James’ Messages

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Journey to Enlightenment

“… hug someone three times, breathing in and out with awareness. During the first hug, you both think about how, at some time — you don’t know when — you will no longer be here. During the second hug, you both focus on how, at some time — you don’t know when — the other person will no longer be here. During the third hug, you truly take in that you both are here now, together in this precious moment.” Thich Nhat Hanh’s Hugging Meditation, as outlined in Attitudes of Gratitude

Until this morning, I’d never heard of the Hugging Meditation. Leave it to Thitch to create a meditation that, not only brings in gratitude for the present moment, but allows me to share it with someone I love. I’m already feeling grateful just from discovering another secret path towards my journey to enlightenment! ILML!

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Warrior Monk

“Meditation.. is essentially an individual adventure… it’s object is always the same: to improve our conscious contact with God… One if its fruits is emotional balance.” 12&12 p101-102

I was shown that how we discover a higher power, and what that higher power looks like, can be unique to each of us, if we want. That was the case for me. The same goes for meditation. I can easily get down on myself because I don’t meditate the way I think I’m supposed to (palms facing up on my crossed knees, sitting, back straight, eyes closed, like David Carradine in Kung Fu). But I’ve learned that I don’t need to be a warrior monk to meditate – even just closing my eyes and taking one slow deep breath in and out can be my meditation (try it now). Whatever brings peace in, is meditation – even just smiling, or writing this post. The adventure into recovery sure is fun – I never know where I’ll go, but I do know I will grow spiritually along the way! ILML – James

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A Practical Recipe

“… a practical recipe for getting out of trouble… overcome any difficulty… have an open mind… stop thinking of the trouble, whatever it is… drive the thought of difficulty right out of your consciousness, substituting for it the thought of God. This is the crux of the whole thing.” – The Golden Key by Emmet Fox

This God thing is rough for a lot of people I know. How can we believe in something we can’t see? Why should we believe others that there is a God? If God exists, and is good, why all the bad stuff? I struggled for a long time with these questions until I just decided to believe 100%, knowing I may be just “pretending”. Today it doesn’t matter if God is or isn’t “real”. My truth is that my life is better with God in it – way better. I’m just way happier believing. Emmet’s Golden Key is a great reminder to me that if I think of my God (love, gratitude, peace), the problem loses its grip on my mind. I’m grateful for all the wonderful tools I continue to discover which show me how to love my life more fully. Everyday I’m super stoked that ILML! – James

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Headed for Trouble

“It’s easy to let up on our spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do… What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” BB p85

At Starbucks as usual, but I’m having a few Golden Minutes instead of my Golden Hour, as I have to pick someone up in 3 minutes for a meeting. I’m grateful though that I never want to let up on my spiritual program. I know the rewards when I take action, and the struggle I go through when I don’t. It’s a beautiful morning in Maui (in big part to my being centered in gratitude). ILML!

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Feeling the Feelings

“There are times when I have to hurt through a situation and when this happens, the choice is not whether to hurt or not to hurt, but what to do while I am hurting” In All Our Affairs – AlAnon

One thing I’ve learned in recovery is that, eventually the feelings will come – all of them. Sometimes we are bound to feel hurt, sad, angry, scared, frustrated, lost, lonely, hopeless, anxious, overwhelmed and insecure. Without our addictive behaviors there to mask them (feeling number outlets), we get to experience the entire rainbow of emotions – to finally fully live life on life’s terms. These feelings are uncomfortable, but we have a way out – a way to get back to feeling safe, hopeful, content, grateful, happy, inspired and even blissful. We can simply do the things that have proved successful to millions of others in our program, and brought them back into the light when they had fallen into darkness. These tools are here for all of us, and when we pick them up and use them, the rewards are consistently, at least for me, beyond my wildest dreams. Loving life in Maui. – James

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Peace Channel

“… make me a channel of thy peace – that where there is hatred, I may bring love – that where there is wrong … forgiveness – that where there is discord… harmony – that where there is error… truth – that where there is doubt… faith – that where there is despair… hope – that where there are shadow… light – that where there is sadness… joy.”
12 & 12 p99

This is my favorite prayer – it’s a roadmap for my happiness. If I’m actively doing what these words request, I can’t help but be happy. Service, given freely without desire for anything in return, always leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to happiness. Happiness leads to life loving, and today, once again, iLmL (that’s for you RB) 🙂 James

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Inviting God

“When I invite God into my life through prayer, meditation and conversation, I open myself up to infinite possibilities.” – Hope for Today of 37

Most mornings, during my Golden Hour I journal, writing what’s up, identifying things I would like to work on, achievements I’m proud of, amends that need making and gratitude. This morning I found myself running late, and while writing noticing some fear its affect on how I feel. Then I wrote the following:

“I invite more God. More love. More faith. More gratitude. Less fear. I will repeat the words ‘Everything is great! It will continue to be great. It’s going to be fine. You’re great. I got your back James – I’m God & I love you – trust me.’

Thank you God for all you do for me – I love you.’

I choose to breathe, eat, live, sleep, dream and believe these words. They shall be my mantra for today.

My discomfort did not suddenly disappear. However, it subsided a little. I can now breathe a little better. I have begun to think that things actually may be ok today. If I keep these words at the top of my consciousness, I believe I can get back to really loving my life very soon. Right now, honestly, I’m about 70% of where I like to be on the life loving scale, but I know it will keep getting better, because regardless of how I may feel moment to moment, I really do LML! – James

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Bad versus Good

“Bad makes its living trying to make you forget about what is good! Bad is not going to pass you by because you read self-help books … Bad is going to show up … Show bad that you have unshakable faith … Put on your faith boots! … Pull out your faith tools, and be willing to stand in the faith of good. If you feel a little weary, take a break. Allow yourself to take a meditative pause. Indulge yourself with a deep breath and tune up your faith… Just for today, flex your faith muscles and shake your good fist in bad’s face.” -Until Today

I don’t like to look at things as bad and good, just different opportunities to experience and grow in life. Some are more challenging than others – those we grow more from. But I get this quote and like it. I won’t let unmet expectations and tough challenges take me down. I’ll just tighten up the laces on my faith boots and insist that ILML!!! – James

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Questioning Acceptance

“Q .. In your Big Book story, you say that acceptance is the key to everything. I wonder if you’ve ever had a problem accepting what life hands you.

Dr. Paul .. I think today that my job really is to enjoy life whether I like it or not. I don’t like everything I have to accept. In fact, if everything was to my specifications and desires there would be no problem with acceptance. It’s accepting things I don’t like that is difficult. It’s accepting when I’m not getting my own way. Yes, I find it very difficult at times.” – Interview with Dr.Paul O – Grapevine

I have a wonderful copy of his “Acceptance is the Answer” excerpt from his story in the BB hanging on my wall at home. I suggest that everyone not only memorize it, as I have, but try to live by it daily. Doing so has profoundly changed my life, and his answer to the question above is right on target with my perception of acceptance. Baking in the 102° sun of Palm Springs and LML! – James

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Sharing the Program

“… healthy meetings begin with me… I do my best to focus on sharing the positive rather than the negative… and encourage others to do the same… If a meeting doesn’t go well, I speak up and try to put in my share to get back on track.” Hope For Today

My favorite format for sharing at meetings is to first share a challenge I’ve recently experienced, then talk about how I applied the program to it, and finally describe the outcome, even if its just a better attitude or acceptance. This method of sharing is program-centered, makes me feel good about contributing to the fellowship, and helps remind others that our program offers solutions to problems other than just alcohol and drugs. And I learned this from watching other healthy members of our program share. I love the program, and ILML! – James