Good morning MIP. Today's reading in Courage to Change is all about meditation! It suggests that our program, Al-Anon, leaves the question - What is Meditation - leaves the question open intentionally. We each get to answer the question, and practice meditation by finding our own path. Like all things in recovery, others offer ESH (Experience, Strength & Hope) as suggestions, and we get to consider tools suggested to find our pathway to serenity/sanity.
A few suggestions from the reading:
Meditation is a higher spiritual awareness. I practice remembering that every action can serve a spiritual purpose.
I go to a quiet place, close my eyes and repeat the words of the Serenity Prayer.
I need to get beyond my thoughts, so concentrate on my breather, counting over and over as I breathe in/out.
I step back and watch my thoughts as if I were watching a play. I focus on today, leaving the past and future alone.
I focus on a flower. When thoughts stray, I accept my mind is just doing its job - thinking - and then I gently return to the subject.
I picture my HP's hands. One by one, I place my problems and worries, my joy and gratitude, into those hands and then also climb in.
Lovely suggestions from other Al-Anon members! For me, I thank my HP for the gift of life each morning before putting my feet to the floor. This just helps me remember that I am a person in recovery, practicing a spiritual existence, which trusts and relies on a power greater than I.
As I go about my day, I practice several different ways of meditating. I tend to pray and focus on my breathing while I do my daily run. This gives me an hour of just God/I time. If my mind strays, I will put on ear buds with spiritual music. I also have an App. on my phone that I use during the day if I need to slow my mind and come back to center. Finally, as I prepare to get horizontal again, I return to prayer and meditation, reflecting on my day and what has transpired.
Anytime I am struggling to sleep, I repeat the Serenity Prayer over and over again until I doze off. I am not one who can sit still, and just be quiet for meditation, which bothered me a long while....no more as I have learned that our recovery journey is personal as is our spiritual life/growth.
Happy Tuesday MIP. I am off to golf in a while - going to be cold but I need a break! Enjoy your day and make it a great one!
Lyne said
Dec 3, 2019
Thanks IAH for your service and great share. My mediation time is interestingly somewhat similar to yours. In the morning I pray and speak directly to God. I thank Him, ask for the help I need, and ask for His blessings for friends and family. When Im out with my dogs I do a chant I made up that is God-centered. As I see nature outside and watch the funny things my dogs do I am in touch with HP big time. And when I have some quiet moments, I do some cleansing breaths, and then focus on affirmations I have or still need to accomplish. I was taught the basics of Transcendental meditation years ago, and I have adjusted it to what I need. All in all, these practices help me through my day along with all my program tools and people. Its a lot of work, but I now think Im worth it! Lyne
DavidG said
Dec 3, 2019
Iam and and Lyne... I have a minor breakthrough with Step 11 this week. Scrolling backwards I used to just fall asleep. Because I was exhausted- but did not really realise it. Had to deal with this one first. But, yeah...keeping things very simple got me there- in the end... ...
Good morning MIP. Today's reading in Courage to Change is all about meditation! It suggests that our program, Al-Anon, leaves the question - What is Meditation - leaves the question open intentionally. We each get to answer the question, and practice meditation by finding our own path. Like all things in recovery, others offer ESH (Experience, Strength & Hope) as suggestions, and we get to consider tools suggested to find our pathway to serenity/sanity.
A few suggestions from the reading:
Meditation is a higher spiritual awareness. I practice remembering that every action can serve a spiritual purpose.
I go to a quiet place, close my eyes and repeat the words of the Serenity Prayer.
I need to get beyond my thoughts, so concentrate on my breather, counting over and over as I breathe in/out.
I step back and watch my thoughts as if I were watching a play. I focus on today, leaving the past and future alone.
I focus on a flower. When thoughts stray, I accept my mind is just doing its job - thinking - and then I gently return to the subject.
I picture my HP's hands. One by one, I place my problems and worries, my joy and gratitude, into those hands and then also climb in.
Lovely suggestions from other Al-Anon members! For me, I thank my HP for the gift of life each morning before putting my feet to the floor. This just helps me remember that I am a person in recovery, practicing a spiritual existence, which trusts and relies on a power greater than I.
As I go about my day, I practice several different ways of meditating. I tend to pray and focus on my breathing while I do my daily run. This gives me an hour of just God/I time. If my mind strays, I will put on ear buds with spiritual music. I also have an App. on my phone that I use during the day if I need to slow my mind and come back to center. Finally, as I prepare to get horizontal again, I return to prayer and meditation, reflecting on my day and what has transpired.
Anytime I am struggling to sleep, I repeat the Serenity Prayer over and over again until I doze off. I am not one who can sit still, and just be quiet for meditation, which bothered me a long while....no more as I have learned that our recovery journey is personal as is our spiritual life/growth.
Happy Tuesday MIP. I am off to golf in a while - going to be cold but I need a break! Enjoy your day and make it a great one!