The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today's Courage to Change talks about meditation. Simply defined by the dictionary, it means "to think contemplatively". Contemplate is further defined as "to view thoughtfully".
The writer suggests that each quiet moment found to calm the mind and think through a day is meditating. When we are able to clear our mind and ask our Higher Power to guide us, we find answers for our concerns. We may not get the answer we want or expect but when we turn away from what's presented, we often find more turmoil.
Most of us have spent too much of the past working against our better instincts. HP gave us instincts for a purpose to help us, not hinder us. The more we can be quiet enough to discover and follow these instincts, the stronger the become.
Today's reminder --- I will take time to clear my mind and focus on what is essential for today. I will release any unimportant thoughts. I will then allow myself to be guided toward the best action I can take for today. Regardless of how simple the answers may seem, I will listen without judgement. I will not take my thoughts for granted, for they may be my only guide.
Today's quote from William Shakespear --- "Go to your bosom: Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know."
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I have always had issues quieting my crazy brain. It's been that way for as long as I can recall and when I saw prayer and meditation in the 12 Steps, I had immediate fear of failure. Growing up with this disease and having it all around me distorted my views on many things - meditation being just one...
In my pre-recovery effort to be perfect, I did all that I could to avoid meditation. I felt it was not something I was capable of and if I couldn't do it 'right' why do it at all? Yet, others who came before me gently suggested I just keep trying. I really had nothing to lose and other suggestions had given me some peace so why not?
I am still far from great at meditation. Yet, I do know today that when I am trying to clear my mind, there is a calmness that comes over me, and some things that appeared so very difficult are more clear. Today, I practice listening to my inner voice and do believe in my gut way more than ever before.
Happy Thursday MIP - make it a great day! We finally have a break from our heat spell and it's a lovely, cool morning today....loving it!!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Good Morning IAH prayer and meditation are my "GO to" tools these days. As I walk along, I stay where my feet are by using the serenity prayer and then look about and note the flowers, birds and squirrels that inhabit this beautiful planet. I appreciate their beauty, in my mind and am so grateful for this tool. I then remember the many days of walking through the world with my head down worrying about a job or a family member. Observing the beauty and being grateful are so much more satisfying and helpful to my mental health.
Have a great day and thanks for your service
This is a good topic for me today. I have been running around gathering things to help with my BILs house move. I'm thinking: get boxes, packing paper, tape, text friends for all these things, drive out to the house with boxes before I collect the kids from school ... and on and on. I get to the house and he says he's heading to a music festival today and back Sunday evening. There is currently no packing done really. The older two kids are going to a different festival the following weekend (the weekend they are to move). His mum is in his house depressed and hard to talk to. I will be packing up things for them on Saturday and Sunday so I am dreading having to work around a mentally ill person. There is nowhere for her to go apparently. From my view it seems like utter chaos and he is standing there and the words are just flowing out of his mouth and nothing is making sense to me. He has always been like that.
I recognise that I am on edge. I perceive that it is all totally unorganised and chaotic. My part is that he asked me to pack up the kitchen which I hope to do on Sunday but I have taken it upon myself to go and help my sister and nephew to clear the garage on Sat so I am responsible for some of my edginess. I have managed to, however, make clear lines about when I'll be helping and what I'll be doing. Next week from Mon-Thurs I will pick up the toddler from creche and keep him till 8pm to facilitate their packing up. Already I know that this is not really a good idea for me but I am willing to dig in and help out. He says that 'that's it, we'll be gone then (Sunday week)'. I took my chance to confirm that I will no longer be available to help from Mon 2nd July as I am getting ready to head to France and Spain for 5 weeks (!!!!!! yeaaaah!!!).
So its time to meditate and get through one day at a time. Stick to the plan and keep one foot in front of the other - one last spell of helping out and they'll be gone. I have my own long list of things to do to get ready to head off so I must stay focussed as I so want to enjoy my break away with my husband and girls.
Great shares, everyone! Thank you all for being a part of my growth!
I used to do Yoga and meditate quite a bit. I even went through a hypnosis course so that I could have my son with hypno-birthing. But the last 10 years or so, I have gotten so far away from that mindset, b/c every time I would try to meditate, the sadness would come and I would end up bawling my eyes out! Every time! So I began to avoid. Because quite frankly, I did not have time for sadness, or tears, or real emotions (besides anger) b/c I was too entrenched in trying to manage my household w/addiction in tow. Looking back, I was a hot mess!
I am still able to connect with nature... maybe that is why my various bird feeders are so important to me... I can sit and watch them, delight in them, & NOT have the sadness well in me. Hmmmm, something to ponder this week!
Happy Summer Solstice Everyone! Get out and get some Vit, D!! Peace!
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"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Thank you IAH and everyone! I can totally relate to the challenge of quieting the mind. I struggled with that until just a few years ago. These days if I don't take that time and get quiet, I can pretty much guarantee the day is going to be hectic, stressful and just uhg. This is such an overly busy time of year.....yet in it all, even if it's only for awhile in the evening....it is my time alone and my HP gets me thru the rest.
