November 23

”Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make strong.” Norman Vincent Peale

If I take the follow-on step to the quote above, then I believe that prayer and meditation are the exercise of the spirit, another aspect of our being which we need to maintain and strengthen. A big part of recovery for me has been bringing those three aspects back into balance – mind, body and spirit. Each has a purpose and unique job but I am not whole without any of them. Focusing on some very basic principles was a starting point as I pulled myself out of the pit I found myself staring out from when I first admitted that I had a problem. Some of this is part of the oxygen mask principle that is part of a safety demonstration on an airplane – remember to put on your own mask before helping someone else with theirs. I need to start with the core aspects of who I am, my basic needs and ensure that they are being met, before I can venture out and start to help others. Considering my starting point from the depths of my addiction, it is not hard to see that this can take some time and effort. And some willingness and openness to be on the receiving end of a helping hand. The good thing is that most of those acts of self-care I learned at a young age and the good habits can be re-established quickly. Others that may have been lacking, or never practiced, such as prayer and meditation, may take more involvement and dedication to establish into my new life. Yet like exercise, the more I do it, the more my spiritual muscles get used to the idea, and the easier and less challenging it becomes.

Affirmation

I will flex my spiritual muscles today, and find time for prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God, even if only a tiny bit.

April 30

”Whether you're keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it's the same thing. What's important is you're having a relationship with your mind.” Natalie Goldberg

One of the goals of my recovery is to become more honest with myself. In writing as much as I do, I have had to stare black and white at my own thoughts and feelings. It’s hard to ignore my own words when they come back at me. This has been most apparent in these meditations which I reread from time to time. This is more to this than just a relationship with my mind. I can also see the presence and influence of my Higher Power in the words that fill the pages. I often start with a random quote, not knowing where I intend to go with my thoughts. It often amazes me to see the final result of my ponderings put to paper. The biggest difference I notice since beginning to write is that my recovery has become more real. It takes putting my thoughts outside of myself in some fashion, sharing them aloud or scribbled in a journal, to make them concrete and tangible. It is another level of commitment as I continue down my road of recovery.

Affirmation I write, therefore I am in recovery. Concretising my thoughts steels my will and keeps me connected to my Higher Power.