Hazelden Meditation Series

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The Polished Pain of the Present

The only way out is through. The only way to heal the pain is to embrace the pain.—Fritz Perls

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

marquiseYou are like a diamond that is continually being polished and perfected. As this purification proceeds, old thought forms and negative patterns rise to the surface to be released. Past unfinished business must be completed. Old traumas that have been stored in the body ask to be discharged.

This is not a bad thing – far from it. The fact that painful events are being re-experienced is a sign that healing is taking place. Although you may feel tempted to run from these feelings, let yourself experience them. As you allow yourself to feel the pain, the pain diminishes and eventually disappears.

Spirit is always helping you to release that which you no longer need. Let go of the resistance and surrender to the process. Complete the past and move on. Once you have done the work, you will never have to repeat it. How good it feels to be free!

 

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The Power of Time

Procrastination is the thief of time.—Edward Young

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

iggi-stealtimeWhen we have a problem with putting things off, we seem to add to our troubles by mentally flogging ourselves. We know we are losing time. We criticize ourselves for our irrational behavior. Whether we are putting off an important task in our lives or letting many little undone jobs accumulate, we could benefit from stopping the self criticism and asking ourselves for the spiritual message in our actions. Perhaps we need some quiet time to do absolutely nothing. Maybe our perfectionism is paralyzing us. Is an “all or nothing” attitude telling us if we can’t do the whole job right away, there is no point in beginning? Unexpressed anger may be blocking us from doing what we need to do.

Whenever we find ourselves doing things that seem irrational we can ask, “What is the message from my Higher Power in this behavior?” This question will carry us much further toward spiritual growth than the mental criticism we are tempted to do.

Today, I will do what I can within the limits of one day, and I will stay in communication with my Higher Power.

 

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These Ears Are Meant For Listening

t’s better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.—James Thurber

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

2965_Sweet-puppy-listening-to-music-with-headphonesSelf Growth is an inner journey, but it often means going outside ourselves. In the past, we often were deaf to the words of others. Now we are discovering that God gave us ears for a reason.

Listening to others may be new to us, but we have so much to gain. Others may have learned ways to solve problems we can’t figure out. We may think our lives are unique, only to discover others have had the same experiences. There is so much insight, wisdom, and love to share. Now that we’re stronger, we can admit we need help, and accept that help with a joyful heart.

Today let me have the courage to listen to those people whom I respect.

 

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On the Wings of an Eagle

I wish I could keep in mind that God can provide, God will provide, and God does provide.— Marie Gubbels

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

EagleRelying on God for the guidance to deal with our problems seems much too simple. We probably spent decades looking to a quick fix or some kind of relationship of any sort for the solution to the ache that never left. We didn’t know then that God was waiting in the wings for our prayers. Even knowing it, as we do now, hasn’t prevented us from looking for help elsewhere, time and again. It has never been our nature to keep our lives simple. However, we are getting more practiced at the simpler life since becoming a part of this new growth in life.

We may need to choose, daily, to believe that God can, will, and does provide for our every need. Because most of us haven’t had a life-changing spiritual experience, we must decide every day to look to God. Fortunately, a moment of quiet and a tiny prayer is all that we need to do. God is never more than a thought away.

I will practice my reliance on God at every turn of events today. I believe I will receive guidance and knowledge concerning how to proceed next.

 

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Experiencing Some Growing Change

The reality is that changes are coming . . .They must come. You must share in bringing them.—John Hersey

By Hazelden Meditation Series

time-for-changeChange. It’s scary. It’s hard. It’s needed. Sometimes it feels good; other times it feels bad. But one thing is for sure: it keeps on happening.

Just when our life seems settled, it changes. We can’t stop life. We can’t stay this age forever. The world changes. Life moves on. There are always new things to do and learn.

Change means we’re always beginners in some ways. We need to ask for wisdom and courage. We get it by listening, by praying, by meditating. When we ask, our Higher Power will teach us to be part of good changes.

Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, help me believe that Your plans call for good changes.

Action for the Day

Today I’ll think about the changes in my life. I’ve lived through a lot. I’ll be okay when more changes come, with God‘s help. I can keep on growing.

 

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3 Easy Steps in the Process of Recovery

Aloneness and Quality Time

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

rest_crop380wThere are many ways to be good to ourselves. Here are just a few:

  1. At the beginning of each day, we can think about what we’d like to accomplish. This can be a routine household chore, a professional objective, or a living principle we’d like to work on.
  2. As our day unfolds, we can engage in an enjoyable diversion or work on a pet project. Often, these activities clear our minds and free us to think more calmly about matters which trouble us.
  3. In the evening, we may want to review the day’s events, and our reactions to them, with a friend. Or, we may simply want to sit quietly and allow our thoughts to wander as they will. Keeping a journal at these times is a helpful tool for self-discovery. By recording our reactions and thoughts as they arise, we often get a better perspective on ourselves as well as our experiences.

TODAY I will be good to myself. I will find something I enjoy doing, and I will do it. I will also take time to get to know myself – either by sharing with a trusted friend or by writing my thoughts in a journal.

 

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The Process of Recovery – Part II

Today I will do one thing more than I think I can do.

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

One_Small_Step_by_Watergirl403If I’m too tired or depressed to get out of bed, I will not only get up but also take a shower.

If I don’t have the energy to go to work, I will get dressed and drive to the parking lot of my job.

If I just can’t face the world, I will walk to the end of the street and back.

Yesterday we spoke about how it is good to take it easy – however, we need to remember not to get too lazy about it and take it for granted. We need to learn to grow and build… Just it doesn’t have to be all at once, it can be one small step at a time! This is today’s message.

I will reach a little further than whatever I believe my limitations to be. Usually, when I take that little extra step, it seems easier than I thought it would, and I feel better too.

 

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The Process of Recovery

I want to change things. I want to see things happen. I don’t want just to talk about them.—John Kenneth Galbraith

10_7 MentorAndCoordinatorBased on: Hazelden Meditation Series
Edited to match the reader fan-base of this Blog by: Anan Amos

Individual

I feel as if I should be doing so much more than just staying in reading and listening to “self-growth” lectures. I feel that I’m not accomplishing much these days. I go to a coffee with a friend, I reach out and call another when I get home and then for some reason I feel so tired and out of energy afterward, that all I want to do is get into bed and have a nap. When I have a big block of time, I don’t know how to use it. I feel confused and discouraged. I feel like I am wasting time, perhaps I am doing something wrong?

Mentor

This point in growing is a time to be especially gentle with ourselves. When we look back at how we were feeling and what we were doing just before we entered this recovery, we can see that there is a major change. To be free from our negative behavior, to keep a commitment to a program of growth and recovery – this is nothing short of a total revolution in our lives. We have made a commitment to live, not to punish ourselves for not doing it faster and more perfectly.

The calling, the going out and the napping is by no means at all a waste of time. It’s important to get to know ourselves and take care of our needs. We can learn from one another, support one another during a phone call or a coffee meeting. The changes we’re experiencing are mirrored back to us by others who are undergoing similar transformations. It gives us experience, too, at being with people without the “help” of our negative past behavior.

We don’t have to worry about wasting time in early growth. It is a miracle that we can simply be.

Today, I let myself be.

 

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My Life is Now Inside Out – The Positive Kind


By: Hazelden Meditation Series

plant in handsWith a developing understanding of growing to a healthy new lifestyle, we sometimes might find it difficult to believe that our new way of life leads to personal freedom. Suppose, for example, I feel imprisoned in an uncomfortable job or troublesome personal relationship. What am I doing about it? In the past, my reflex reaction was to try to manipulate the things and people around me into being more acceptable to me. Today, I realize that happiness can’t be won that way.

Am I learning that freedom from despair and frustration can come only from changing, in myself, the attitudes that are perpetuating the conditions that cause me grief?

Today I Pray

May I be given clear eyes to see and then to stop myself when I am manipulating the lives of those around me, my daily associates, friends, and family. May I always be aware that change must begin within myself.

Today I will remember

Change from the inside out.

 

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Sometimes The Hard Way is the Only Way

The elevator is broken; use the Steps.
–Anonymous

By: Hazelden Meditation Series

Sc-4-Elevator-brokenElevators are easy. We push a button and we go right to the top. The way is fast, quick, and silent. We don’t work up a sweat. We don’t get out of breath. We can’t trip and fall. There is not much time to communicate with anyone else along the way so we don’t have to use any effort or thought. We can daydream as we face the front of the car and stare at the numbers as they change from floor to floor.

Some of us are simply living our lives like we are riding elevators. Some of us live “house”. Some of us live the normal routine of wake-up, go to work, come back home, and go to sleep. While others just have it simply – easy! Until we crashed. Until life hits us in the Face!

I will sometimes sweat, stumble, get out of breath in my climb, but I’ll take the time to talk with and learn from others who are taking the Steps with me.

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