If You Want What We Have

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If You Want What We Have:
Sponsorship Meditations
By Joan Larkin
©1998 Joan Larkin


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Rest in natural great peace.
NYOSHUL KHENPO

Newcomer
I keep hearing people say that giving up the addiction itself is only the beginning of the process. Today, I’m feeling upset and downhearted. I don’t know if I can face the literature on the Steps yet.

Sponsor
As we prepare to continue on the path of the Steps, we can do an exercise that helps quite our mental agitation and gently begins to restore our sense of connection with positive forces in our lives. We start by finding a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down, with our spines straight but relaxed. We can close our eyes, if that helps us concentrate. We take several deeper, slower breaths. Then we take a few minutes to think of positive aspects of our lives. One by one, we make mental note of things we’re grateful for. If we can’t think of any, we begin with air, water, food, then wee what else occurs to us. As each blessing comes to mend, we picture it clearly and see ourselves benefiting from it. We breathe it in, and breathe out heart felt gratitude. This is an exercise we can do any time of the day or night, even in situations when we’re not alone. It need only take a few moments.

Cultivating gratitude can help change our belief that what lies ahead will be burdensome. When you’re ready to begin exploring the Steps, you may even feel the joy and excitement that accompany and adventure.


Today, I feel life’s richness and beauty. I let fill me.