Evening :) I've always, since getting sober, ;) enjoyed listening to other share about their prayer and meditation practices. My sponsor had me practicing prayer and mediation from day one. Today, I would not go a day without it, but do find that I have to change things up sometimes. Not sure what that is in me. I also, at least, pray on those rebellious days whether I mean it or not. Anyway, I don't know how long sober some of the members on board are, but I'm willing to bet we have some newcomers, folks just starting in A.A. that would like to know how practicing prayer and mediation helps to keep us sober.
Keeps me out of "Self" and rooted in the continual spiritual awakening that is the essential foundation for moving from dying to surviving to living to thriving, in sobriety.
My name is Mike and I'm an alcoholic in Boston. I've been sober since 1996 and practice prayer and meditation daily. Both practices give me a chance to center myself and prepare for the day ahead. I can also review the blessings I've been given - which are many
I also take the time throughout the day to stop, reflect, and pray. it helps me deal with the myriad challenges we face. It's a good way to live.
I am not religious so I don't pray, but do find meditation very useful. I have daily repeating alarms on my iPhone that interrupt me periodically and remind me to stop and meditate for 5 minutes.
I pray/meditate willingly every day, which can calm the calamities of life on a daily basis. Meditating is like connecting to a higher power but without all that religious fervor (even though I belong to a religious institution). I make mention of all those minor inconveniences (in my daily meditation) that can annoy me from time to time with the hope of getting some much need clarity when need be. The process of alleviating ourselves of the burdens that pose a threat to our sobriety is my main reason for praying or meditating and I hope it can be others as well -one day at a time.
~God bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Saturday 4th of June 2011 02:07:50 PM
Theres this man in my yard, sitting in a chair with his arms lifted as if reaching for something. Some days that mans arms get so close to the outstreched arms from the other end ,it gives this man chills ,other times its thoughts of ,trips to the grocery store,did the lights get turned off, is that job at work going to get out, that seem to flood his mind, but even on those days that man knows he is in the presence of something much "greater than himself' (his particular faith beliefs reveal the presence to him and he is humbled)Upon landing back on this planet this man knows he is becoming fully aware,this deaf ,dumb and once blind kid,sure plays a mean pinball!!!
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
I actually just started meditating in response to some stressful stuff at work. I do the thing where you sit comfortably and breath in deeply, then breath out and think "one". If I can really concentrate on "one" and stop thinking about everything else for about ten minutes, it provides a lot of relief. I can actually feel my muscles un-tense. Pretty neat.
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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
Good topic to bring up. I do a short 3 step prayer in the AM, seeking the knowlege of God's will and the power to carry it out. Below is a section from page 86 in the BB, I also focus on. Pages 85-87 basically tell us how to bring the program into our daily life and actions. I also like to read the 24 hr book. I do brief periods of meditation throughout the day....to help me relax, take it easy and stay focused on what is important.
Pg 86, On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.
In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I am not religious so I don't pray, but do find meditation very useful. I have daily repeating alarms on my iPhone that interrupt me periodically and remind me to stop and meditate for 5 minutes.
GG
Just so know new people won't be confused, prayer and religion are not the same thing.
Our program is not religous, but does recomend a simple prayer life.
I'm not religious either, but I do work a spritiual program with involves a God of my understanding and prayer.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Prayer and/or meditation, to me, are very personal. What "I" do or don't do may not work for others, so it's between the God of my understanding and myself as to how I get this done on a daily basis. I will say that the big book actually taught me how to pray and what to pray for. I never have been one to worry too much about what is the 'right' form of meditation or whatever. I do know that anytime I'm in deep thought, wondering how someone is doing, thinking about how grateful I am for the life I have now, watching a butterfly prance across the water sprinkler, think about what I've just read or whatever, is a form of meditation. Hopefully, I'm putting forth some form of meditation before I post on this AA board. Meditation = thinking
med·i·tate (md-tt) v. med·i·tat·ed, med·i·tat·ing, med·i·tates v.tr. 1. To reflect on; contemplate. 2. To plan in the mind; intend: meditated a visit to her daughter. v.intr. 1. a. Buddhism & Hinduism To train, calm, or empty the mind, often by achieving an altered state, as by focusing on a single object. b. To engage in devotional contemplation, especially prayer. 2. To think or reflect, especially in a calm and deliberate manner.
When I read your Post the other day, inside my head went EEEEKKKKKK!!!!
I practiced meditation for about 6 years before getting sober, it was called Transindental Meditation, which involved about 6 or 7 women sitting in a circle, with a candle in the middle, we chanted this quite noice, like OLM....the goal was to slowly unclutter the thinking until it stopped.
Ok, that was then, but the EEEKK came from acknowledgly I have not been practicing the 11th step in a while..after my computer scare the other day, decided to cut back on the use. Very addicted to using everyday....so I made it, took 2 days off and did a lot of the quieting of the mind with the 11th Step.
Jane, I am just a little computer challenged sometimes. so when you have time, will you tell me what :D means, I get the :)...but the :D stumpes me....
Good Morning Toni
My symbol was a big smile. I googled a list of some for you. http://www.sharpened.net/emoticons/
Another friend started using this little :D a while back and i just like it. Another friend of ours likes to play with the keys to make pictures, but I can't and won't sit still long enough to do that. She makes animals, autos, funny looking little people, ect.. I think that may be a form of meditation for her :)
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Thank you to all who shared. I really enjoyed reading what you all wrote. And as always, we don't know who we might have helped. A longtimer friend of mine says, it doesn't matter how long we've been sober, 1 day, 1 month, 1 year, when we share our Experiance, Strength & Hope, we can actually help save a life.
Thanks again!
