This past nine months has been an unprecedented place of uncertainty for our family. I don't dismiss the feelings, but instead of dwelling on my troubles, I meditate on my Higher Power's strength, power and love for me. The peace I have gained by taking a few minutes each day for Acceptance, has been immeasurable. Living in this one day, and not picking up all my problems at once has been a powerful practice. So has choosing to use one program tool at a time. Focus is one of my character limitations.
Prayer and meditation allow me to focus on the solution, not the problem.
There was a time I truly believed talking to God continuously about my problems was a form of both prayer and meditation. Yet, I didn't find the sense of tranquility I sought. It wasn't because I could not tune out distractions; actually, I was too good at tuning out reality.
It helped me today to come across a reading in which a 12-step member found themselves running a stop sign, while being so single-focused on pleading with God, that they did not even hear the siren or see the flashing lights of the police car.
I also read of a person who ruminated so much on his troubles that he "often didn't hear the solutions offered at meetings." He shared his realization: that if he could not get himself to focus on recovery at the meeting, he was not going to have the discipline to practice recovery work at home!
I can ask myself this. When I sit in a meeting and the preamble is happening, where is my mind? Do I have the habit of picking up my problems and thinking about them, instead of preparing myself to receive guidance? If I can put my problems down for a few minutes, I can practice having faith in my HP. I can turn my heart to God, and focus my mind. Let me begin by concentrating on the experience, strength and hope shared at the meeting.
Do I make a daily quiet time just for self-care and for resting in God's good? Let me meditate, just for today. All it takes is a few minutes, wherein I gently focus all my attention on God.
And, when I take my problems to my HP in Step Three, let me practice leaving them with Him.
"Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation, and honor the reward of action." Francis Quarles
Inspired by HFT, 1/8
