I love that!
Pema and her words are so powerful. Love this.
Good morning, If you’ve been able to, can you give me specific examples of how you practiced or practice understanding, compassion, and mercy toward (your) pain? Thank you have a great day.
I haven’t been practising meditation at all for a while. No yoga, which isn’t Buddhist but there are some similarities in the philosophy. And not been able to do much walking which was a big opportunity for mindful thinking. Have trying to apply principles of mindfulness to my little walks. There’s something about spring and all the birds singing that makes me want to connect in to it all more. And some of the principles have definitely stayed with me even without a regular practice.
I have gone backwards and forwards many times on whether or not to follow the path more fully, whether or not it is or should be an all or nothing thing. Anyway, I am where I am with it. Trying to let go of the need for perfection, to be OK with how things are and trust that things will work out however they are meant to.
Recovery Dharma has a YouTube channel with a number of meditations. The four foundations of mindfulness ones are good to start with
Its starts with meditation for me. Being mindful of what has happened, my part of what had happened, and what I can learn from all that, then moving on.
How do you interact with the thoughts that come from what you moved on from?- like-the ones that are…I guess triggering in nature not useful have already been worked with to see my part, change direction with, grow from etc. Do you still experience those that are like good for “mind like sky application" but then the days seems really full of clouds to watch pass all of the sudden? I say all that due to a near distant experience wherein I was just fully overwhelmed and I was flooded into a mood shift that was really debilitating. Just for preventive resources is why I ask. I no longer experience depression and anxiety like that as I’m slowly moving past it but wanted to reach out and store as much solution to apply as possible. Thank you for your time.
Its been a long time since the past has haunted me, if that is what you are asking. A lot of it came from working the steps in AA. Now, basically I know I am a better person sober, and I just keep trying to do the right thing.
Practice practice practice! It doesn’t stop the bad days but it makes them easier.
Regular meditation is a way of training the mind. Helps us to identify thoughts, notice them and take a pause before acting, or not acting as the case may be. A couple of links for ya… On the forum:
and
Tara Brach is wonderful if you haven’t come across her already, I particularly like her RAIN stuff and she has a good podcast
I also like Plum Village, they have an app as well as a YouTube channel
Thank you. I am beginning all this, and I appreciate your wisdom.
From Recovery Dharma
“Despite the trauma, addiction, fear, and shame, there is a still and centered part of us that remains whole. There is a part of us that’s not traumatized, that’s not addicted, that’s not ruled by fear or shame. This is where wisdom comes from, and it’s the foundation of our recovery.”
I wish I would have heard this at the beginning of my journey.
From Recovery Dharma
“There’s suffering any time we want things to be different than they are.”
Biggest excuse used for me to drink. Looking back, when I couldnt control something…or it’s outcome…I drank, and drank hard
However, it goes beyond that…
When my mood heads south…this is a root cause.
“This is a program of empowerment. It’s a path of letting go of behavior that no longer serves us and cultivating that which does.”
Fill your life with sober things. Things being far more than the “chores dont get you sober mantra”. Things being behaviors that leads us away from addiction.
For me it was meetings, but what about when I wasnt in a meeting. It was learning behaviors…filling time with soberness.
Just as I was saying about not practicing at the moment I found this. It is reassuring to know that all this stuff is there for us whenever we’re ready
Meditation is something I have struggled with. I appreciate what you have added.
It can be difficult. If you still do it anyway then that is where you get the real benefit I reckon. Being OK with it being difficult. Not having to achieve anything. Just sit!
Saying this is easier than doing it of course
That in itself is difficult!
“Trauma and attachment injury may require different ways of feeling safe and supported. You should always do whatever is most compassionate for yourself in the moment, and seek outside help when you need it.”
One size does not fit all. However, you have the responsibility to find what does fit.