I love this short poem my friend Damon shared with me yesterday. I also love the Big Book’s variety in describing a Higher Power … unsuspected inner resource’ ( BBp.567/568) , ‘a position of neutrality’ (BB p.85)… even as ‘a new found Friend (BB p.13). Allen Berger in his writing and talks has shared theContinue reading “Now I Am Enough – Recovery Poem By Damon E December 2008”
Category Archives: Kindness
Practicing Surrender – Extract From Progloue/Epilogue Of Surrender To Love By David Benner
How does surrender address the fundamental reality of ‘lack of power, that was our dilemma’ (BB p.45) ? What is the dynamic between the surrender of offering myself or abandoning myself and finding who I really am … my true self … distinguishing the true from the false ? Is it possible that to “thineContinue reading “Practicing Surrender – Extract From Progloue/Epilogue Of Surrender To Love By David Benner”
What You Practice Gets Stronger – Radical Compassion Extract From Chapter 2 By Tara Brach
I like to tell students the story of a man who went to a mindfulness retreat because his therapist said he’d feel better if he learned to meditate. The retreat turned out to be a real roller coaster. Yes, there were moments of calm, but he also plunged deeply into fear, anger, and grief. TheContinue reading “What You Practice Gets Stronger – Radical Compassion Extract From Chapter 2 By Tara Brach”
What Do You Get When You Squeeze An Orange By Wayne Dyer
I love this very simple 3 minute video. It’s a powerful reminder that what comes out from me is a direct reflection of what is in me. On the final page of the Big Book (before the stories ) on page 164; we find these suggestions and observations: “Ask Him in your morning meditation whatContinue reading “What Do You Get When You Squeeze An Orange By Wayne Dyer”
Showing Up With Integrity – A Spiritual Principle A Day May 27th
“Integrity is the state of being fully integrated: Our actions, our thinking, our feelings, our ideals, and our values all match up.” Living Clean, Chapter 3, “Spirituality Is Practical” Most of us think of having integrity as being honest and reliable, as keeping our word. While that’s certainly true, integrity has a deeper and moreContinue reading “Showing Up With Integrity – A Spiritual Principle A Day May 27th”
Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein
My alcoholism and its personal and collateral damage evoke a lot of emotions. And yet, as I work the program and move from the bedevilments of my addiction(s) (BB p.52) to the ‘new freedom’ (BBp.84) of recovery, I have an experience of acceptance as well as conscious contact and spiritual fitness from a God ofContinue reading “Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein”
Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer
In our group meditation, we refer to mindfulness as this ‘wise companion’ with our goal not being to become great meditators but rather to experience this Presence in every aspect of our lives. How do we come to recognize and know this wise companion? Certainly through prayer and meditation but this article explores another pathContinue reading “Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer”
Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.
My friend Big Adam shared this poem with me. His poem reminds me of this article from Henri Nouven about how hope so fundamentally differs from optimism. Nouven says “the person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands” and “hope is the trustContinue reading “Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.”
Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma
I love the phrase ‘let the best in me lead the rest in me’ that Dr. Allen Berger came up with. This article can help us realize that within us there is an ‘unsuspected inner resource’ (BB p.567) where we experience a ‘place of neutrality’(BB p.85) and discover this ‘best in me’. It further helpsContinue reading “Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma”
See The Divine All Around You – Journey To The Heart May 2nd Reflection By Melody Beattie
The woman was old, perhaps ninety. She had the frailness we sometimes see in the elderly, but her life force was strong, vital. She sat in the cafe eating breakfast with a younger woman. “You’ve been through a lot,” the younger woman said. “It must be hard since your husband died. How are you doing?”Continue reading “See The Divine All Around You – Journey To The Heart May 2nd Reflection By Melody Beattie”