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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Step Work -> Step Work -> Alanon Step 11 (7-16-2017)
Post Info TOPIC: Alanon Step 11 (7-16-2017)
hotrod


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Alanon Step 11 (7-16-2017)
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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.

Paths to recovery.

This relationship we have with the God of our understanding, compared to when we first walked through the rooms of Al-Anon is now much more powerful as a result of our experience in working the steps. In step two, we came to believe, we felt empowered making a conscious decision. In step 11, we can maintain our growth with new energy through meditation and knowledge of his will.

My Share

 Again with this Step, I worked it out of order.  After I had reconciled with the God of my understanding in Step 2, I reviewed all the other Steps and thought it an impossible task for me.    I knew that these Steps held the key to living my life differently and  I was determined to continue on this journey.  I decided that in order to get the courage to move forward I needed to jump the Steps so that I could obtain the clarity and courage   to do the work of Steps 4 thru 9

Reading the Steps was very  easy--- Acting on them and using them in my life very very hard. 

 

I looked thru each Step and Slogan and found I could do Step 11 with ease  The reason for that is in  Step  11,  I not only pray for the knowledge for HPs will for me but  I also ask to receive  "the Power to carry it out!!!"  What a gift!! What a promise!!!  HP is not going to ask anything of me that He does not provide the courage, wisdom and strength for me to succeed.

 I started small.  Each morning I asked HP to show me His will today and give me the power to go forth.  Then I said the serenity prayer and started my day. 

Any time during the day that I felt angry, resentful, sad, I would repeat the serenity prayer and trust HP to guide my actions and words.   At the end of the day my sponsor and I would review the day as in a 10th Step and  would see clearly how HP had guided my actions and what courage I had been given.  I handled/ handle situations that use to confuse me and make me want to run.  I spoke my truth with courtesy and kindness   all this was new for me.prior to this   I usually tried to manipulate situations so I would obtain my will.  Here I was trusting HP, being Honest, Open and Willing and my days were falling into place like never before.

I work this Step each and every day .  I ask HP for the courage, wisdom and serenity to live through this day only and trust that I will be lead.

 Just a note, my MY HP did not promise a Rose Garden.   I have had many a heart break on this Spiritual Journey. Some that sent me into a  real tail spin.  The loss of my precious son to this disease was major.  I felt the sadness; the anger, the grief the huge loss and I also felt deep down a peace that surpasses understanding.  I did receive the power to face this very difficult loss with HPs help  I will always miss and love my child and have a deep sadness at his loss, however I also am oh so grateful that  he, this beautiful gift from HP,  was in  my life for over 40 years and I can recall the many joys and love we shared.

I love this Step 

Step 11 questions

How do I define the difference between prayer and meditation?the

Am I willing to try prayer or meditation today?

What can I do to add prayer and meditation to my life today?

How am I willing to be guided today?

Is something blocking me in this step today?

What steps can I reviewed to help me feel connected again?

What do I need to have the power to carry out Gods will for me?

Have I asked God to that power?

Do I have a special time and place to pray and meditate? What can I do to create to create one?

What personal spiritual experiences can I draw on to help me improve my conscious contact with HP?

 



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Betty
DavidG


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  Step 11. Thanks Betty.

I have had changes since I covered this step last. Weeelll when I think of when I covered it last... I realise now that i do cover it 24/7. In my sleeping hours ? That was the plan... but practically during my waking hours...

I had this covering prayer to my HP- please guard and guide all things at all times everywhere... then I had to act on the results... and focus this one on my immediate needs and surroundings... with the word ~act~ being the operative one.

Latterly i had some sort of illness. I took it to the state system and it was taking forever... ...so I did act and began to breathe a whole lot better. Usually when i used to meditate I would fall asleep- because I was just so exhausted. I had not learned to live a measured stress managed life. Putting breathing into the equation made all of the difference. I went into all the theories about the functions of parts of the brain stem and the stomach. My motto was- "at the very least do no harm".

So I seemed to go from harm to harmony... ...it took time, but it worked. Along the way I sought professional help and got some of my hearing restored- so I could listen properly, in a balanced way.

This helped my communications skills measurably. I did not realise how badly my left ear was blocked... I used to literally gatecrash conversations... ...it was not an easy ride... blankstare...

We all know the old story of our Hp sending the jet boat and the helicopter out to rescue us... I think we have to be ready to accept the help we are offered- and this is more than half of the battle...

thanks again... smile... hope y'all are having a nice day...



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Participation is the key to harmony.
hotrod


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Hello David Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this powerful Step. Sounds as if you too have incorporated it into your daily routine and have reaped the benefits.
Good Work my friend.

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Betty
Skorpi


Veteran Member

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What fantastic timing with this step. I have been feeling recently overwhelmed at home and work, and I was reflecting today on a problem I have: I seem to be running from thing to thing without direction or purpose, other than to get the things done. The applies at work and at home, which I seem to have turned into a second job, taking on the responsibility of all housekeeping and car/appliance maintenance and lawn care and gardening and pet care. Too much.

I was reflecting this morning on how to be less overloaded at work and at home, and how to find time to enjoy things. I have been focusing on realistic expectations for the day, and journaling in the morning, doing daily reflections, but I realized that I have forgotten to ask for HP's will for the day. I have been focused on my will, or my responsibilities, and am not finding peace of contentment because I have not been asking for HP's will. Seems time for a deepening relationship with HP, who I have begun to trust more and more.

How do I define the difference between prayer and meditation?
For me, prayer is talking and meditation is listening.

Am I willing to try prayer or meditation today?
Yes, I do both, but honestly not as consistently as I should

What can I do to add prayer and meditation to my life today?
I will add to prayer that HP's will for me and my day is accomplished, and I will set aside time in the evening for prayer and meditation. I will work toward a morning and an evening time, a little at a time.

How am I willing to be guided today?
I am just back from being away for a few days, and things feel piled up. I also have a deadline on the 20th, and I am not ready for it. I will give my stress, worry, and fear to HP, and allow him to show me what I need to accomplish in this day.

Is something blocking me in this step today?
I fear that HP is not interested; there are so many people with larger issues than I have, why would HP take the time to be concerned about mine when others are dealing with issues that are so much larger? My chronic low self-esteem seems to be in control with this step, so I will turn that over to HP as well.

What steps can I reviewed to help me feel connected again?
Steps one, two, and especially three - I need to trust HP with the small stuff, and also the big stuff

What do I need to have the power to carry out Gods will for me?
I am not sure. I think I need to trust HP to have a will for the little things in my life, and I need to trust that I will see where HP points me, and trust that I will be given the tools to carry out HP's will. So, back to step 3, and trusting HP.

Have I asked God to that power?
I have now, as I am working through these questions. Prayer for me is informal, it runs alongside everything I do. And I trust that HP will be able to hear me.

Do I have a special time and place to pray and meditate? What can I do to create to create one?
Right now I do not, but I will work to create one in the next few weeks. It will have to be away from other people, where I can be quiet without noise. You would think this would be easy with just me and my wife in the house, but quiet is hard to come by...

What personal spiritual experiences can I draw on to help me improve my conscious contact with HP?
When I sit in prayer and meditation, and make an offering, I feel HP present and helping in my life, especially calming my emotions and lessening my fears and anxieties.



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hotrod


Guru

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Posts: 1023
Date:
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Hi Skorpi Thanks for your insightful honest share on this powerful step.I find that i talk to God often, put have difficulty making time to listen. I do appreciate the fact that you are sharing the journey.

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Betty
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