step 11 : sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him , praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
From: Courage to Change pg. 338 (copyright 1992 , by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Limited use by Express written permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.) :
" I simply step back and watch my thoughts as if I were watching a play . I try to keep my attention on the present day only , leaving the past and the future alone "
Conference Approved Literature has many great quotes on meditation. This is just one person's experience , others are quite different . The programme seems to suggest that we should find a way that is best for us rather than giving us a set format ,
llol Vickyr x
ack said
Apr 10, 2007
Someone (Sunny) gave me this gift today:
I am here. I am open. I am listening. I am willing. Thank you.
-- Edited by ack at 04:22, 2007-04-10
Sunny2007 said
Apr 14, 2007
drawing near to my higher power as i understand my higher power ...
Reading Al-Anon literature has a special place in my recovery because I grew up being told that what I saw, heard, felt, etc. was not real if it did not coincide perfectly in all details with what my parents wanted to be real. I was "safe" from that brainwashing at school and at church, both of which were places that (at least in my case) involved a lot of reading things in black and white in books.
Even before coming to Al-Anon, I was familiar with the idea of "Take what you like and leave the rest." The God of my understanding calls to me and opens my heart through any means that will get my attention! lol So I have grown nearer to my higher power while reading some things that may sound "odd" as recovery literature.
Before I came to Al-Anon, my mom learned she was going to die soon. She lived a little over a year after that. During that year, I was reading a lot about cellular biology. Now, hey! My last science class was at 19 and was way over my head. :) But there I was 20 years later reading a cellular biology textbook which was also way over my head ... and being drawn closer to the God of my understanding.
I was extremely troubled and desperately searching for serenity. My Higher Power allowed me the freedom to search for help wherever I thought I could find it. Through one thing leading to another, I found that reading in a cellular biology textbook was one of the most calming and healing things that I could do.
At the time and still today, my perspective is this: When I slow down and give myself over to what I am doing in the present, then I am in a state of mind where my Higher Power can heal me and help me to recover from the insanity around me and from the insanity in my own thoughts and feelings.
"Slow down and live" is one of my favorite highway signs to see. :) "Yield" is another favorite. I need lots of reminders all the time; those signs help me recall what I have learned.
When I was reading about cellular biology, I *had* to slow down. I *had* to give myself over completely (surrender myself) to what I was doing at that moment: reading about stuff way over my head and having to read it word by word and read a sentence over and over before going on to the next one ... much like when I first learned to read: so very happy that I could read even a few words.
One day, while reading in cellular biology, I read a few words that changed my life! The essence of the words was that if some cells in a developing fetus do not die, then the baby will be born with webbed fingers or webbed toes.
Growing up, I had been around people who had webbed fingers and had seen they could still function ... but I'd also seen that they were seen as "different" to the point that some people didn't want to shake hands with them. So I understood the benefit of not being born with webbed fingers.
My mind just opened up at that point. I was touched and healed of that desperate hurt and fear that I was responsible if my mom died ... no, I couldn't be responsible because early on before we are even born, some cells are having to die so that we may be born without webbed fingers or webbed toes. That, to me then and now, means that my mom's death was part of the whole rhythm of life that includes the great mysteries of birth and death, of surrender and being reborn .... WOW!
I am grateful right now this minute that the god of my understanding grants me the freedom to follow one step to another and to wander from the usual path into "odd" places and still be led to the circumstances that will slow me down and let me live. Will lead me to the circumstances where I may be (not cured necessarily but) healed over time -- or actually healed in an instant.
Grateful member of Al-Anon, Sunny
-- Edited by Sunny2007 at 13:15, 2007-04-14
ack said
Apr 22, 2007
Hi, Sunny, thanks for the great post. I am curious about the difference between curing and healing, it seems like there would be something really important in that.... laurel
aunitedway said
May 2, 2007
step 11 : sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him , praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.....
I ( for a number of years now ) have a habit of stopping. STOP. when i start to feel uptight. stress related, or decision making related. AH related. Anytime,..... when thoughts that start to jam my head up with cr*# (cruncht stff..lol) AND I find a place and sit down for a moment and do a very simple exercise. i make sure i am not crossingmy legs,or sitting slumpy.
i take in a deep breathe in and hold it for the count of 1.....2... and then let it all out...slowly. i do this 8 times. it calms me, it clears my head, it opens my sinuses.,lol. it lightens my attitude and my being ( its also given me that little bit of time ,in silence for my thoughts to get clearer.)
i think instantly of myHP. whom i call God. and i feel better. i feel and sit with the thoughts i have taken that moment to get back in balance with me.
in doing this simple thing... i has helped me slow down.
not take everthing all sooo seriously. especially those things i can not control, did not cause and can not cure.* that slogan fits a lot of areas. not just the AH.
i am more able to enjoy Life moment by momemt instead of it being so fast paced and hurried. i feel closer to Me. Closer to HP , God and that strengthens my spirit. me on the inside. strengthens my abilities. im opened up from the inside. i'm more apt to keep my spirit uP . i have the ability to focus on whats most important to me . my recovery. not on what is not my business or what i am not to resolve, because its not mine to take on. amazing, and awesome that something as simple as "stopping" for just a few moments a day and clearing my head ....of any thought, and letting myself think.. on ly good thoughts, slogans, the serenity prayer.. prayer.. of how thankful i am for HP and for having another day just to be alive. .. Working my steps and taking time for me, alot of it is in this step tooo...lol. Meditation ... (which is prayer for me in so many ways) This truly has changed my way of seeing all things. its helped me change bad behaviours, my attitude for better and my Outlook on the rest of my, A "very special" Life.
i know this is what HP wants for me. its what i want for me.
So grateful to be here. thanks for letting me post my thoughts on Step 11. Keep Workin IT Your Worth IT
step 11 : sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him , praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
From: Courage to Change pg. 338 (copyright 1992 , by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Limited use by Express written permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.) :
" I simply step back and watch my thoughts as if I were watching a play . I try to keep my attention on the present day only , leaving the past and the future alone "
Conference Approved Literature has many great quotes on meditation. This is just one person's experience , others are quite different . The programme seems to suggest that we should find a way that is best for us rather than giving us a set format ,
llol Vickyr x
I am here.
I am open.
I am listening.
I am willing.
Thank you.
-- Edited by ack at 04:22, 2007-04-10
drawing near to my higher power as i understand my higher power ...
Reading Al-Anon literature has a special place in my recovery because I grew up being told that what I saw, heard, felt, etc. was not real if it did not coincide perfectly in all details with what my parents wanted to be real. I was "safe" from that brainwashing at school and at church, both of which were places that (at least in my case) involved a lot of reading things in black and white in books.
Even before coming to Al-Anon, I was familiar with the idea of "Take what you like and leave the rest." The God of my understanding calls to me and opens my heart through any means that will get my attention! lol So I have grown nearer to my higher power while reading some things that may sound "odd" as recovery literature.
Before I came to Al-Anon, my mom learned she was going to die soon. She lived a little over a year after that. During that year, I was reading a lot about cellular biology. Now, hey! My last science class was at 19 and was way over my head. :) But there I was 20 years later reading a cellular biology textbook which was also way over my head ... and being drawn closer to the God of my understanding.
I was extremely troubled and desperately searching for serenity. My Higher Power allowed me the freedom to search for help wherever I thought I could find it. Through one thing leading to another, I found that reading in a cellular biology textbook was one of the most calming and healing things that I could do.
At the time and still today, my perspective is this:
When I slow down and give myself over to what I am doing in the present, then I am in a state of mind where my Higher Power can heal me and help me to recover from the insanity around me and from the insanity in my own thoughts and feelings.
"Slow down and live" is one of my favorite highway signs to see. :) "Yield" is another favorite. I need lots of reminders all the time; those signs help me recall what I have learned.
When I was reading about cellular biology, I *had* to slow down. I *had* to give myself over completely (surrender myself) to what I was doing at that moment: reading about stuff way over my head and having to read it word by word and read a sentence over and over before going on to the next one ... much like when I first learned to read: so very happy that I could read even a few words.
One day, while reading in cellular biology, I read a few words that changed my life! The essence of the words was that if some cells in a developing fetus do not die, then the baby will be born with webbed fingers or webbed toes.
Growing up, I had been around people who had webbed fingers and had seen they could still function ... but I'd also seen that they were seen as "different" to the point that some people didn't want to shake hands with them. So I understood the benefit of not being born with webbed fingers.
My mind just opened up at that point. I was touched and healed of that desperate hurt and fear that I was responsible if my mom died ... no, I couldn't be responsible because early on before we are even born, some cells are having to die so that we may be born without webbed fingers or webbed toes. That, to me then and now, means that my mom's death was part of the whole rhythm of life that includes the great mysteries of birth and death, of surrender and being reborn .... WOW!
I am grateful right now this minute that the god of my understanding grants me the freedom to follow one step to another and to wander from the usual path into "odd" places and still be led to the circumstances that will slow me down and let me live. Will lead me to the circumstances where I may be (not cured necessarily but) healed over time -- or actually healed in an instant.
Grateful member of Al-Anon,
Sunny
-- Edited by Sunny2007 at 13:15, 2007-04-14
I ( for a number of years now ) have a habit of stopping. STOP. when i start to feel uptight. stress related, or decision making related. AH related.
Anytime,..... when thoughts that start to jam my head up with cr*# (cruncht stff..lol) AND I find a place and sit down for a moment and
do a very simple exercise.
i make sure i am not crossingmy legs,or sitting slumpy.
i take in a deep breathe in and hold it for the count of 1.....2... and then let it all out...slowly. i do this 8 times. it calms me, it clears my head, it opens my sinuses.,lol. it lightens my attitude and my being ( its also given me that little bit of time ,in silence for my thoughts to get clearer.)
i think instantly of myHP. whom i call God. and i feel better. i feel and sit with the thoughts i have taken that moment to get back in balance with me.
in doing this simple thing... i has helped me slow down.
not take everthing all sooo seriously. especially those things i can not control, did not cause and can not cure.* that slogan fits a lot of areas. not just the AH.
i am more able to enjoy Life moment by momemt instead of it being so fast paced and hurried. i feel closer to Me. Closer to HP , God and that strengthens my spirit. me on the inside. strengthens my abilities. im opened up from the inside.
i'm more apt to keep my spirit uP . i have the ability to focus on whats most important to me . my recovery. not on what is not my business or what i am not to resolve, because its not mine to take on.
amazing, and awesome that something as simple as "stopping" for just a few moments a day and clearing my head ....of any thought, and letting myself think.. on ly good thoughts, slogans, the serenity prayer..
prayer.. of how thankful i am for HP and for having another day just to be alive. ..
Working my steps and taking time for me, alot of it is in this step tooo...lol. Meditation ... (which is prayer for me in so many ways) This truly has changed my way of seeing all things. its helped me change bad behaviours, my attitude for better and my Outlook on the rest of my, A "very special" Life.
i know this is what HP wants for me. its what i want for me.
So grateful to be here.
thanks for letting me post my thoughts on Step 11.
Keep Workin IT