

Do I remember where I came from?

Higher Power, let me never forget where I came from and where I will return to if I fail to live by your principles.

Today I will recall the past by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

You do not notice changes in what is always before you.

~ COLETTE ~

Newcomer

My schedule has changed, and now I’m rarely able to go to the meetings where I got sober. It’s been a hard adjustment for me; I’m still not used to it. I know that it’s the same fellowship wherever we go, but nothing really feels the same to me as it did in early recovery.

Sponsor

When we make a major change in our lives, we sometimes feel as if we’re required to give up everything associated with the past, but there are ways of preserving connections we value. While you are reaching out to new friends, you may want to keep making phone calls to stay in touch with people who’ve been important in your early recovery.

Even if we can continue going to the meetings we went to in early recovery, things won’t always feel the same. Everything changes. As we and those around us grow, we experience meetings differently. We will also face different challenges; the problems we entered recovery with are not likely to be the ones that concern us a year later. Our lives in recovery are full of change, and far more often than in our past, the changes we experience are positive. The less we fight the necessity for change, the more easily we’ll go through it.

Today, I accept change as necessary and focus on its benefits. I celebrate the ways I’ve changed in recovery.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

The world is a looking glass; it returns to you what you give to it. All the world and everything in it are but reflections of yourself, and if the world doesn’t look good to you, rest assured, you don’t look good to the world.

The words of every person you meet are but an echo of your own, and wherever you go the world will be the same unless you, yourself, change.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Al-Anon: Keep your eyes on yourself.

2) Drink(ing,): Every drink you drank got you here. Every drink you don’t drink keeps you here.

3) Heal(ing): If you’re paining…you’re gaining; if you’re feeling…you’re healing.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Fear

Dear God, fear used to be my worst enemy when I was locked up in my addiction. It prevented me from living fully. It kept me standing still. I now see how fear kept me a prisoner of my addiction and character defects. I will share my fears with You and others in the Program. I pray to work to get past my fears.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

—AND MEAN IT

Think of God. Review some of the things that you know to be true about Him—His perfect goodness, infinite intelligence, all presence, limitless power, unbound love, and so forth. Claim that God who is all those things, is with you—and believe it.

Read a few verses of Scripture or any spiritual book that helps you.

Say silently that you forgive everyone who may seem to need it; without exception or mental reservation—and mean it.

Ask God to forgive you for all mistakes you have ever made; and say you accept His forgiveness—and mean it.

Claim that God is now inspiring you, teaching you, and healing you. Claim that He is giving you the greatest of all gifts—HIMSELF—because, having Him, you will have everything else too.

Give thanks in advance for the peace of mind, the harmony, and the spiritual growth that is yours—and mean it.

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High (Psalm 50:14).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Look in My Eyes

The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.

~ Cicero ~

While traveling in the West, Cheeah found a community and friends with whom she resonated deeply. After meditating on this feeling, she recognized that she was being guided by Spirit to move there and begin a new life. When Cheeah told her parents, friends, and business clients about her decision, many challenged her. Some told her she was crazy. Rather than argue with her critics, Cheeah simply told them, “Look in my eyes.”

The eyes never lie; they are indeed the windows of our soul. Your eyes speak for you in ways that words cannot. People who do not love or believe in themselves have a hard time looking others in the eye because they are afraid to look themselves in the eye. They fear that if they looked upon themselves directly, they would find an ugly, evil, or punishable person. This is not so. If you look at yourself or another long enough, you will pierce through the outer veils of fear and scattered thoughts and arrive at the jewel of the inner being.

Practice connecting with the eyes of others. You do not have to engage in a weighty staring contest; simply give others your full attention and eye contact. In this way, you will invite them to do the same, and your communication will deepen immensely.

We keep enemies by not looking at them, and we make friends by showing others who we are. Let your eyes reveal the riches of your soul.

Help me to see myself clearly and to be unafraid to show others who I really am.

I see clearly through the eyes of God, which are my own.

[bluidkiti]

December 18

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Like life itself, the Steps are a process and a cycle.

~ NICOTINE ANONYMOUS: THE BOOK ~

A friend in recovery likes to describe the Steps as a circle that goes round and round, and can go either way depending on what is needed. I see so much progress at times in my life, and so much frustration at other times, even after many years of recovery.

I like the hammer; it works pretty well, but it can sure cause a lot of damage if used the wrong way. So what are the tools of the Program?

Having a sponsor and trusted friends in recovery 1 can be really honest with and not fear they will use my truth against me. This is so important, having a group or more than one group where I can reveal what is truly going on with me.

Not trying to use my group as a hunting ground for sexual or business purposes is very important for me, no matter how tempting that is at times.

Having a close, intimate, genuine relationship with a Higher Power I call God is so important in my recovery.

Trying to live life the way I believe God wants me to live and trying to promptly correct the wrongs I do.

Relying on and trusting that God has my best interests in mind, even though I do not know what that entails.

I can reach out to other people in recovery and share my “experience, strength and hope.” I volunteer to be of service, and reach out to new people with their inevitable struggles and lack of understanding. I practice recovery principles with everyone, including myself.

Today, I am grateful for the many tools and practices of our Program.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

PAST MISTAKES

If you turn it over and don’t let go of it, you’ll be upside down.

~ Anonymous ~

A lot of unhappiness comes from dwelling on past mistakes and failures. Our Higher Power can do many things for us: remove a lifelong compulsion to drink, to drug, to overeat, to gamble; remove all kinds of character defects such as lying, cheating, stealing, adultery. God can determine many things, but our Higher Power cannot force us to accept our past. If we choose to walk around with shame and guilt about the past, that’s our choice.

It has been the collective wisdom of our Fellowship that many people have relapsed because they couldn’t let go and accept their past mistakes. We all, each one of us, were born imperfect. It is not surprising that this imperfection, along with our addiction, has caused us trouble along the way.

I learn how to live with my past mistakes by practicing and using the tools of my Program.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow,

~ Chinese proverb ~

Anger is a life force. It gives us energy and motivation. Like so many other things, it is not inherently good or evil. The key for us, as developing men, is how we use our anger.

We can all recall times when we felt the power of anger but handled our feelings badly. We popped off impulsively and were filled with regret. Or maybe we couldn’t admit our mistake and went to extremes to justify our bad behavior. Some of us have been so frightened by our own anger or someone else’s that now we avoid it at all costs.

As adult men we develop good ways to manage this power. We start by getting acquainted with anger so that we know it when it shows up. We aren’t ruled by it and we aren’t afraid to feel anger. This Chinese proverb doesn’t say to hide from anger. It says to begin with patience. Then we can form an effective way to handle anger so that we won’t have regrets.

Today I will accept my feeling of anger when they arise, and I will express them in constructive ways.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order.

~ Eudora Welty ~

Recalling the distant past, or even last week, helps us realize how little we remember of the very events that compose our lives. We may vividly remember the slights we felt from others, the defeats, and the embarrassments, but the millions of ordinary details have vanished. Have they not a place in our histories too?

Getting a more balanced perspective on who we have been and who we are becoming is one of the rewards of this program. As we discover who we are in greater detail, we become more aware of the quiet moments in our lives. Events that seemed of little significance before can now enlighten us. Our personal and family histories have a part in who we struggle to become. Let’s honor all of them.

What may seem significant to me today may be less important in the years ahead. I’ll not pass judgment, but honor all of it as uniquely my own.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am sick and I need help

I remember when I finally hit bottom. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t seem to stay clean and sober. Nor could I ward off my sadness any longer—even by using. I felt like I was losing ground. My strength was low.

Odd as it sounds, even then, I sensed this wasn’t all bad. I was exhausted from struggling and losing; I had done all I could. I felt I was finally willing to give up (in a way)—especially my pride—and accept that I couldn’t do this on my own.

I will continue to ask friends or doctors or counselors for the help I know I need.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

We are suspicious of grace.
We are afraid of the very lavishness of the gift.
But a child rejoices in presents!

~ Madeleine L’Engle ~

If we can read these words, grace has touched us. By the grace of God or nature or luck, we have been given the gift of literacy. If we can hold this book, we’ve been graced with hands that can create, caress, and carry. If we see these words, we have eyes that show us the world. If we’re reading at home or in a hospital or on a train, we are graced with a place to rest and live and be well.

Some of us ask, “Why did I have to get the disease of addiction?” yet forget to ask, “Why am I alive when other addicted people died before reaching recovery?” We’ll never know the answer. But we can be aware of the grace that surrounds us and be grateful for what we have.

Today let me be aware of grace. Let me focus on near misses survived rather than on wishes that didn’t come true.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Those who follow the crowd are quickly lost in it.

~ Author unknown ~

Children will often defend something they want to have or do by using the argument “But everyone else has it” or “All of my friends’ parents said they could do it.” As you well know, such arguments often fall on deaf ears, and parents make decisions and choices based on what they feel is right for the child and right for the family in general.

While it is important for you to follow the process of recovery, the tools of the program, and the guidance of your sponsor and others, it is equally important for you to develop your own voice, identify your own needs, and make choices and decisions that are right for you.

Sometimes it will be appropriate for you to “follow the crowd” as you recover. Other times it will be vital for you to create your own path and “go it alone” as you set goals and guidelines that address your particular set of circumstances. How you make reparations with your family members, partner, or children; how you rebuild your life in the community; and how you renew or revitalize your career will be unique for you. You can certainly embrace the similarities you have with others in the fellowship, but you also need to honor your differences.

I will develop independence in recovery.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

The preservation of health is a duty. Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality.

~ Herbert Spencer ~

Do we realize we have an obligation to our bodies to stay healthy? Before we entered the program, we may have abused ourselves with chemicals, diets or binges, little sleep, or chains of cigarettes and coffee. Now that we’re in the program, we’re beginning to realize our mental health has a direct bearing on how we treat ourselves physically.

If we’ve been cooped up in an office or home, we need to pay attention to getting fresh air and exercise. We can go for a walk, meditate, or take a warm bath. We can eat a nutritious dinner and get to bed early for a good night’s sleep. Just as we have a moral obligation to our mental health, so too do we have a moral obligation to our physical health.

I can eat good foods, breathe in fresh air, and exercise for my best benefit. Tonight I will rest soundly to treat my physical health well.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Heeding the slogans

Our fellowship adheres to many slogans that might at first appear trite: Easy Does It, First Things First, Live and Let Live, One Day at a Time, Keep It Simple.

Many wise individuals developed these slogans from their experiences, and the phrases are anything but trite. The next time we hear them, let’s consider if they’re working in our lives. It may be the difference be-tween working a good program or just staying off the stuff.

Do I fully understand and appreciate the meanings of our slogans?

Higher Power, let me learn from the experiences of others.

The slogan I will create for today is

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

To say something nice about themselves, this is the hardest thing in the world for people to do.

~ NANCY FRIDAY ~

Newcomer

Someone paid me a compliment recently, and my response was to disagree! I’m surprised; I thought I’d learned self-esteem in this program. But I’m still embarrassed when people call attention to what’s good about me, even when I share their opinion.

Sponsor

When I was active in my addiction, my drug of choice sometimes felt like a protective cloak—it kept me hidden from myself, and I somehow believed that no one else could see me, either. In early recovery, I felt self-conscious sharing at meetings and embarrassed to be myself in public I thought that invisibility—if only it were possible—would keep me safe from criticism. Criticism was what I’d long ago learned to expect from others, and what I most often leveled at myself.

Like so much else in recovery, it takes time to stop the habit of being harsh with ourselves and to learn to accept and love ourselves unconditionally. Celebrating our anniversaries and acknowledging our large and small victories when we share at meetings help us practice living in the open and savoring the joys of recovery. A sense of inner poise gradually grows within us. We develop generosity toward ourselves, as well as toward others. It’s part of knowing who we really are.

Today, I view myself with love and generosity.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

We must work out our spiritual development in our own way and according to our conception of the God of our understanding.

Our success or failure will be deter-mined by the honesty of our efforts and the fidelity with which we practice our convictions.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Opinion(s): There is a difference between sharing our experience and imposing our opinions.

2) Simple: Appreciate simplicity.

3) Working with Others: Carry the message, not the drunk.

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

God Is Enough

Lord, I am grateful that when I got to the bottom and there was nothing left but You, I found that You were enough. My surrender and growing spirituality grant me serenity when surrounded with turmoil. I have an active concern for the well-being of other people. My spiritual growth has helped me, through my attitudes and actions, to better live with myself, You, and others.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

LOSING INTEREST IN OUTER THINGS?

It happens to some students of prayer who are especially zealous, giving much time to study and meditation, and making more than average progress, that a time comes when their ordinary daily work begins to seem dull, tiresome, and really not worthwhile. Such a person may actually have a very important and interesting position, which most people would consider ideal; but now he is no longer content or happy. He would like to throw up business life altogether and devote all his time to his spiritual development.

The healing of this problem is first to know that a great many people have to meet it. It is not at all uncommon or peculiar to one person; and those who have it always come through it and find themselves happier than ever before because this particular difficulty only happens to wholehearted and zealous people. Such people usually spend too much time in prayer and meditation, and become waterlogged.

Having come through that stage they always find themselves more interested in their business than ever before; they do much better work, and at the same time they progress much faster in their spiritual lives, and have a great deal more power in prayer than they ever had before.

I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee (Job 42:2).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Traveling Light

To stand up, to leave everything behind—to say “Yes!”

~ Dag Hammarskjold ~

Peace Pilgrim was a woman of great faith who changed the world in a unique way. At the age of 45, she let go of her history and set out to walk for peace, keeping no possessions except a toothbrush, a pencil and pad, and the clothes she wore, including a blue tunic bearing the large white letters, Peace Pilgrim. She vowed that she would not eat unless offered food, she would seek no lodging unless it was given, and she would give love to everyone she met. Peace Pilgrim often slept under bridges and stood in the rain. After a while, she became a legend, and when she entered a city, the media would interview her and she would be asked to speak to school and civic groups.

Peace Pilgrim’s message of kindness and compassion was compelling, and without creating any organization or charging any fees for her services, she inspired many thousands of people. Before her death, she walked over 30,000 miles. I saw a video of a television interview with Peace Pilgrim, and her eyes were bright, joyful, and among the clearest I have ever seen. While she had hardly any physical means, she was wealthy beyond measure.

How much stuff do you actually need? Do the things you have make you happy, or are they weights on your soul? If you were promised great peace and freedom by lightening up on your possessions, would you do it?

Our possessions are valuable inasmuch as they bring us joy or serve our spiritual growth. There is nothing wrong with having things, but if the things bring you down, you cannot afford them. Consider the things in your life that bring you closer to God and the things that move you away from Spirit. Then go about the business of blessing what heals you and releasing what binds you.

Teach me how to live in this world. Give me the strength to travel lightly.

I use what I need and release all else.

[bluidkiti]

December 19

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

~ SAMUEL BUTLER ~

I have felt incomplete most of my life, always in the process of learning and growing, struggling for the day when I would be good enough. I felt like there was a true me hiding in the depths.

I am reminded of the story of Alfred Wallace the naturalist who could no longer bear to watch the struggle of a moth trying to break out of the cocoon so he gently split the cocoon with a knife, only to watch the moth die because it had not developed the strength it needed to live.

When the caterpillar is crawling around it is fully itself, not just a moth in waiting. Later as a chrysalis in the cocoon it is still perfectly the creature it is meant to be.

The quiet child of my past was fully and truly me, the person I needed to have the experiences to develop into the person I am today. Unlike the caterpillar, I can imagine who I might be in the future. That does not mean who I am today is not whole and complete.

Today, I will learn from the caterpillar to love myself in every stage of my being.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

THE STEPS

There are 12 Steps in the ladder to continued recovery.

~ Anonymous ~

Is there such a thing as “partial recovery”? Can a person work just a few Steps and leave the rest? Can we just “sort of’ do a Fourth Step, like in our minds? Do we really have to write it down as we are instructed? Can we do our Fifth Step with our dog or cat or a favorite tree?

Can we make an amend just in our minds? Can we ask someone to make an amend for us? A person we can’t stand has asked us to be their sponsor. Can we say no? We feel much better about our lives now that we are in recovery, but we really can’t do some of these Steps because they’re too hard.

I have heard such questions and listened to such declarations. I know the facts are quite simple. Those that didn’t work all the Steps DIDN’T make it. Those that do work all the Steps DO make it.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Everybody kind of perceives me as being angry. It’s not anger, it’s motivation.

~ Roger Clemens ~

Anger is not a threat to our recovery, but our failure to channel it and use it well is. Some things deserve anger and should be our targets. Injustice and disrespect to our fellow human beings is a prime example. Out-of-control anger, however, does not serve anyone well.

We can achieve greater peace of mind when we learn to manage our anger rather than hide it. When we learn to focus our anger at worthy targets and express it clearly and directly, without stooping to abusive language or threats, we become much more effective men. That way, anger can be a constructive source of energy and we can hope to resolve it and make things better. We are learning to take our own inventories and to be honest with ourselves about all of our feelings.

Today I will examine myself for my angry feelings and make wise choices about how to manage them.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

No iron bars can hold a bad relationship together. If it is good, a gossamer thread suffices.

~ Jan Pishok ~

We aren’t fooled into believing a bad relationship is good. However, we may stay far too long, unwilling to leave it. Why is it so hard to close some doors?

We may have been taught to deny our pain. When we acknowledge the hurt or anger that results from any relationship, action becomes necessary. Making a change, perhaps deciding to leave, is never easy. But what a shame it is to stay in a relationship that no longer nurtures us. Why do we do it? For many, it’s the fear of the unknown. We have learned to tolerate the pain. We have this program, and using it—particularly our sponsors and the Steps—will give us the courage to do what we need to do for ourselves. But we must make the first move.

If I am not happy in a relationship today, I will use the tools of the program to sort out my options.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am slowly accepting my need for medication

When my therapist first suggested it, I rejected the idea of taking psychiatric medication. I didn’t want to feel weak by using a drug to handle an emotional problem. I didn’t want to feel like I was “crazy.” I got angry at her for merely suggesting it.

It wasn’t easy to face, but eventually it all became clear to me: I’ve tried hard, but I can no longer handle my symptoms on my own. In fact, I am tired of trying. But I don’t want to feel weak, ill, and ashamed. Maybe I can look at taking a psychiatric medication like taking a medication for any illness I might experience.

I will go for the medication assessment and fill the prescription if one is given.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

For what is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?

~ St. Augustine ~

Faith is one of life’s intangibles that fires our recovery. Faith is trusting in what we cannot see, what we cannot yet feel, what we cannot yet even envision.

When we were drinking or using, most of us believed in nothing we could not sense. Little by little, because our belief in ourselves was so uncertain, our world grew smaller. We had shrunk in fear.

Now our world is expanding again. Step by step we venture out from behind the walls, some of us only in broad daylight, others taking the proverbial step in the dark. Our faith means we trust the process of recovery, that we trust ourselves just a little, that we trust God. Faith gives us everything to live for — because it gives us hope.

Today give me faith in what I cannot see, in what I can’t yet know.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

If you value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us.

~ Adlat E. Stevenson, Jr. ~

Highway signs provide valuable information about what lies ahead. They designate the route on which you are traveling, the posted speed limit, exits, and mile markers. Without signs to guide your travels, it would be easy to get lost.

The road to recovery is similarly filled with multiple “signs” that provide you with information so you can more fully develop your knowledge about addiction and the effects it has had upon your life. The Twelve Steps, for example, comprise valuable “mile markers” that en-able you to see the progress you are making and, as well, the focus and work that lies ahead. The Big Book can be viewed as an inspirational atlas that conveys the journeys others have taken and the obstacles they have overcome to gain a new way of life.

Each day in sobriety represents a time in which you can increase your mileage in the program. Every meeting you attend enriches your knowledge and understanding about recovery as others share their experiences. Each time you pray brings you closer to your Higher Power and a spiritual awakening.

I welcome the signposts in my recovery and the knowledge they bring me.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

What is the source of our first suffering? It is in the fact that we hesitated to speak It was born in the moments when we accumulated silent things within us.

~ Gaston Bachelord ~

We may have learned while growing up that it was easier not to communicate. We may have remained silent rather than risk an argument or a reprimand or a misunderstanding. But as adults, we need to unlearn that behavior and learn to give voice to the muted feelings, thoughts, ideas, and grievances within us.

We first need to risk breaking silence, for the silences we hold within us are like cancers. For as long as we ignore them, they will continue to grow and we will suffer. But if we strive to remove them—one at a time—we will become cleansed of their ill effects.

We may discover things we wanted to say, but didn’t. We can prevent these silences from growing by taking positive action. There are those who will listen to us—our Higher Power, a trusted friend, a meeting group. But it is up to us to take the first step. 

Now is the time to give voice to our inner silences.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Expressing soul

Knowledge and understanding alone do not lead us to the new life. If that were the case, psychiatrists and psychologists would have better success rates with us. So what is the source of our success in finding our paths? It’s our ability to follow our Higher Power’s cues. It’s being tuned in enough to feel and to act on the opportunities our Higher Power presents to us each day.

What comes from the soul originates from the Higher Power. Let us follow the prompting of our soul, so we may better learn what it means to live in the glory of our Higher Power. Acknowledging our Higher Power and applying what we learn from it is what makes us successful.

How well do I express my soul?

Higher Power, through the power you have given me, may I make known your beauty and love to others.

Today I will follow my Higher Power by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

Never defend.

~ SHEILA GRAHAM ~

Newcomer

I talked with a family member recently who asked, “Are you still going to those meetings?” The tone of the question seemed to imply that there was something wrong with me for continuing to go.

Sponsor

We’re not in recovery in order to get understanding and approval from our families and old friends; we’re here to treat our addictions—and to save our lives. Nevertheless, it can feel painful when a nonaddict, or an addict who hasn’t found recovery, seems critical of what we’ve come to understand as essential to our health and well-being.

We don’t have to engage in explaining or defending our recovery. A smile and a simple answer are enough. If we wish, we can make an “I am” statement, such as, “Yes, I’m lucky that there are so many meetings to choose from, and that such good people go to them.” Or, “Yes, it gets even better as time goes on.”

Trying to explain to someone who is expressing hostility toward the program or toward us isn’t likely to further our recovery or anyone else’s—and it can lead to frustration and anger. I’ve learned, in recovery, to detach gently from any invitations to debate about this program. It’s not debatable.

Today, my wholehearted acceptance of recovery keeps me from engaging in arguments about it.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

It is very difficult for an alcoholic to remain sober in continued idleness, and this lesson has been learned the hard way by too many who have tried it.

It is also possible to overwork to the point where we think we need a stimulant to keep going.

There is a big difference between resting time and idle time. Rest is nec-essary, but that does not imply that resting time is idle time. A hobby, as an illustration, may be restful and yet be strenuous. Some of us have been so exhausted from our daily work that attendance at AA meetings was dreaded, yet we forced ourselves to go and the diversion caused us to leave the meeting rested and refreshed.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) STANDARD ACRONYMS: YET: You’ll End There

2) Al-Anon: Learn the difference between being responsible to others and being responsible for others.

3) Drink(ing,): Everything is either a step toward a drink or a step away.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Thank You for Today

Good night, Lord.
Thank You for today, for my sanity, my life,

for the people surrounding me, for fellowship
and my recovery.

Tonight, I also pray for the addicts who still suffer.

I pray that You relieve their suffering if only for
a moment, a moment that may bring them closer
to You and recovery.

I look forward to tomorrow and another

day of sobriety.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE DEVIL’S LAST DITCH

When you have driven the devil out of every other corner of your heart, his last refuge is to take shelter in negative analysis. He will say, “You prayed before and nothing happened,” or, “You have been praying so long for that… “Or perhaps he will say, “There is no way that it can come about.”

When this kind of thing comes into your thought, do not be discouraged but rather rejoice, for this means that satan is positively in his very last ditch, and now is the time to clear him out; and if you will be loyal to God it will not be difficult. Now is the time to know the Truth quietly, and to hold to it in spite of false appearances. Now is the time to witness to the faith that is in you. No finer opportunity for a great step forward spiritually can ever come to you than this one. So take advantage of it and rejoice in your good fortune.

It is not when things are going well that we make our progress. It is not even when things are going wrong and yet we feel sure that we can handle them with prayer, that we advance. it is when, smitten by the temptation to discouragement or even despair, we yet stand for what we know is the Truth, and say with Job, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15).

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Let’s Dig Here

And a little child shall lead them.

~ Isaiah 11:16 ~

One morning Jeanine’s eight-year-old son informed her, “Last night in a dream, I found a whole dinosaur under the earth and we dug it up. I know where it is; will you take me there?”

“Maybe next summer,” Mom tried to put him off. But when David kept asking her to take him to the site he described, Jeanine decided this would be a good opportunity to take a family trip, and agreed. David was elated, hoping he might someday meet world-famous palaeontologist Mark Thurston. When Jeanine, David, and his younger brother arrived at the state park, David pointed, “It’s over there.”

The family trekked to the area, and to assuage David’s eagerness, they began to dig. Before long, one of them found an unusual bone, then another, then another. Jeanine took the bones to the University of Idaho, where a scientist confirmed that these were indeed the bones of a dinosaur. The professor showed the bones to none other than Mark Thurston, who just happened to be visiting the college, and a team was dispatched to investigate. To everyone’s astonishment, they unearthed the skeleton of an entire dinosaur and made history by finding the first fully intact Albertasaurus.

After the find, Thurston told David, “You come see me when you’re ready for college; I’ll put you to work for me.” Jeanine sent me several newspaper clippings and told me that Disney Studios had approached her to do a feature on the story.

We must pay attention to our dreams—not just our sleeping dreams, but the visions and insights that touch us in our waking hours. Spirit is always trying to communicate with us, offering us wisdom to bring us the happiness and success we desire. Our role is to keep our antennae up and trust our guidance.

I pray to be an open channel to receive Your loving messages.

Spirit is using me to do great things.

[bluidkiti]

December 20

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

~ STEP THREE ~

In this Step I am making a decision to take the rest of the Steps using the Power I identified in Step Two. Once again, this Power can come from Nicotine Anonymous, my Nicotine Anonymous sponsor or any way I choose to view God. There are even atheistic views of this Power. The primary theme of this Step is the removal of self, and the replacing of it with the recovery outlined in Steps Four through Twelve. When I take this Step, I can take it with a fellow Nicotine Anonymous member, or my sponsor or a loved one. I often say the Third Step Prayer to signify that I have made the decision to recover.

“Relieve me of the bondage of self. Help me abandon myself to the spirit. Move me to do good in this world and show kindness. Help me to overcome and avoid anger, resentment, jealousy and any other kind of negative thinking today. Help me to help those who suffer. Keep me alert with courage to face life and not withdraw from it, not to insulate myself from all pain whereby I insulate myself from love as well. Free me from fantasy and fear. Inspire and direct my thinking today; let it be divorced from self-pity, dishonesty and self-seeking motives. Show me the way of patience, tolerance kindliness and love. I pray for all of those to whom I’ve been unkind and ask that they are granted the same peace that I seek.”

After having taken this Step, I do not dwell on my decision, nor do I hesitate. I move right into my personal housecleaning; Steps Four through Nine.

Today, I will remind myself that removal of my self is the only effective method for recovery.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

RECOVERY MASK

It’s easy to fool other people. Fooling yourself is a little harder. Fooling God is impossible.

~ Chris Harrison ~

The question often arises in the Pro-gram as to why “so and so” relapsed after time in recovery. The answer is dishonesty. Most of us agree that before we came into the Program, we hid behind a mask and didn’t let anyone really know us. Since coming into the Program, some of us hide behind the dreaded “Recovery Mask.”

When someone is wearing a Recovery Mask, they deceive others into believing that they’re doing well in recovery. The real danger lies in deceiving themselves into believing the same thing. One thing this false image can’t live with is truth. It would be helpful for them to ask themselves, “When was the last time I shared what was really going on inside me, in my innermost world, with somebody, my sponsor, or my home group?”

It does me harm to hide behind a recovery mask. If I do, I may relapse because I’m not sharing my experience, strength, and hope, but only my opinions, attitudes and advice.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Be what you is, cuz if you be what you ain’t, then you ain’t what you is.

~ Tombstone inscription, Tombstone, Arizona ~

When a young man was worried about how to get a special woman to like him, he talked to his grandfather about it. The advice his grandfather gave him was, “Just be yourself.” That was easier said than done, but it was good advice. In order to be ourselves, we must first get to know ourselves and then make peace with who we are.

In taking an inventory of ourselves, in admitting our faults and our strengths, and in facing those we have harmed and repairing our mistakes, we are discovering ourselves and accepting ourselves. That is how we fill out our true manhood. No one stands taller than the man who knows himself, with all his weaknesses and all his assets, and accepts himself as he is.

Today I accept myself and continue to grow into a better person.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

I had always thought self-esteem was a state of being. Now I realize it’s the constant decision to love myself, regardless of circumstances, all day long.

~ Mary Casey ~

What does it mean to love ourselves all day long? It means loving ourselves even when we feel shame for having yelled at a friend. It means loving ourselves even when we secretly wish harm on another. It means continuing to love ourselves even when we let opportunities to do something good for other people slip by.

There will be days when we need to make the conscious decision to love ourselves moment by moment. We will never be perfect, but we can be better people than we were in the past. We are making progress. A brief personal inventory will reflect this: perhaps we are learning to think before we act; perhaps we are treating friends or even strangers less critically; perhaps we are seeing the benefits of loving others unconditionally.

In time we will realize the gains we have made. We will see that it is possible to love ourselves fully, even though we have not become perfect.

I will love my every attempt to be kind and thoughtful today. I will forgive each of my failures.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I want to laugh more

Being sick is no fun. I didn’t have a great sense of humor before I got sick. I’d hate to lose what I had.

In coping with my dual disorder, it has been difficult for me to be anything but serious. But when I’m given a little nudge, when I get just a little perspective, I can see that I’m too wrapped up in my pain—I haven’t laughed in weeks. I want to change that. Humor—as I faintly recall—really feels good. It loosens me up. I forget about myself for a moment or two. It makes my life easier somehow (even when I feel like being somber). I could say that humor is therapeutic—but that would be taking it too seriously.

Today I will remember how good I feel when I laugh. I will look for the silly, the witty, the light-hearted, the absurd in my day.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

In losing a fortune, many a lucky elf has found Himself.

~ Horace Smith ~

By the time we walked into our first Twelve Step meeting many of us had a long list of the things we’d lost. But what had we gained?

Recovery and the Twelve Steps can help us put our losses in perspective, can show us their good sides. For some of us drinking or using drove our families away. For others gambling caused us to lose a fortune. For still others perhaps the losses weren’t so visible or dramatic, but they were losses all the same. For most of us the biggest loss was invisible, one we were numb to — the loss of ourselves.

So where is the good in any of that? Our suffering has deepened us, revealing our common bond with all humankind, and it has also emptied us of false values — it has shown us what matters. Our addictions reveal us for the truly spiritual people we are. We were searching for something back then, probably alone, with no notion of the consequences. Now we have a second chance to find ourselves, a Higher Power, and the love of others.

Today give me the strength to continue my search.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

Sharing is sometimes more demanding than giving.

~ Mary Catherine Bateson ~

Not letting others see or know who you really are— your thoughts, feelings, dreams, past experiences, hobbies, and your wants and needs—is like spending hours climbing up a mountain and then stopping just short of the summit. Being outdoors, feeling the physical exertion of the climb, and ascending higher with each step are all enjoyable activities, but not bringing your journey to its intended destination shuts you off from being able to fully appreciate and understand the experience.

Similarly, spending time with others but keeping conversations limited to general topics is not sharing. Listening to the thoughts and feelings of others but being guarded with your own can deprive you of the full experience of emotional intimacy. Even though sharing with others can make you uncomfortable and is similar to taking a risk because you are entrusting them with your innermost thoughts and feelings, it is vital to building meaningful relationships.

Intimacy is a gift that can be as glorious and life- changing as reaching the top of a majestic summit. It can help you discover ways in which you are like others, foster greater trust and honesty in your relationships, help you to develop faith, and nurture healthy personal growth.

I risk intimacy so I can experience life in more meaningful ways.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

‘Tis pitiful the things by which we are rich or poor—a matter of coins, coats and carpets, a little more or less stone, wood or paint, the fashion of a cloak or hat. . . .

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

What are riches? Are they the luxurious feel of a mink coat, the weight of a bulging wallet, a filled jewelry box, or the size of a bank account or stock portfolio? Or are riches intangibles—things we cannot see or touch or earn or spend? Perhaps riches are happiness, serenity, and faith.

Recalling Dickens’s tale A Christmas Carol, we re-member that even with all the riches imaginable, Ebenezer Scrooge was miserable and friendless. The happiest and most contented man was Bob Cratchit, who was poor in wealth, had a crippled son and other children to feed and keep healthy. Yet his home and his heart were filled with love, peace, and faith.

We can ask our Higher Power for the greatest riches: peace and joy in our hearts and homes. We don’t need presents or luxurious finery to make us happy. To become richer, we need to open our hearts to the wealth of wonderful feelings around us.

Tonight, let me give thanks for the riches I have inside. Those are the greatest gifts I can receive from my Higher Power.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Living abundantly

Leaving our drug-filled lives and turning to our Creator in this fellowship does not mean becoming mindless, spiritless, sexless robots. It doesn’t mean all fun will be taken from us.

Being one with our Higher Power doesn’t take life away. It gives us the opportunity to live a life of abundance. We learn to think, feel, and breathe with more perception and depth than we could have ever before imagined.

Is my life full and rich?

Higher Power, let my eyes see the beauty, let my ears hear the laughter, let my body feel the joy, and let my words spread the hope.

Today I will enrich my life by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous, unpremeditated act unthout benefit of experience.

~ HENRY MILLER ~

Newcomer

I’ve made a wrong decision, and now I’m experiencing the consequences. I’m full of regret and shame—I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself.

Sponsor

Whether mistakes concern work, relationships, or any other aspect of our lives, we are not unique in making them. All of us, at times, have done or said things we wish we’d done differently. A cook learns through trial and error how to season a dish; a scientist explores what may turn out to be a blind alley as he or she attempts to prove a hypothesis; a ballplayer sometimes strikes out. Taking risks is necessary if any of us is to accomplish anything original or worthwhile.

Our mistakes are a part of our education in recovery. If we never made them, we might never know who we are, who we’d like to be, or how we want to act in the future. If our mistake has harmed another person or institution, we can acknowledge the error and do our best to make restitution. If it’s our own pride that we’ve harmed, we can take a deep breath and move on, wiser and more generous than we were before.

Today, I smile at mistakes, giving myself and others room to be human.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Any constructive program of living is a process of character building that lifts us above commonplace worldly affairs to the higher sphere of the soul.

In this way, the house of the soul becomes the temple of the God in us, a cathedral of the spirit, where you and God mutually reside in love and harmony.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Heal(ing): Numb is dumb; feel to heal.

2) Optimist/pessimist: Don’t be a W.C.S. person. That’s Worst Case scenario.

3) Simple: Important things are simple; it’s the simple things that are hard.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Teach Me Your Will

Lord, take me from insanity;
Show me the way to serenity;
Remove my shortcomings;
Guide me toward forgiveness;
Remind me of my will;
Teach me Your will.
God, I ask that You love me until

I am able to love myself;
<>Believe in me as I learn to believe in You;
Trust me until I can trust completely in You;
Be with me now just as You have been
with me in the past.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

LIFE IS LIKE THAT

You form certain beliefs, for one reason or another—and then you have to live with them. When you were growing up, well-meaning people told you many negative things by way of warning, thereby implanting fears; and these fears are with you toddy, consciously or sub-consciously. Other problems you brought here with you when you were born.

You meet your fears dramatized. The things that we fear in our hearts have a way of coming to us in the guise of other people’s acts; of business conditions; of a breakdown in some part of the body.

Thank God it is not necessary as a rule to delve into the recesses of the subconscious and dredge for these things. In the spiritual teaching, as given in the Bible, we learn that by beating the symptoms spiritually (not, of course, covering up symptoms, but beating them) the fear or false suggestion that caused the symptom disappears too, and the patient is free.

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace … (Job 22:21). 

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Well Adjusted

When we allow ourselves to feel our feelings, what should be intolerable becomes intolerable.

~ Kenny Loggins ~

In an experiment, scientists placed a group of frogs in a tub of water and heated the water. As the water became hot quickly, the frogs jumped out. In another experiment, the scientists put frogs in a similar tub and increased the heat by a few degrees each day. Daily, the frogs adapted and stayed in the pond until they died. Through gradually adjusting to an unnatural environment, they lost their sensitivity to pain and paid a dear price. This phenomenon is called “drift.”

We consider it admirable to be well adjusted, but the real question is: “Well adjusted to what?” If you are well adjusted to pain, conflict, and poverty thinking, you are not well adjusted at all. If, however, you are well adjusted to listening to your inner voice and acting on it, you are well adjusted, indeed.

We drift spiritually when we accept things that hurt us for so long that we lose our ability to feel pain. While pain is not our natural state or our destiny, and we are certainly not meant to live in pain, pain is the signal that we must make a change. We cannot afford to lose our ability to hear that signal.

To avoid drift, begin to tell the truth about your experience. If you let yourself feel your feelings, you will discover valuable messages that will guide you to be in your right place with the right people at the right time. Many people have told me they had a bad intuition about being in a relationship with someone or entering into a particular business venture, but they overrode their gut feelings and regretted it later. Your body will speak to you. Your gut may say, “Yes!” or “Not for you,” and it is up to you to hear and act on the voice of love and wisdom within you; it is your best friend.

Show me the way to my good. Help me hear Your guidance and act on it.

[bluidkiti]

December 21

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Show up, pay attention, tell the truth and don’t be attached to the outcome.

~ ANGELES ARRIEN ~

As the winter solstice approaches and the days become shorter, I am reminded of the darkness that seemed to grip me with increasing strength in the final days of my active addiction: the social ostracism; the fear, anxiety and worry over the harm I was causing myself physically; the utter hopelessness I felt about ever being able to quit.

I feared living without my constant companion. I anticipated that life without nicotine would be impossible. But the solstice teaches me that this projection was unwarranted. Just when it seems the darkness will never end, there comes a turning point when the days become longer and warmer. Just as I anticipated that life would be unbearable without nicotine, recovery teaches me that life can filled with so much goodness, beyond my wildest dreams.

Today, I choose to live in anticipation that light inevitably follows darkness.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

SERVICE

In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy.

~ Karl Reiland ~

The service work we are called to do in Step Twelve is a result of our spiritual awakening. When most of us thought of service, we thought of restaurant help, chores around the house, washing windows. The thought of service was burdensome if not downright irritating. We probably schemed throughout our lives to do as little service as possible. Every moment we gave to someone else was one less moment we could spend on ourselves. This stands to reason, for we were totally self-centered. Even those of us who acted as if’ we cared normally received much more than we ever gave.

The 12 Step way of life produces “other-centeredness.” We, by the grace of God, care less about ourselves and more about our fellows.

When I pass on my recovery, I keep it. This spiritual paradox becomes an all-determining reality for me, that to keep what I have found, I must give it away. Service becomes a way of life.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

God brought light out of darkness, not out of lesser light;
God can bring thy summer out of winter, though thou have no spring.
All occasions invite God’s mercies, and all times are God’s seasons.

~ John Donne ~

Despair has been no stranger to many of us. We recall times when all spirit and all hope seemed to evaporate. We may still be subject to dark moods. In our bleakest moments, we wonder where to turn for hope. We may see no reason for optimism as we look at our situation. In those difficult times we are most in need of the support of God, our Higher Power. The greatest spiritual teachers and all the world’s great religions tell us that God is present to those most in need.

In our darkest hours, God is with us, within us, beside us, supporting us. Perhaps we experience the presence of God in a call to a friend, a bird lighting on a branch, or a beautiful song on the radio. And out of darkness comes light. Today’s difficulties are only one moment in the flow of our lives and they will change.

Today is another occasion that invites God’s mercies. 

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

We get love, assistance, and companionship in our relationships; we must each find our purpose and our strength in our own soul.

~ Jane Nakken ~

Relationships offer us not only opportunities to express love but also experiences that develop a full range of emotions. We learn about anger and forgiveness. We experience joy and self-pity. We cultivate trust and learn to live with occasional fear. Without relationships we’d live colorless, shallow lives.

Relationships reveal our character, our values. People come to know us by how we react to friends and strangers, by our willingness to let others travel their own path, by our decision to be guided by our inner voice rather than the prodding of others. Others’ responses also help us know who we are. We may learn more about ourselves from how others respond to us than from any other source.

I will notice how others respond to me today. I’ll discover who they think I am by how they treat me.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I can do one positive thing today

For a long time I was stuck in a rut. I kept having symptoms, getting high, cutting back, then having symptoms again—over and over. I had little strength or desire to change my ways. Doing anything different was frightening.

Even with some time in dual recovery I still find that change is hard, but it’s getting easier. What helps the most is when I manage to do one small thing different in my life—just one thing—that I set out to do that day Then I feel that I am making change, making progress. Change happens one step at a time. My task is to keep taking these steps, however small.

I will write down one small thing I can do today to make change in my life—and then do it.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Friendship is a sheltering tree.

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~

It’s difficult to imagine a sadder, lonelier life than one without friends. A friend is someone we can laugh and cry with, get mad at the world with, and share our most secret thoughts with. When trouble comes, a friend is someone we can turn to for help without fear of being turned away or judged.

One of the ironies of addiction is that it tends to destroy healthy friendships while it creates unhealthy ones. In alcoholism for instance, when our friends stopped calling us because of our drinking, our other “friend,” the bottle, always seemed to be there.

Recovery is the time to say goodbye to this and other unhealthy friendships and make new ones. It may be scary to let go because we may not know what life will be like without addiction. It is a leap of faith. The good news is that there are lots of other people who have made these changes and are now happier than ever before. Our Twelve Step groups are gatherings of friends who have a common purpose and goal and are willing to go to any means to attain that goal— sobriety. These friends are there to help us attain and maintain the same goal, one day at a time. That’s what real friendship is all about.

Today I am grateful for friends. Help me never to take them for granted, and when I am ready and able, may I be a friend to others.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

There seems to be so much more winter than we need this year.

~ Kathleen Norris ~

The shortest day and longest night of the year is known as winter solstice. It signals the gradual lengthening of light in the days to come and the approach of spring. But when you are stuck in the midst of winter, you may find it hard to believe the renewal of spring lies ahead. You may have the tendency to shut yourself off from people. You may have less interest in attending meetings. You may feel overwhelmed by the pressure and stress of the holidays. Or you may just generally feel out of sorts.

The winter offers you opportunities to strengthen your resiliency. You have faced tough times in the past and survived them. Use this knowledge to survive any dark periods in the present.

Strive to maintain a positive attitude. Understand that you have the strength and commitment to face any challenge. Nurture yourself. Pay attention to your needs. Set aside time each day to engage in enjoyable activities. And utilize prayer and meditation to strengthen your spiritual connection. By doing these things now, you will be that much stronger in the days that lie ahead.

Winter is a time in which I can grow toward renewed.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

It usually happened … particularly at the beginning of a holiday. Then, when I was hoping for nothing but sleep and peace, the chattering echoes of recent concerns would race through my head, and the more I sought rest the more I could not find it.

~ Joanna Field ~

Stress, anxiety, fear, and worry are especially dominant before holidays. The upcoming family events, gift exchange, cooking, and scheduling seem to take precedence. Yet there are ways to find peace and serenity amidst all the excitement.

Instead of focusing on things we don’t like about the upcoming holiday season, we can focus on things we do like. Such things may be as simple as: “I’m looking forward to seeing my sister,” or “I like receiving cards from old friends,” or “I like the snow on the pine trees.”

We can have a nice time this season by putting energy into the things we enjoy. We can go to many meetings, make plans with close friends or our sponsor, and meditate to keep calm and serene. Tonight we can put the stress of the upcoming holidays to rest by remembering ourselves first. 

How can I use the program to relax my thoughts tonight?

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Knowing God loves us

No matter how bad we abused drugs, no matter how desperate we became, our Higher Power still gave us the opportunity to recover. We need never think that opportunity has passed us by. Our Higher Power’s grace is limitless.

We must never feel that it’s too late or that we have failed too often to be able to turn to our Higher Power. It loves us, and it is loving us now, today, always. All things are possible with our Higher Power, and it will always give us life and love unless we choose otherwise.

Can I feel my Higher Power’s love now?

May I know that any day is an acceptable day to seek love and forgiveness from my Higher Power.

I will choose my Higher Power’s love today by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

I graduated first in my class from alibi school.

~ JEFFREY McDANIEL ~

Newcomer

I still have the bad habit of over explaining my reasons when I’m saying no to someone. I feel guilty. I still can’t tell the simple truth, if I know that I’m going to disappoint someone.

Sponsor

When we were active in our addictions, shame and guilt were a part of every day, especially where our interactions with other people were concerned. When we acted out our addictions in spite of repeated resolutions and promises, we disappointed ourselves and those with whom our lives were interwoven. It seemed easier to invent excuses than to face our inability to say no, our inability to show up for everything we’d agreed to do.

Now that we’re in recovery, we’re learning how we want to spend our time and what is realistic to expect of ourselves. Our old habit of providing alibis may not have left us yet, however. We may feel the need to explain and elaborate because we don’t yet feel fully entitled to have needs and desires of our own; whatever someone asks of us, we think we should take on.

The need for excuses gradually leaves us as our tolerance and understanding of ourselves grow. We become more practical about what our schedules and energies allow us to undertake, more authentic about what we ourselves want, as we come to know and esteem ourselves in recovery.

Today, I need no alibi for simply being myself.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

If the purpose of living is to live so that our lives will be more like that Divine Example that God has disclosed to us, then only our deeds in life can serve as our advocate at the bar of Infinite Justice.

It will be our deeds that will speak for or against us, and we will be judged worthy and well qualified only if our actions so testify.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Working with Others: Carry the message, not the junkie.

2) STANDARD ACRONYMS: YET: You’re Eligible Too

3) Al-Anon: Let it go, it was never yours to begin with.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

To Grow and Blossom

Lord, I mourn the loss of my innocence. By sharing my experiences, I hope to recapture it. Lord, I long to feel more, trust more, laugh more, and live life fully. Show me the way, God. I thank You for my renewed sanity and my sobriety. When I have both, I can grow and blossom. Everyone in my family, the Fellowship, and my neighborhood can benefit from my peace.

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

STOP LIMITING GOD

The principal reason why prayers are not answered is because in our hearts we limit the power of God. The Bible constantly tells us that the people got into trouble because they limited the Holy One. When you say, “There is no way out of my difficulty,” what can it possibly mean except that you cannot see a way out? When you say, “It is too late now,” what can that possibly mean except that it is too late for you?

When you pray you are turning to the power of God and surely you will admit that God is omnipotent, and therefore nothing can be too difficult, or too late, or too soon for Him. You will surely admit that Infinite Wisdom knows at least more than you do, to put the thing rather mildly. Well, Infinite Wisdom takes action when we pray and so our own limitations do not matter—unless we think they do.

Children often find themselves completely overcome by a difficulty that a grown-up person easily solves. What to the child seems an impossibility is quite easy to his father, and so even our greatest difficulties are simple to God.

Infinite Wisdom knows a beautiful and joyous solution to any dilemma. Do not limit the power of God for good in your life.

. . . Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?. . . (Isaiah 50:2). 

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Cash Flow

Do what you love and the money will follow.

~ Marsha Sinetar ~

“I had a well-paying job, but I couldn’t pay my bills,” Cindy told “I didn’t understand how I could be making so much money and not make ends meet. Then I realized that the only thing I liked about the job was the salary. I did not enjoy going to work, and I daydreamed about all kinds of other things that were more fulfilling to me. Suddenly, I realized that my money problems were tied to my levels of integrity and joy. My internal energy was clogged by being in a place I did not love, and so the external current of abundance and energy, represented by my cash flow, was also obstructed. I decided to follow my heart and trust Spirit to take care of me. I quit my job and immediately became happier. I haven’t had a cash-flow problem since I quit.”

What is happening in your financial world is a reflection of what is happening in your consciousness. If you are in a state of joy, celebration, and the awareness that you live in an abundant universe, you will manifest those conditions. If you feel internally plugged up, empty, and under-supported, you will see those energies mirrored in your checkbook.

The key to abundance is to get your priorities in order. Prosperity begins with a state of mind, not a bankbook figure. When I began to write, I did so out of joy and delight; making money was not my goal. My readers wanted to tap into that consciousness, and more money flowed to me. Then I generated higher expenses and began to think about what I could do to make more money. Immediately, my creativity jammed up, and the money scene stagnated. Then I remembered how I began; I retraced my steps to my initial motif of writing for fulfillment and service, and the money flow increased. It is a poor idea to make money for money’s sake, and a great idea to ask, “What would I love to do?” and “How can I serve?”

Forget about your bankbook balance, and return to balance with the universe; the bankbook will come along well enough.

Help me remember that all the riches of the universe are within me.

I live from love, and the universe responds instantly and abundantly.

[bluidkiti]

December 22

~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

The wind of God’s grace is always blowing, but you must raise your sails.

~ VIVEKANANDA ~

After almost thirty years of smoking cigarettes, I finally realized I was insane. This enlightenment came to me one morning at six a.m. as I lit my first smoke of the day. I had been awakened at four a.m. once again, coughing so hard I could barely catch my breath. And here I was, two hours later, smoking a cigarette. Insanity.

Divine guidance led me to a counselor. I told him how I had come to the realization that I was insane, and in reply he handed me a copy of Nicotine Anonymous: The Book. I realized that I was being asked to “walk the walk,” instead of just talking the talk. I admitted that I was an addict to nicotine, I was powerless over my addiction, and that my life had become unmanageable.

I have not used nicotine since December 22, 2000. People congratulated me and praised me for my willpower. My willpower was not strong enough; my willpower had been losing the battle with my addiction for years. Only when I surrendered my will to my Higher Power was I graced with freedom from the chains of my addiction.

Today, I am- willing to listen to my Higher Power, and to act as I am guided.

********************************************

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

CONSISTENCY

We cannot remain consistent with the world save by growing inconsistent with our past selves.

~ Havelock Ellis ~

Mathematics is a science of formulas. These formulas always give us consistent results. Two plus two is consistently four. The universe is a place of consistency.

There is something to be said for consistency in our own lives. It is wonderful when we do not have to wake up each morning and invent new identities like a fugitive, or invent a new game plan like a con man.

It is a great feeling when we are not fighting the universe each day. When we know our role and choose to play that role with all our energies, we are each of great and lasting value.

It is very important that I do the job I have been assigned. My universe depends on my actions to work properly. My consistent behavior makes my whole universe run smoothly.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Courage is not the absence of despair, it is, rather the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair.

~ Rollo May ~

Some days we wake up to overwhelming feelings that things look bleak. We see loss and danger around us, and we fear for the future. That is when our character is most tested. That is when we are called to continue to just put one foot in front of the other. There is no need to solve all our problems right away or to change the world immediately. Courage isn’t necessarily a feeling of confidence that we can triumph over all odds. It’s knowing that we can move ahead one step at a time, and it’s taking positive action in the face of our fears.

Each day we can do small things that are constructive. By these small things, we can place ourselves on the positive side of life’s equation. We can put our weight where we want to go. That is courage.

Today, in the face of my despair, I will focus my efforts on the side of my hopes and values.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

Would you rather be cursing the darkness or lighting the candles?

~ Connie Hilliard ~

Feeling despair over situations, be they grave or less significant, can become habitual. Prior to recovery, our first response to virtually every circumstance that didn’t please us may have been despair. How grateful we can be that we are finally learning to see the glass as half-full rather than as half-empty. It’s really not that difficult to do, and the small shift in our perspective results in a huge attitude adjustment. This in turn influences the outcomes we experience.

How powerful is our attitude! No longer can we be overwhelmed by even the most dire of circumstances if we remember to stay in charge of our attitude. Taking active charge of our responses to the events in our lives also strengthens our character and helps us to develop the integrity we long for. Our assets will flourish with seemingly little effort if we let every situation be an opportunity to demonstrate a positive attitude. Adherence to this decision promises profound pleasures!

I can make my day as bright as I choose. My attitude can light my way.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I can stay well if I stay sober

I feel the urge to drink. I haven’t used in several weeks, but the urges still come. Sometimes it’s hard to resist them, especially when my problems pile up and I can’t see how they will ever get resolved.

What helps me at times like this is to recollect how far I’ve come in my recovery. I’m not only sober these days, but with the help of my psychiatric medication and counseling, I am stable. Since I have been able to get a hold on my symptoms, I’m thinking more clearly these days and I can concentrate on what I need to do to recover. I don’t feel so vulnerable. If I gave in to an urge now, I’d lose my sobriety and I might interfere with my meds. For dual recovery, I need sobriety and stability.

Today I will meditate on how my life has improved since I got abstinent.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Life is a great bundle of little things.

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~

We make progress every day in recovery, even when we are unaware. This is especially true if we suffer a relapse. To many people relapse could easily be the breaking point, but others of us have come through even stronger than we were before. Where do we find this strength? We have accepted God and His will in our lives, and understand that to make progress we must also accept some suffering along the way.

Before we came into the program our suffering was at its worst. The decision to seek help was our first step of progress. A willingness to accept the help that was offered was our second important step toward health. We continue to make progress every day even when we only seem to inch along. At every stage of recovery we can be proud of what we’ve accomplished and it’s important to stop and acknowledge this. Once we accept that our pain can give us strength we begin to learn a positive lesson from every situation.

Today let me turn some of my pain into progress.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.

~ Katherine Paterson ~

Everyone feels afraid at times. Do you allow your anger to limit you, or do you release the hold it has upon you?

The best way to handle your fear is to welcome it into your life. First identify your fear. What is it you are afraid of at this particular moment? Then, feel this fear. Close your eyes and let it course through your body As it does so, focus your attention on the energy it is exerting. It may be causing your muscles to tighten or your body to shiver. Your palms may feel cold and clammy. Or you may be sweating. Then identify all of the emotions your fear is bringing up for you, such as worry, doubt, or pain.

Once you have done these things, you have welcomed fear into your life. You have named it and become more familiar with how it makes you feel. You can then strive to minimize your fear. Think about actions you can take that will help ease the tension your fear is causing so you can put your fear into better perspective. Call your sponsor, write your feelings in a journal, or put your energy into a constructive activity.

I welcome my fears so I can release them from my life.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

. . . I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.

~ Rita Mae Brown ~

We’ve probably made many changes in our lives since we joined the program. We may have improved our job performance. We may be attending school, struggling to attain the degree we never got when we were using. We may be spending a majority of our evenings at meetings instead of partying as we did in the past. And we may feel life isn’t fun anymore—that it just doesn’t have the excitement of the past. But did we enjoy our lives before the program?

Today we’re learning to live in a whole new way. We made a lot of changes in our behavior. And we’re learning to enjoy things we never did before—to appreciate a beautiful sunset, to look forward to being around people at a meeting.

If we forget to enjoy today’s precious moments, we can change that right now. Tomorrow is full of enjoyment yet to come!

Have I enjoyed my life today? What can I do to enjoy my life tomorrow?

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Inner guidance

The way is simple. It is through our Higher Power. Those who seek fulfillment through drugs, friends, or mysterious cults will be troubled and confused, for our Higher Power is within us. Only we can know what it has to say to us—not others.

Do I follow my conscience in all things?

Higher Power, today I will know and listen to the “still small voice within.”

Today I will seek inner guidance by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

Rage . . . is a hell of an effective mood changer!

~ GUY KETTELHACK ~

Newcomer

I’m sick of these people who just do and say whatever they like, in the name of freedom in recovery. There’s one character who always tells me I’ve set the chairs up the wrong way, and another one who regularly comments to me after I’ve shared at the meeting that I don’t sound so good. I’ve had enough. The next time one of these people attacks me, I’m just going to walk out.

Sponsor

Yes, there are some people in recovery who are overly critical or inappropriate. There are some people who have weak boundaries, people who are intolerant of others, even some who are mentally ill. But they’re a small fraction of the people we meet in recovery, just as such people are only a small part of the larger human community.

Anger pouring through us can give us feelings of energy, power, and satisfaction and can compensate for a sense of injustice and powerlessness. But its satisfactions are short-lived and don’t offer long-term solutions to our problems. If anger causes us to leave meetings, we may be on a dangerous course that could lead to alienation from the program and a return to addiction. Anger itself can become addictive.

To “Detach with love,” as an Al-Anon slogan suggests, is the ideal response to people whose behavior upsets us. If we’re not ready to detach with love, we can detach, for now, with whatever feeling arises in us. That doesn’t mean cheating ourselves by walking out of meetings. It means refusing to engage in argument. We can abstain from participating, saying simply, “I’m sorry you feel that way,” and continue working our program of recovery.

Today, I detach with love from people and situations that trigger my anger.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

It is frequently distressing to observe the attitude of the slipee when he sobers up and endeavors to get back on the Program. Some apparently think it was something to be expected, others feel that it was a necessary part of their alcoholic education and that their slip makes them full-fledged members. Still others take the attitude of “So I slipped, well, what the hell of it?”

They ignore entirely the fact that they have injured AA, as well as themselves. And how about the guys who had to neglect new men, possibly, in order to sober them up? 

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Drink(ing,): First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man (Japanese proverb).

2) Heal(ing): Pain heals; abuse scars.

3) Optimist/pessimist: None ever ruined their eyesight by looking at the bright side of things.

by Shelly Marshall

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Your Destiny

Watch your thoughts,

they become your words.

Watch your words,

they become your actions.

Watch your actions,

they become your habits.

Watch your habits,

they become your character.

Watch your character,

it becomes your destiny.

~ Author unknown ~

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

YOUR OWN VALUATION

The world will take you at your own valuation. Your body will take you at your own valuation. Your business will take you at your own valuation; for the value that you really put upon yourself is the one that manifests. You may say, “But that cannot be true, because I know several people who are always boasting and pretending and yet no one ever takes them seriously.”

Please note that I said the value you really put upon yourself. People who boast, bluff, and pretend have really a poor opinion of themselves—or why would they pretend? And it is this poor opinion or sense of inferiority that is demonstrated in the failure that such people always make of their lives.

The man who really believes that his wares are excellent does not dream of lying about them. The man who is satisfied with what he is has no incentive to pretend to be something he is not. The man who is conscious of substantial achievement has no desire to boast.

Nature always takes you at your own valuation. Believe that you are the child of God. Believe that you express Life, Truth, Love. Believe that Wisdom guides you. Believe that you are a special enterprise on the part of God—and what you really believe, that you will demonstrate.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be . . . (1 John 3:2). 

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Enough of a Reason

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

~ Oscar Wilde ~

My friend Bette was in conflict over turning on her Christmas tree lights. “I usually don’t turn on the tree lights unless I have company,” Bette told me. “One night I was alone, and I felt like looking at the lights. I thought that it would be foolish and wasteful to turn them all on just for myself. Then I realized that I was enough of a reason. I put on the lights and enjoyed one of the most meaningful Christmas- season evenings I can remember.”

Do you realize that you are enough of a reason to create something beautiful around you? As my friends Jon-Marc and Anastasia were planning their wedding, they learned an important lesson in self-honoring. “When we considered the cost of flowers, our initial reaction was, That’s beyond our budget,’” they told me. “Then we looked at each other and said, ‘We and our wedding are worth the flowers!’ The floral arrays turned out to be one of the most meaningful aspects of our celebration.”
A bumper sticker affirms, “I do not need an excuse to experience joy.” We may feel that we need to justify doing something wonderful for ourselves. We declare, “I have worked hard,” or “I haven’t done anything for myself in a while,” or we may create an illness that requires us to rest and play in order to heal. But we have the power to simply say, “I would love to do this, and so I will.” We do not need to rationalize, explain, or defend our self-nurturing to anyone. If an activity brings us peace and delight, that is reason enough.

Help me remember that my nature is love, and my birthright is happiness.

Life is my reason for celebration!

[bluidkiti]

December 23

~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

PROMPT ADMISSION

Timeliness is best in all matters.

~ Hesiod ~

If we happened to be a certain NASA scientist, we know all about prompt admissions. A few years ago, when the Voyager spacecraft was sent into space to explore the planets of our solar system, something happened shortly after liftoff. One of the scientists noticed the path of the rocket was off by one ten-thousandth of a degree. It was a very small mistake, but unless the mistake was corrected early, it would multiply itself many times over.

Instead of hitting a target one billion miles away, the craft would miss the mark and the mission would fail. The mistake was corrected, and success was assured.

So it is with our daily inventory. We take prompt and immediate action so we can stay on target. Our target is our conscious contact with God.

When I stray off course, even slightly, I take prompt action to right myself. What appears at the moment to be a minor wrong can quickly grow and jeopardize my recovery.

********************************************

~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Hear me, four quarters of the world—a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds.

~ Black Elk ~

All of nature upholds us. It is inevitable that we face strong winds in our lives. These winds challenge us with losses, sadness, difficulties at our work, frightening dangers, and desires for things that only hurt us.

Our spiritual program teaches us that we are not alone. Nature surrounds us. Perhaps we have never considered that the bird sitting on the branch is our relative. It breathes air and has warm blood flowing through its veins just as we do. Even the tall tree we walk past each day is part of our family of life. These beings comfort us and can teach us about how to live. Does the fox in the field worry about what he will eat next week? No, he only hunts for what he needs today.

I will open myself to the whole family of life, to the lessons I can learn, and to the strength that it can give me.

********************************************

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

It is a spiritual act to use your own eyes and ears and mind and heart to know the world in your way of knowing, to live in the world in your way of living.

~ Patricia Benson ~

The codependency we struggled with most of our lives kept us from using our own eyes and minds and hearts to see the world. Because we felt it was our job to take care of others’ feelings, we missed the opportunities to know and respect our own feelings and perspectives on the world.

Recovery is making it possible for us to know and live in our world, and what a gift that is! The Steps guide us to a clearer understanding of who we are, sponsors help us appraise our plans and actions, and our Higher Power offers us the strength, courage, and belief to do what we need to do.

We may always need reminders that seeing the world from where we stand is appropriate, healthy, and spiritual. Letting others have their own perspective is likewise appropriate. This program is designed to help us do both.

I will not let others take charge of how I see the events of my life today. I will rely on God to help me be true to my own vision.

********************************************

~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am calming down

Before I got help for my anxiety, I used to feel frantic at times. I’d sit down, then get up. I’d pace. Down. Up. Pace. I couldn’t settle down. And I couldn’t stop thinking or worrying.

Things are better now. I’ve admitted my problem and I’m letting others help me (a caring therapist and a support group). I am learning that my problem includes fear of feelings and trying to avoid them. So, in a safe environment, with people who have problems like mine, I’m learning to accept my feelings and deal with them constructively. This helps me relax and I am grateful.

I will write down two coping techniques on a card and keep it handy for times of stress.

*******************************************

~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

~ Proverbs 17:22 ~

During active addiction we didn’t laugh much. When we were living in that gray area between life and death everything was serious. Nothing was worth smiling about. As our addiction progressed we began to be suspicious and resentful of other people’s happiness. Life was such a serious business for us, and surely not a laughing matter.

In recovery we’re becoming healthy enough to laugh again. We’re getting enough rest, taking care of ourselves, and have found communion with a Higher Power. Suddenly we find how wonderful even a smile can feel. The old angers, fears, and anxieties are put in their proper perspective. We feel younger, more powerful, less burdened by the cares of the world. Now, it doesn’t take much effort to have fun. Our Twelve Step meetings are a harmonious mix of seriousness and laughter.

In a way it’s like coming home again to the child in us, coming home to joy and peace. A little laughter sure can do a lot.

Today help me to get back in touch with fun and laughter in my life.

********************************************

~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

[Christmas] … seemed to be a trip across a minefield seeded with resurrected family feuds, exacerbated loneliness, emotional excess, and the inevitable disappointments that arise when expectations fall far short of reality.

~ Joyce Rebeta-Burditt ~

Celebration of the holidays can present gatherings where it is hard to avoid alcohol and the temptation to indulge. Use these tips to stay safe and sober.

Be sure to prepare yourself. Ask, “Am I in the right frame of mind to overcome any desire to drink?” If you are fraught with emotions or feeling stressed, avoid the party.

Stay away from the bar area so you will be less tempted by the sight of bottles and mixers. If alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages are being served at the same location, ask a friend to get you a soda.

When you are offered a drink, simply say no. You do not need to give an explanation. If someone persists or hands you a drink, do not make a big deal about it. Give the drink to someone else or set it aside.

Have an exit strategy in place. Drive yourself or go with your sponsor or a trusted friend so you can leave whenever you feel nervous or uncomfortable.

Before I attend a party, I will come up with a plan to stay safe and sober.

********************************************

~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

People disturb us. They sap our vitality from us. . . . They pile upon us their conditions of fear and their atmosphere of despondency. In such cases we must regain our poise by the realization of the power that is ever within us. Find your center.

~ Horatio W. Dresser `

Did we become wrapped up in the behaviors of other people today? If we haven’t detached from the problems of our boss, co-worker, or family member, we feel drained and used—like an old rag that’s choked with years of dust and dirt.

Other people own their behaviors just as we own ours. If we buy into someone’s attitude, then we have purchased a piece of that attitude. It’s ours to feel, and feel it we usually do. Suddenly we become a reflection of the other person, displaying whatever emotions he or she is experiencing.

Now that the daytime is over, we can reflect upon our feelings and ask if they are ours or ones we purchased from others. To find our center, we need to discover the feelings that are ours alone. As we interact with people, we can refuse to purchase any more attitudes that are not our own. 

I can detach from others and not buy their feelings. Tonight I will find much serenity from my own feelings.

********************************************

~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Choosing wisely

We choose our activities. What we focus on manifests in our lives. If we opt to go to drinking or to pot parties or to socialize with practicing addicts, we are setting ourselves up for failure by re-creating our old environment.

If we choose to associate with people who are clean and sober and spiritually driven, then we are more likely to grow to be clean and sober and spiritual. Our Higher Power will show us the way by disclosing these activities to us.

Do I always choose wisely?

Higher Power, may I learn to choose the activities that lead to growth, not despair.

Today I will choose the good by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

********************************************

~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

I was praying for rhinestones—when my Higher Power had diamonds in store for me!

~ WOMAN IN RECOVERY ~

Newcomer

I applied for something I’m really well qualified to do; it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time. I was rejected in favor of someone else. I don’t plan to relapse over this, but I’m angry and discouraged. It’s hard for me to feel generous toward the person who got what I wanted.

Sponsor

I’m sorry to hear of your disappointment. It sounds as if it was intensified by your competitive feelings with another person. Drinking, using drugs, overeating, or engaging in other addictive behaviors only compounds disappointment with feelings of shame and self-rejection.

Whether the context is work, school, community activity, or personal relationships, there are times when each of us has to deal with rejection. But if we value ourselves and our abilities and are not depending solely on someone else’s validation to make us feel worthwhile, we can detach from a rejection and move on. We know that there will be other, and perhaps more rewarding, opportunities for fulfillment at the right time. We trust that our spirit has a vision larger than the scope of what we can see today.

We can cope with our feelings of competition by praying sincerely that others will receive recognition and happiness. The love and generosity our prayers create in us will lighten our hearts.

Today, I recognize my own value and am confident in my Higher Power’s plan for me. I wholeheartedly celebrate others’ successes.

********************************************

~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Every kind deed, every noble act pays off double. You get your first pay-off the instant you do it, provided, however, that you did not perform the act just for the pay-off. It will give you a bang that a shot or a goof-ball can’t approach.

The second pay-off comes later on, for no human action is exempt from repercussions. The world must eventually react to any act, good or bad, and the bread you cast upon the waters will be returned to you on some later tide.

********************************************

~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Decide to be satisfied with any results your efforts may bring.

2) There are good days and great days. The good days are when everything goes your way and you don’t drink. The great days are when nothing goes your way and you don’t drink.

3) Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.

********************************************

~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Speak Your Truth

Speak your truth.
Listen when others speak theirs too.
When you let go of fear, you will learn to love others

and you will let them love you.

Do not be afraid of dying.
But do not be afraid to live.
Ask yourself what that means.
Open your heart to love, for that is why you’re here.
And know that you are, and always have been,

One with God and all who live.

~ by Melody Beattie ~

********************************************

~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE LOST COROT

There is a quaint old legend that is firmly believed in the artists’ colony in Paris. It appears that many years ago a poor struggling artist was so hard up that he did not have even enough money to buy a piece of canvas upon which to paint what he felt sure would be a masterpiece. Going along the quays he saw an old daub selling for a few sous, frame included. It was supposed to represent Napoleon III in full dress uniform, and doubtless had adorned some wall in the days of the Second Empire. That artist decided that he could clean off the picture and use the canvas for his own work.

Arrived home, he proceeded to remove Napoleon III, not a difficult task, and to his astonishment found that there was another picture underneath. The last artist had not even removed the original but simply worked over it. When the last traces of Napoleon III had disappeared, the student was amazed to discover what looked to him like a very fine Corot. He promptly submitted his find to the experts and it was pronounced a genuine Corot. Of course, his days of poverty were ended.

Whether this story be truth or fable, it is a perfect allegory of the nature of man as we know him. Outside we find the “marred image” showing limitation, sin, sickness, and inharmony—the unskilled daub; but underneath is the masterwork of the Great Artist, and our prayers act by clearing away the false accretions—the “many inventions” of the carnal mind—that the already existing Truth and harmony may appear.

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions (Ecclesiastes 7:29). 

********************************************

~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

H.A.L.T.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

~ Max Ehrmann, Desiderata ~

Twelve-step recovery programs have a valuable acronym to help during challenging times: Stop and nourish yourself when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired (H.A.L.T.). When we start to run on empty, we must heed the internal sensor that reminds us to take care of our needs; indeed, we are ineffective to ourselves and others unless we are fed physically, emotionally, and spiritually

I went through a period when I would become very irritable around 11 o’clock each morning. Unfortunately, I took out my vexation on my secretary; every day at that time I would become upset with her for a different reason. Finally, I discovered that my upset had nothing to do with her; my blood sugar had plummeted. I was not eating breakfast, and by that time of day, my energy level crashed. I began to eat a proper breakfast, and it was amazing how the quality of her work improved.

If you’ve been around young children when they’re tired, you know that they become cranky about everything. No matter what you say or do, it’s not good enough. Finally, the only reasonable response is, “I think you need a nap.” Even as adults, we are prone to irrational irritability when we’re overtired. At that point, it’s wise to step back and say, “I need to rest.” You will not be effective until you recharge your batteries.

When we act out of loneliness, we cause more problems than we solve. Loneliness is not a valid reason to have sex or create a relationship. When you feel lonely, instead of trying to find a fix to fill yourself, reach out to a friend and communicate. Acknowledge that you feel lonely, and look the feeling squarely in the eye. As you examine the course of events and feelings that led to the loneliness, you will find healthy ways out of it.

Become a healthy parent to yourself. Give yourself the nurturing you need, and you will be able to be there for others.

Help me to love myself enough to take care of myself.

I feed my spirit. I give life because I am whole.