With no thought of gain. I did not choose this disease, but I do choose recovery. We wont be destroyed. That magic thing that I had lost or misplaced. We always have the choice of turning to our Higher Power in thought, rather than reacting with fear and resentment. We are forming an image that corresponds to the sober people we want to be. He is exalted at the Fathers right hand, and though as Jehovah He had eminent glories, in which finite creatures cannot share, yet as the Mediator, the honours which Jesus wears in heaven are the heritage of all the saints. It is not about right or wrong. It is not a black-and-white situation. -Judah Leib Lazerov. It will increase our awareness of the goodness all around us. These medicines are to help others or to help make us healthy. But in recovery we learn to appreciate the more subtle trickle that a good day can be. Daily Reflections. | Alcoholics Anonymous Growing is like running a twenty-six mile marathon. My prayer time is more for listening than for talking. The belief in us is strengthened, too. A Receptiveness to criticism helps us become less rigid and more willing to change. Or we may be conscious of our fear, but be refusing to deal with it. A.A. I did the same thing over and over again I tried outward solutions to fix an inward problem. I learned about Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. I came to believe that was true. Much of our lives may have been lived on a roller coaster of major crises. Alcoholics Anonymous I will begin this day, and every day, looking to God for the gift of zeal to live fully every moment, to give fully what I have to give, and to glory fully in all that I receive. I will not be frightened of growing older, for I intend to do so with the pride and integrity developed with age and experience. Or are you solving the same problem over and over? Freedom. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him This will remind me that the true source of power is always at hand. French proverb. Thought For The Day I am less sensitive and my feelings are less easily hurt. Finally, I reached the place marked by the moon. If one strives for power and gifts, no true results will come, and one will become lost in lust. Step Eleven doesnt have to overwhelm me. It didnt use to take much to insult me, to feel that I had been slighted or left on the outside. Just for Today Meditation One meets his destiny often on the road one takes to avoid it. This site is not affiliated with NA or AA. Just for today | Twelve Step Journaling As long as we are aware and alive we can expect to have some discomfort, some fear of loss, some doubt. The self-help movements have told us for years that we have to form an image of what we want to be in order to reach our goals. In the rapidly chilling autumn, ponds begin to ice over. See how people have helped shape you; see how youve touched and shaped them. Daily Meditations Center for Action and Contemplation None of us, perhaps, ever thought wed end up in recovery. Doubling down on this personal empowerment are the positive things the JFT points our focus towards. Trust your heart. The harried hen scurried about her house, trying to put it in order. Today I can bring myself a little closer to my Higher Power. Arent we told that this is an honest program? It happens when I feel my fear. -Irish Proverb, Gratitude is to thank God for all His infinite goodness with all our heart. He entered them in a local showing and received second prize. What a mercy for us that one Person of the sacred Trinity should become the Comforter! Read Today's Meditation This Year's Theme The Prophetic Path It can be easier to turn away from suffering than face it with an open heart. So we should pray to God with faith and trust and gratitude. Then he got on the phone. Prayer for the Day:Higher Power, remind me that You are near when I love someone or something. May I be realistic enough to know that this may take half a lifetime. I may not follow it perfectly, but I will have it. By going to meetings, I find many reasons to be grateful. A single white horn grows from its brow, making it unique among all animals. God Thank You for the gift of music that enables me to grow in my understanding of self and my need of others. Read more. April 22 Prayer for the Day:Higher Power, I got lost because I acted like I knew the way to a good life. So often we focus on tomorrow and forget that today is the only day we are guaranteed of having. I have hope. Where the sky and the earth touch are the boundaries for all things to live. Just for Today Meditations Find Posts by Date Hello and welcome to Just for Today Meditations. November 1 I picked up the tiny leaflet. one in the other person, the other within ourselves. After a few days of shakes and nausea, I decided that a shot of tequila wouldnt hurt. November 15, Our Spiritual belief is that we were created as part of the land so our identity, our names, and our songs are all tied to the land. "Just for today" applies to all areas of our lives, not just abstinence from drugs. That magic thing that I had lost or misplaced. At some point along the line, we abandon the frantic pursuit of an external object of happiness and begin to work on ourselves. I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can adjust my sail. If a person threatens physical violence, we may have to go along with his or her wishes against our will. For we had started to get perspective on ourselves, which is another way of saying that we were gaining in humility. Just For Today Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts January 4 The Love of the Fellowship "Today secure in the love of the fellowship, we can finally look another human being in the eye and be grateful for who we are." Basic Text p. 89 When we were using, few of us could tolerate looking someone in the eye-we were ashamed of who we were. It was acting with insanity. Our friends and groups can help us feel more balanced and peaceful in spite of our stressful conditions. With fear, were ever so familiar. November 15 Our interests round us out; they beckon us to become our better selves. Indeed, focus holds the power to change lives, as it lives at the center of our entire reality. They are inspired by our lives and flow from them. If Ive been recovering for a while, I will pause to reflect, and be grateful for my overall progress. Its goals are my goals. -Barbara De Angelis, However long the night, the dawn will break. No person has the power to disturb that inner peace. It will carry us along to other feelings like happiness and peace. When I am telling them that its okay, that they can do it, Im really telling myself I can do it, too. John Andrew Holmes, Time is the coin of your life. In all circumstances, our free will lies in the way we choose to think about whats happening. It helps to go back to the basics to focus on detachment, dealing with feelings, and taking life one day at a time. Walk In Dry Places Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of the situation. Spiritual growth results from absorbing and digesting truth and putting it to practice in daily life. No alcoholics should go mad or die merely because he did not come straight to A.A. at the beginning. Daily Meditations AA Daily Recovery Readings - May 24 May 24, 2015 by Jeannette Daily Reflections May 24 "HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE" We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. Berthold Auerbach. We may have spiritual experiences in our daily lives that we dont think of as spiritual. The light will lead you home. Can we really find our Higher Power just by loving many things? Then the rewards will come. I can feel in it, through it, with it another miracle. and an advisor will help you decide what treatment you need to overcome your alcohol addiction. A complacent and indulgent sobriety is dangerous. What Is the Just For Today Meditation? Benefits of Recovery. Just for Today I choose to believe that I can live this one day. Hold no expectations. The DrugStrategies.org helpline is free, private, and confidential. April 22 I had never seen my disease as a physical, emotional and spiritual disease that needed addressing at the same time, one day at a time. October 3, 2015 by Jeannette. Coping With Stress. I learned at a pre-verbal stage that compulsive overeating is a coping mechanism. Daily Reflections October 3 SERENITY AFTER THE STORM Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. Each of the 366 daily entries opens with an NA quote, examines the day's topic, and closes with a focusing thought or affirmation. Even if you live alone, youre part of a large family. Every action I take today must help me keep favorable options open in the future. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. Theres really only one thing that proves to me that A.A. works. One Day at a Time Positive thinking doesnt completely transport you into a fairytale. Let him try it by himself for once; maybe hell learn a lesson!, Love and kindness are never wasted. It insinuates itself into all our successes and accomplishments, even when we attribute them to God. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. And thats what you have to keep intact. Copyright 2023 Just for Today Meditations. Times change but lands do not. The volume focuses on all Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service. As I do so, I am learning to take responsibility for my part in the things that happen to me. We can give it to mistakes weve made, building a solid case against ourselves based on some lessons we went through, past errors in judgement, and learning experiences. The Just for Today card is a piece of literature found in most Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. She finally found a solution, uniquely tailored, in the Twelve Steps. . Even now that we are older, we may find it difficult not to praise ourselves in front of others each time we make some kind of gain. Others are trapped in situations as bad as mine, but they bear their troubles with more fortitude. The short-term gains are the things we can do today that help us feel better immediately. NEW SOIL NEW ROOTS, Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual serenity, as I have excellent reason to know. Acceptance brings peace, healing, and freedom the freedom to take care of ourselves. We can watch the quality of our relationships improve with family, friends, and spouses. You must try not to give entrance to fears and despondency. A collection of readings that moves through the calendar year one day at a time: A.A. members reflect on favorite quotations from the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous. We dont know were afraid; the fear is tucked and hidden away. Many of us tried other substances, too, such as alcohol, drugs, or money. Ive found even in skydiving that it helps me to share my experience, strength, and hope with skydivers newer to the sport than I am. April 22, Step Four Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.. Still, accounting was an important job, and people needed him to help them with their taxes. Acceptance is not a one step process. We must stretch to become all we are meant to be. God is not just an idea. I will not be a mental loafer. I found my sanity returning, piece by piece. Looking at the flow of our whole lives, we see the interconnections of many days that seemed minor. Its a reminder that, with sobriety as with life, we can only move forward one day at a time. I meant to do my work today But a brown bird sang in an apple tree, And a butterfly flitted across the field, And all the leaves were calling me. When we refuse air, light or food, the body suffers. When you are troubled, comfort someone more troubled, when lonely, reach out to one that is lonelier, and when unsure, give encouragement to the weary. Daily Readings - AA Happy Hour 12 Step AA NA Daily Meditation 12+ - App Store -James 1:22-24, I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right Let your steadfast love become my comfort For your law is my delight. The necklace didnt have any power. This knowledge will help us heal the people. The Pueblo people live at the center of their universe, all things are interconnected and form a part of the whole. AA's Just for Today - YouTube Affirming that the events taking place are a temporarily uncomfortable part of a good, solid plan can help. Instead of reacting to life, I have learned through the Steps how to take action. A good way to get started is by allotting a particular time every day to recite the JFT. Thank-you for putting me on the right track. We may neither understand our own behavior nor ourselves while were grieving our losses. If she can remember previous successes, she will no doubt make the decision to go on, to at least give the race her best shot. We learn we are applauded for those special times with which all people can identify success on the job or when a new child or grandchild is born. As a newcomer, I was told that my admission of my powerlessness over alcohol was my first step toward freedom from its deadly grip. Stalled work will get successful. It seemed to urge me on, beckoning me to drive toward it. Is our Higher Power really so close? July 12, 2023 Patience Page 202 " We were trapped by our need for the instant gratification that drugs gave us. The power came from remembering to believe in myself. November 15 You no longer have to be isolated or suffer from separateness. I pray that I will continue to take sensible risks. It is admittedly a paradox. Its always possible that the person who drinks again may never recovery sobriety. Anonymous. Since 1954, the words of Twenty-Four Hours a Day have become a stable force in the recovery of many individuals throughout the world. Narcotics Anonymous. But understanding the forces at play behind the meditation is what gives the creed its true power. I was frustrated and very, very sad. As soon as Tao enters into us, it takes on the colors of our inner personalities. As small children we have bristled at suggestions about our drawings or toy houses we made. This lawyer tried psychiatrists, biofeedback, relaxation exercises, and a host of other techniques to control her drinking. We could perceive them quickly in others, but only slowly in ourselves. Sometimes I hear the disease of addiction saying to me, Youve done all you need now relax; take it easy.. -Sylvia Stitt Edwards. The necklace was more than a piece of jewelry. Music touches our feelings and speaks to us in a special language. I can listen. They twisted and corrupted sounds and made them destructive and coarse. Tina Chang. We are better able to cope with the most irregular circumstances; we are better able to be there for others, if were caring for ourselves. Do we have the free will? Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery isnt easy, even with tools like the JFT meditation. My load has begun to lighten. We have Christ for our glorious representative in heavens courts now, and soon He will come and receive us to Himself, to be with Him there, to behold His glory, and to share His joy. Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Hazelden Store: Product Search - Spirituality and Personal Growth Deep breaths help create calm and focus, making the words ring louder in your mind. We were to busy trying to avoid the pain. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 173, I came to A.A. greena seedling quivering with exposed taproots. I try to let the future take care of itself. November 1 May I be on guard constantly against the sneakiness of pride, which can creep into every achievement, every triumph, every reciprocated affection. Take time to honor your connections, and the impact of each person youve met. A crescent moon was snuggled between two mountains. Rainer Maria Rilke. But once these men had hit upon a cure, once it became apparent that only by their united effort could this be accomplished, then all of them would feel bound to devote themselves solely to the relief of cancer. Daily Recovery Readings - April 22 - Just for Today Meditations Some are so bowed down that only Jesus can loose them from their infirmity, but He can, and He will, do it. But sometimes when the student appears, its because the teacher is ready to learn the lesson, too. Come. Find the answers to the questions you have. Lifestyle WordPress Theme by themehit.com. Consider, for example, this classic, short, and sweet refrain: Just for today, I am grateful to be alive. So where does happiness fit in? I do not even look at it, except when necessary to make plans. We can protect our freedom of choice by deciding only to take actions that will strengthen such freedom in the future. Its members are my truest friends. The future will be made up of todays and todays, stretching out as short as now and as long as eternity. When it comes to the mission of Alcoholics Anonymous, the JFT is meant to help bring that same calm positivity to the practice of staying sober, even and especially during such moments of turbulence. When you feel the need to tell someone how bad your day has been, tell them how good its been instead. Yes! An open, trusting, sincere relationship with our higher power equals enthusiasm about life. Lifestyle WordPress Theme by themehit.com, sign up to receive it in your email inbox here on the NA website. Click on today's date in the calendar below to view today's readings from AA's "Daily Reflections", Hazelden's "Twenty-Four Hours A Day", NA's "Just For Today", Hazelden's "Walk In Dry Places", Hazelden's "Keep It Simple", "Each Day a New Beginning" daily meditations for women, Melody Beattie's "Journey to the Heart . Soon a path will open up. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. Walk In Dry Places Sit down with no thought of results and you will go naturally and spontaneously with Tao. I choose recovery, health, love and life. I must be careful that I do not plateau at this stage of my journey into sobriety and relax in past achievements. The 12 Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - Spiritual Principles November 15, Tradition Five Each group has but one primary purpose to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.. H. Also, the language is more modern and flexible than the AA big book. Daily Recovery Readings - October 3 - Just for Today Meditations I had managed to put on a little weight, but six months later I collapsed and was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. We have learned to take it on the chin if necessary and smile. It still works miracles of change in lives and miracles of healing in twisted minds. Thought For The Day. -unknown, We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. One Day at a Time We take a few moments out of our daily routine to thank God, as we understand God, for giving us the ability to cope with today. It was a lodge not listed in any directory, in a town not even on any map. May I watch for it. When I came into program and heard the Serenity Prayer at my first meeting, I didnt fully understand its meaning. We can work a Step and often notice an immediate difference in the way we feel and function. I accept the friendship You offer me. We who are today bowed down and sorrowful shalt yet be set on high, and those who now mock at us shall be greatly ashamed. Even if you work alone, youre really part of a team. We can go to a meeting and feel refreshed, talk to a friend and feel comforted, or practice a new recovery behavior, such as dealing with our feelings or doing something good for ourselves, and feel relieved. Loving Advisers, p. 303. ".it is better to meet God alone than with one who might misunderstand. If we tell others, were telling ourselves. I am less sensitive and my feelings are less easily hurt. November 1 On the Other Side of Fear Is Joy. I have now come to accept the fact that there are some things I cannot change, but I can change my attitude towards others. The airplane and my flying worked. -Richard R. Grant, I dont stay clean on yesterdays recovery. Just for Today I will try to go out of my way to be kind to someone I meet; I will be friendly and act appropriately, I will dress becomingly, talk low, be courteous and not critical, I will not try to control situations or other people. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. November 1, Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Dear hen, he said in a patient loving tone, for he was quite fond of her, You will never enjoy your visit if you continue to race about. Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. There is always more to learn and more to do. My disease will forever speak, but will I listen? And the concept can be freeing: All we have is this day, the chant reminds us, so lets not waste it. It was almost eleven oclock at night. Decades of work have honed skills which can and should continue to be used in various ways. Compulsion is loss of control and continuation of the behavior despite the consequences. We find ourselves growing steadily and gradually in our capacity to be intimate and close, to give and receive. COMFORT, No man knows of what stuff he is made until prosperity and ease try him. Were not being dishonest by pushing ourselves to become actively involved in AA. The Light Will Illuminate Your Path. Be understanding with yourself and others for the very human way we go through transition. One cause of our drinking was because we couldnt take it, so we escaped the unpleasant situation. Many alcoholics are vigorous defenders of free choice. Others may not understand us. today. As I Attend meetings of The Program, my eyes open wider and wider. Our interests entice us to live up to Gods expectations. But it is clear that we made our own misery. Were striving for acceptance in recovery acceptance of our past, other people, our present circumstances, and ourselves. -Psalm 73:23-24, As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. One man may like to listen to country music on the radio, another one might play the piano, and another may go to rock concerts. I once wrote to a man who received my letter the same day he had killed someone in a car accident, which would no doubt make one very, very thirsty. Another doctor, a psychiatrist, later on helped me save my sanity because he led me to ferret out some of my deep-lying defects. May I know that whenever things are going well for me, my pride will be on the spot, ready to take credit. Its easy to give up confidence in ourselves. That's why our 2023 Daily Meditations theme, The Prophetic Path, empowers us to not avoid or fear the pain of the world, but turn toward it with compassion. Each has a special medicine to contribute for the good of all things. . It can also serve as a powerful reminder to hear, in your own voice, what it is that you want. Elders Meditation of the Day Compulsive overeating is not a moral dilemma. RISKS, Appeasers believe that if you keep on throwing steaks to tigers, the tiger will become a vegetarian. These are the long-term gains, the larger progress we make in our life. The more he listened at meetings, the more he came to know about his own drinking history. Many of us meet our Higher Power through the music we love. There you will find your power, and there you will find God. Conscious contact with God can be as simple, and as profound, as conscious contact with another human being. It is a mode of existence. Oftentimes they could help where others could not, simply because they were A.A.s. Tune into your body. As its name may imply, the Just for Today meditation gives its reciters a short-term list of things to focus on. November 1 Instagram: @ellymellystudio via Unsplash3. And all I had to do was simply face and feel my fear. It had a mineral bath on the grounds and, yes, an available room. Mantras become such brilliant tools by tapping into our greatest mental faculty: focus. We can watch ourselves grow strong in faith, until we have a daily personal relationship with a Higher Power that is as real to us as a relationship with a best friend. I pray that I may be content with whatever form that response takes. Many of my dearest A.A. friends have stood with me in exactly this same relation. Were in the dark. What might help us feel better or more comfortable? Leave him alone! Lord, help me to be more patient and understanding. Transformation through Grief. Sometimes, the stress is within; we feel out of balance. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. My A.A. life put me on a different footing [my] roots grasped a new soil. All along, I knew there was something wrong with me, that I was not normal, but I didnt know what to do about it. Creator, today, help me discover and use my medicine to serve a greater good. April 22 $5.99 Screenshots iPhone iPad This best-selling app from Hazelden Publishing offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for those in recovery from alcohol and other drugs. Vision Beyond Today, p. 317. Many religions teach about interconnectedness, the subtle effect each person and each movement in the universe has on all the others. Of course, there are plenty of other types of meditations and affirmations that may help on the road to recovery. Rawpixel via Envato8. Thought For The Day People believe in A.A. when they see it work. An actual demonstration is what convinces them. I am moving to a real world where I know and accept my feelings. We can say a prayer of thanks to God every day for His grace, which has kept us on the right way and allowed us to start living the good life. Our behaviors may vacillate. And giving it away is often how we get to have some ourselves. Every encounter with another is an opportunity for prayer, for acknowledging Gods presence within me. I will let no day go by without heeding an interest. I will have a program. We even had naming ceremonies. Prayer and meditation make all things understandable and guarantee that we will pass the course on life. Inevitably, there are times of stress in our lives, no matter how long weve been in recovery. Grief can be frustrating. Item: 5066. But once over the first two or three high hurdles, the course ahead began to look easier. When weve done our homework we discover that no lesson will baffle us. Alas, we soon discovered that there are no perfect individuals, only ordinary people with faults like our own. April 22 Just for Today I will try to be happy realizing that my happiness does not depend on what others do or say, or what happens around me. We do ourselves justice when we learn to listen to most criticism. Even those who accept it sometimes understand it in only a fragmentary way. Tell yourself you know its there. Daily Reflections It leads to the disarming slip of arrogance and false pride. Happiness is a result of being at peace with myself. 4.0 out of 5 stars DAILY . This work will be well done since such a glorious One has made it His peculiar care. The energy of love come from You. Particularly, I shall be unafraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, and what is lovely in life. I opened the tiny box with that feeling most women get when they know theyre about to receive jewelry.