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.
Sorry for the late start. Today's Daily comes from June 13 of Courage to Change.
"In Step 11 I seek to improve my conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation. How I do this is completely up to me."
Don't let the G. 0. D. word throw off some of you newcomers. The reading goes on to say that yes, this "conscious contact" can be nurtured through traditional spiritual means, but it can also be non-traditional as well. Perhaps we become more aware of our Higher Power when we look for signs of guidance in the people around me, or in the events and unexplained coincidences of our lives. Or perhaps the answers come further away from the world of logic and reason. The answers may also come through feelings, or your instincts or even your dreams. We ultimately have the power to decide to be open to all of these possibilities. (Wow! Somewhere where we have all the power!! )
Whatever the path, the goal is to keep moving forward in "good direction"... the course offered up to me by my Higher Power. "Only in this way can I be confident of my actions; only in this way can I find the courage to change."
Today's Reminder: I will take time to clear my mind of unnecessary, hurried thoughts. There seems to be a limited amount of space in my mind until I do. But when I clear this clutter away, the space becomes limitless and the guidance I am truly willing to accept comes through.
It took me a LONG time to get past Steps 1,2, & 3. I really had to struggle with my relationship with God, and what that word meant to me. Now that I am closer to my Step 11, I am seeing that I practice this Step everyday already! The biggest hurdle was keeping my racing thoughts at bay... learning to quiet the mind. I still get off-track occasionally. But I have a sponsor I can call, this here MIP board, and all the tools at my disposal to at least try to choose a different way of dealing.
I am not sure what my HP has in store for me today. But I will stay open to the possibilities of the next right step.
Enjoy your weekend all!
&
__________________
"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 PnP for the daily and your service. I did arrive with a resentment towards the 'God of my understanding'....being raised with organized religion, I felt it wasn't for me and didn't serve me at all. I had turned my back on that whole chapter, never desiring to return or revisit.
When I came to recovery and saw the word God in the steps, I have no doubt I did a super-sized eye-roll. I was uncomfortable with both the Serenity Prayer and the Lord's Prayer at the meeting and while I truly found hope in the shares of others, I was extremely apprehensive about the whole God thing.
I am so glad that a wiser than I person suggested using Good Orderly Direction for the word God if uncertain what a HP might look like. That make good sense to my brain as I'm a bit OCD. It truly helped me set aside my past experiences, my past perceptions, and focus on just the program, the here and the now.
Over time, my concept of my HP has changed. It continues to do so, and as it evolves, all I know is I believe the peace in my heart and the joy in my soul is a gift from this power greater than I. Speaking for myself, but relating to most others I encounter, our lives with the disease were a living hell, one we didn't know how to change and felt, at times, it would always be 'that way'... By just doing what's suggested in recovery, and choosing healthy responses to life/love/people/places and things, I have found great serenity with sanity restored.
I am grateful for the restoration of my health and my family. It's far from perfect, and I'm content with where I am today. It took recovery for me to realize that trusting in a power greater than I, growing where I am planted, unconditional acceptance and love truly serves me well in all my affairs. Designing, building, refining and embracing my conscience contact with the God of my understanding is on-going. I do exactly what was suggested when I arrived - prayer/meditation in the AM, a repeat in the PM. What's evolved for me over time is I am willing to pause and pray at any point, day or night, before I move forward - big things, small things, anything. The effort I am willing to put into trusting, relying and building on this relationship for me is key to authentic joy, serenity and peace.
I started my day bright and early at the country club golfing. It got hot, so I'm glad we got out there early! We are returning tomorrow, and it's also an early start. I must admit that when I tried golf years ago, I thought it the dumbest darn thing in the world...I didn't like the pace (can be slow), I didn't like the quiet and I felt I had better things to do for 3-4 hours of my life. As with many things, I see it so different now. I love being out in nature, esp. in the morning. The dew sparkles like glitter on the beautiful green backdrop and we do see wild life occasionally. There are creeks, birds, leaves to hear and it's very peaceful in it's quiet state.
Tomorrow is a repeat - off to golf first thing. Love and light to all - enjoy the rest of the weekend - I plan to!
__________________
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
Thank you so much for your service. I grew up in home that was rigorously religious. At one time we said the rosary at night. When I fell asleeo while praying my father hit me. He had a terrible rage
So the whole conceot of #God# was a punishing one for me.
These days I have a more benevolent God and I feel God's oresence with me daily. I have a great deal of solace and comfort from the relstionship.
I want to work on having a better soiritual practice. At one time my relatiinship with God was about pleading for helo (that was when my abandonment issues were triggered) . These days it is about having guidance. I have actively sought in the oast weeks to be away from that post traumatic edge. That has helped immensely to give me some respite. I really needes that.
Maresie
Thanks PNP for your service. I like the options offered to discover who HP is for each of us. My background included no formal religious or spiritual involvement. I was agnostic for many years. Then a spiritual experience happened to me, and everything changed about 30 years ago. On my spiritual journey I had no choice but to let it evolve without strict doctrines or guidance. And alanon seems to enhance and solidify all the things that were roaming around in my head. Its all good. I need help, I cant handle this disease without it, and I do feel a Higher Power helping me all the time. Lyne
)
& 