Does meditation impact my recovery? Absolutely! I meditate in order to formulate how to complete each Step. I find meditation to be helpful to new members to simplify the Step process. After reading the White Book and attending meetings, meditation helps me pursue recovery in a slightly different manner. For example, if a Step does not state “God” or “Higher Power,” I can meditate on how I will ask for God’s help to complete that Step.
How do I meditate? Do I follow a specific format? Do I kneel or sit? Do I have to be in a church or other religious center? I don’t believe that God cares about those things. I believe that He just cares about the content and how sincere I am.
I have found that it is possible to meditate for just a few seconds. For example, I like to swim laps at my local gym. When it is time for me to turn around and complete the lap, I push off from the wall and glide for a few seconds. This is an incredibly serene moment for me. For those few seconds, I’m simply gliding through water without a care in the world.
Do I meditate specifically for the purpose of communicating with God? Not always. Sometimes I experience other benefits from looking inward. For example, Steps Four, Five, and Ten specifically relate to our moral inventory. Taking the time to meditate has had a significant impact on how I’ve completed these Steps—whether for a few moments or for a lengthy amount of time.
In summary, this is how I meditate:
- I can meditate in a very short amount of time, say hello to God or something that you can say quickly.
- I can meditate for a lengthy amount of time, and it can be anywhere. There is no format or time limit that I must adhere to.
- I don’t always meditate specifically for the purpose of talking to God. I also meditate and look inward. This has been beneficial in completing Steps Four, Five, and Ten in particular. Meditation also helps me clear my mind so I can be at peace, even it is just for a few moments.
The “Submission Prayer” (on page 83 in Step Into Action: One, Two, Three) is the most powerful passage in the SA literature for me to date:
Higher Power (or God),
I give this day to you.
Establish the work of my hands,
the steps of my feet,
the words of my mouth,
the direction of my gaze,
the thoughts of my mind,
and the attitude of my heart.
Respectfully yours,
John
