“I need another trusted person with whom to share… reveal myself intimately… they all listen to and… hold me accountable for my choices and actions… I am never alone.” Hope For Today

This is one of the most magical parts of staying in the middle of a 12 step program – the fellowship. Forging strong, safe relationships with others who’s trusted opinions guide me to be the best and most peaceful person I can be.

All of the posts in this section of my 12stepwork.com site with the name JamesQ at the bottom are also sent out via text to about 65 people who asked to receive them. They are also reposted on my private Facebook page. Those who receive them are close program and family members, and all of those safe relationships who’s trusted opinions I rely upon are within this small social group. I am so grateful for these individuals.

My recovery is about so much more than just sobriety, my spiritual work or the meetings for me. Together, with all of these wonderful people, I am so much happier than I could ever be alone. ILML!

JamesQ

“What we think, we become.” ― Buddha.

I deeply believe in this concept. It’s something many other spiritual leaders have spoken as well. I often say “be careful what you’re thinking because your mind is listening”. Not only does it listens, it believes. And then from that belief it projects my thoughts into my future, actually manifesting my life from my beliefs.

This means that if I am thinking things like “Life is really tough, I’m tired, I hate that guy, etc.” all those things will become my world. The trick for me is to become aware of those negative thoughts, and their power to create a negative life for myself. Then I simply change them: “Life is amazing! I have tons of energy! That guy is just suffering, I’m glad I’m not him and I hope he gets better!”. Sometimes I need to write it and say it out loud to blot out the negative thoughts. This practice has changed my life. As a result of it, today I’m full of gratitude and ILML!

– James Q

“… a continuing series of spiritual awakenings.” – Drop the Rock

When I’m in that wonderful place of God consciousness, I feel invincible from fear, disappointment and anger. I’m at peace. That spiritual energy is always available to me, but to tap into it I need to take specific actions.

I start on my knees out of bed, thanking the universe for the abundance of gifts laid at my feet. I read from inspirational books, journal my gratitude and send out these texts. Thank you for allowing me to include you in my spiritual journey. ILML!

– James Q.

“… whenever one is free from negativity, one enjoys peace and harmony.” S.N. Goenka, Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

Goenka, a teacher of meditation, stated that this is the law of nature. I believe it. The sense of fullness I feel in life, my insistence on being happy and in gratitude, is conditional upon my ability to spot and eradicate negativity that adversely is affecting me. Like a week in my garden, If I can’t pull it from the ground (roots and all), I can simply choose to see what is beautiful about it. This practice and philosophy is fundamentally why ILML!

– James Q

“When I become willing to act on faith, God helps me create miracles for myself and assist others in creating their own” Hope For Today

It took me 10 years in recovery to finally abandon my intellect and embrace a God of my un-understanding, and thank God I did. Life is so much easier and more comfortable since I resigned from the debating committee. With faith in my invisible spiritual friend, I’ve opened myself up to believing in miracles, and because of that, I’m manifesting them every day. Surrendering and trusting source rocks my world! ILML

– James Q

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness… For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.” AA

It matters not whether the resentment is big or small, anger, frustration or disappointment over anything takes away from my ability to bask in the sunshine of happiness prevents me from celebrating this amazing opportunity to partake in the human experience – being me, James, for one more day. Though this may sound corny, it’s true. I’m so grateful that ILML!

– James Q

“… the more we give what we want to receive, the more we increase the chances we’ll get what we want.” Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

Today, I’ll surrender all expectations that others will give me what I want. Instead, I’ll look for opportunities to be patient, tolerant and kind to others, especially those that seem unable to do that for me or themselves. And when I’ll find them, I’ll do what I can to be a channel of love. In this way I’ll invite more joy into my, and everyone else’s, day. ILML!

– James Q

“I’ve heard some people condense the activities of spiritual life into these words: quiet the mind; open the heart… I think of anything that quiets the mind as meditation and anything that opens the heart as prayer.” Hope for Today

What a wonderful reading today. Breathing deeply quiets my mind. Pulling weeds quiets my mind. Getting on my knees after waking or before retiring quiets my mind. Smiling and laughing opens my heart. Playing guitar opens my heart. Being of service in recovery opens my heart. Without even realizing it I’ve discovered that I meditate and pray all the time. How awesome! ILML

– James Q

“… when you nail someone on their “stuff”, they’re going to get angry… wounded, they are going to attack you… all of your stuff is going to come up!” – Until Today

This ping pong of blame, self-pity and victimization can keep us in a perpetual state of hopelessness. It doesn’t matter if it starts with me blaming them, or them blaming me, all of it invokes needless suffering.

If I spot their defects and it’s not directly hurting me, I’m better off pausing & not giving my opinion. If it hurts, I’m best to simply say “that made me feel _____”, and then detach, moving onto activities that connect me with gratitude and love.

If they really love me, they’ll acknowledge my hurt (eventually), and if they don’t, I may need to assess, with my sponsor, whether it’s heathy to continue being around that person.

The program tools provide me with the opportunity to stay out dis-ease. And when I practice them, ILML!

– JamesQ

“Today I choose to be gentle with myself and to love unconditionally while detaching from the past”.
– Hope For Today

Resentment, frustration and disappointment blocks my ability to love my life. 100% of mine comes from the past, whether from my childhood or just 5 minutes ago. And 100% of my fear, which is another impingement on happiness, is centered in the future.

So the secret sauce to life loving for me is letting go of past hurts and staying out of future fear. It’s only when I do this that I am able to see the beauty in a flower, feel the magical restorative power of the sun on my face, or smile at the sound of a child’s laugh.

This moment called now is where loving life exists in all its splendor and I, for one, insist on basking in it! ILML!

– JamesQ