Developing a Spiritual Practice
Really Working Step 11
Step 11, Sought through prayer and meditation
to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand God is
really a call to spiritual practice.
It took me years to actually get this down. I don't know what my
resistance was, but it went on a long time.Oh, I didn't ignore Step 11
entirely. I learned that I could contact my intuition in the shower or on
a walk. And I said lots of prayers on the fly. But to actually devote even
five minutes, let alone 10, 15 or 20 on a daily basis to prayer and
meditation seemed beyond me.
An Invitation
Until finally, in a class on meditation, the teacher simply invited us
all to try, for a week, each practice that was presented. Somehow that
simple invitation made it possible for me - that, plus he was only asking
for a week!
What I found works best for me, at least right now, is to spend a bit
of time reading something spiritual. This is a pretty broad definition,
and I draw from a wide variety of sources. Usually, five or 10 minutes
into the reading, something grabs at me... a phrase or an idea. I put the
book down and spend the next 10 or 15 minutes just contemplating that
idea. It's Okay When My Mind Wanders
I finally got off my own back about how often my
mind wanders during this period of quiet contemplation. And wander it
does. At some point I notice I'm way off track and simply come back to the
idea I'm contemplating.
I've noticed that if I pay attention to my
breathing, my mind wanders less. And I've also noticed that, with daily
practice, my mind wanders less... except for those days when monkey mind
is determined to rule.
No matter. I put in the time and the next day I
repeat the process.
I've been doing this about a year now. It's hard
to be specific about the results, but I know my awareness, my conscious
contact has improved. I'm less apt to judge myself or others and life is
good.
I also have become aware that when I skip my
practice, I miss it!
So I invite you to try this or some other form of
regular meditation. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised, just like I
am.
Love, peace and
abundance,
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