“… meditation is in reality intensely practical. One of it’s first fruits is emotional balance.” – 12&12, p.101-102
Being a bit high strung, Type A personality and self-diagnosed with ADHD, sitting still and meditating has always been a challenge for me. But the fact that it’s been difficult for me only means that more opportunities for abundance and happiness lie in my ability to successfully develop this habit. And the promise of becoming more emotionally balanced is certainly worth the effort. So a year ago I purchased a meditation app for $1.99 called Simply Being, and started listening to it in bed upon awakening. This habit seems to center me, relaxing me, balancing me for the day. It’s way better than reaching for my smart phone first thing in the morning. And every time I start my day with meditation, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“… discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year… write it down… as an affirmation… Then let it go.” – The Language of Letting Go
Having done the daily deal now for almost 15 years, I no longer underestimate the power of pen to paper. Often I hear things like, “I’m not good at writing”, or “I don’t want anyone to find my journal”. A very important suggestion is not to put anything in writing that you’re no ok with others seeing. When I need to get something out on paper that I don’t want others to see, I simply write “I’m upset about that thing and will discuss it with someone I trust today.”

When it comes to goals and desires, I write them down in my journal regularly and then give the results to my Higher Power. This provides the clear direction I need to encourage myself to do the footwork. My primary goals this year are to work diligently, procrastinate less, love more deeply, enjoy my hobbies, have more faith and let go of fear more quickly. When I’m successful in those areas, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“When we condemn someone, we condemn ourselves. By loving others, we are loved.” – In God’s Care

Whenever I’m upset at someone else, I feel bad. In fact, you’ll notice that buried within the statement “I’m upset with someone” are the words “I’m upset.” So the way to not being upset (in other words, to be happy), is to not be upset with any person, place or thing. Sound too simple? It is. But of course, it’s not easy, especially if we’ve been getting upset all our lives. So here is the secret: the next time you get upset at someone or something, realize it. Then say to yourself “I don’t like being upset. I’m gonna let this one go for now.” Now focus on something else, something good in life. You’re not saying what happened is ok, just that you are not interested in being upset now. When I become aware that I’m upset, and consciously choose to let it go, then focus on good things, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Love is like oxygen. Love is a many splendored thing. Love lifts us up where we belong…”– From the movie Moulin Rouge 

I’ve also always been a romantic, and believe deeply in romantic love. And although, while growing up, alcoholism ran rampant in my home, and along with it lots of dysfunctional and hurtful behavior, both of my parents loved me like crazy. Love was being taken care of when I was struggling, cared about, listened to, and sharing intimacy (into me you see). As a child I once asked my dad, “What is God?” He said, “You know that feeling you get when mommy picks you up, holds you and hugs you when you’re sad or crying?” I said, “Yes”. He said “That’s God”. so Love is God too. Git it. Basically, resoonding in love is the answer to every problem I could ever have. No matter what, if I’m loving to myself and others, things always get better and ILML!!❤

– JamieQ

Here’s my recipe to get back to happiness, no matter what’s happening in my life…

(1) 10 deep, slow breaths. Breath in peace. Breath out discomfort. Envision connecting to love. 

(2) Eyes open. Stand up. Hands in the air. Say out loud: “I completely open myself up to abundance in love, peace, health, romance and finance. 

(3)10 slow toe touches. Breathe.

(4) Read some literature about gratitude, in a book or google “gratitude” online. 

(5) Text a gratitude list of at least 10 things to at least one other person. 

(6) Grab a pen & paper. Write down the date, time, where you are, how you feel, what’s up in life. If angry at someone write “I forgive —-, not because what they did was ok, but because I’m done being angry. Write down any amends you could make to take responsibility for any behavior you engaged in that you didn’t like. 

(7) Call anyone on your amends list now and say “(that thing I did) wasn’t cool and you don’t deserve to be treated that way. I’ll try not to do that ever again.” 

(8) Put a song on. 

(9) Sing and dance. 

(10) Now call someone who is struggling and see how they are. Let them know you care. 

When I follow the recipe for happiness, ILML! 

“By practicing the principles in all my affairs I am able to transform my difficulties into joy.” – Adapted from Daily Reflections 

Here is the definition of disappointment:  a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized. Be definition, we cannot experience disappointment without expectation. We expect them to be kind. We expect to get paid by our boss. We expect them to not abandon us. We expect to be healthy. Awareness that expectations are the reason we suffer, get angry and end up a victim, gets us halfway to happiness. Surrendering expectations, practicing acceptance and focusing on gratitude gets us all the way back to loving life. When I consciously connect to the higher power of love and goodness, I tap into the overflowing river of abundance and, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things.” – The 12 Step Prayer Book
This particular page talks about how events and situations which are gifts are often misinterpreted as “bad things”. But the more we practice living in gratitude, focusing on becoming better individuals, letting go of expectation and blame, the more we see EVERYTHING as a gift. We become spiritual savants, able to see what’s good in everything and everyone. And though our demands for property, prestige and affection decrease, we find ourselves surrounded by abundance and love. And when I’m doing the daily deal and living in the solution, I’m in the most wonderful place I can be, and ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Change can only begin when we become aware of the need to change.” – Reaching for Personal Freedom

I used to be a really angry guy. I had a million justifiable reasons too. Life was never fair, and I didn’t want to accept it laying down. I thought “if you had to go through what I did you’d be angry too”. Anger never fixed situations, made others change, or got me what I wanted. What it did was make me emotionally and physically sick. It closed off opportunities for abundance and healthy relationships. That awareness helped me change. Now, when anger comes up I choose to let go, plug into my higher power and focus on gratitude. When I stop letting my anger control me, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“When our ego forgets about God and tries to fix problems we can’t – or aren’t supposed to – solve, it’s time to pause and remind ourselves who is really in charge.” – Adapted from In God’s Care

I like overcoming challenges, fixing things that are broken and problem solving – it gives me satisfaction and a sense that everything is right again. But sometimes I try to fix problems that aren’t mine when others didn’t ask for my help. And other times, when I can’t solve my own problems, I stew in misery because I won’t ask for help or let go and surrender it to my higher power. By the simple act of doing the daily deal, I end up minding my own business, offering help and advice when asked, and letting go of people, places and things that are out of my control, I feel better and ILML!  

– JamieQ

“discounting our emotions won’t make feelings go away… don’t shut down our emotions… If we’re angry… accept and deal with it…” – The Language of Letting Go 

The gift of being a human is that we have the opportunity to experience and feel all the emotions. When angry, my goal is to recognize it, understand where it’s coming from, and use my program tools to move through it. Here’s a great anger affirmation I use:

I acknowledge my anger, a God-given emotion, and choose –as my response –  to practice acceptance, love, detachment and honesty, so that this anger need not turn into a festering resentment, but rather simply slip away, so that, once again, ILML! 

– JamieQ