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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Enough

So many of our problems are caused by wanting.
Part of this comes from our raised expectations. In
the West, capitalism is based on the idea of
consumerism and economic growth. Many of us
have far more than we need. It is hard in such a
climate to simply make do with enough, and
altruism often does not seem strong enough in the
face of glossy advertisements and celebrity-led
videos. Elsewhere in the world, people struggle to
put food on the table, if they have a table at all.
Twelve Steps are partly an example of unselfish
living. Do I remember that by following their
principles I may be seen as an example to others?

Two men were talking at a conference. One said:
Tom, how does it make you feel to know that
man over there made more money today than
you will make in all your life? Tom said: I feel
happy, because I’ve got something he can never
have – the knowledge that I’ve got enough.
Anon.
When you realise that you have all you need,
then you can look at the world in a different way.
Today I give thanks for all that I have and ask
nothing more.

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Awareness

By putting our awareness into the present moment,
we remove our minds from everyday matters and
focus on what we are feeling and thinking in the
here and now. We recognise and accept our
body’s sensations at this instant, in the calm
knowledge that this experience in time is all that
we really have. Mindfulness is about keeping
things simple, listening to our body and not
wanting anything else. When we stay in the
moment, we are freeing ourselves from all
illusions – those strange ideas and attitudes that
lead us into so much trouble. Can I close my eyes
and enjoy this moment of peace?

Nowhere can man find a quieter or more
untroubled retreat than in his own soul.
Marcus Aurelius.
This Roman Emperor and philosopher tells us how
peace and acceptance can be achieved, even in the
midst of a highly demanding lifestyle. We can be
distracted far too easily by events that in
retrospect appear meaningless. Balance is vital for a
contented lifestyle and contemplation is like balm to
the troubled soul. Today I ask God for the wisdom
to be mindful

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Self-care

Self-care is akin to self-respect, and it is desirable to
have both. By reaching out to others, we validate our
own sense of purpose and belonging in the world.
Addiction makes us very selfish people but also very
lonely people. Building defensive walls around
ourselves produces isolation. We need to find the
strength to remove these barriers and show ourselves
as we really are. Am I ready to remove my defences?

Fear takes us back into our primitive state where the
choices are fight, freeze or flight. That might have
helped primitive man escape from a dinosaur but
it’s not much help to me, in recovery today. Today I
have a wealth of experience and knowledge that was
not available to primitive man, yet in times of
crisis, I can sometimes do no better. I should reflect
on the example of others, who have learned
appropriate responses to all kinds of situations.
Today I will remember that self-care is about
learning from others.

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Al-Anon

In May 1951, forty-eight family groups in the USA
which were connected to AA members voted to join
together, forming Al-Anon. As early as 1936, Lois W
and Anne S (the wives of AA’s co-founders) had
been talking with the families of AA members and
generally helping groups in various parts of the
country but there was no overall official organisation
until 1951. Today there are over twenty-four
thousand Al-Anon groups worldwide. We should
acknowledge the effective work they do in helping
countless family members who might otherwise
struggle to understand the disease of addiction. Am
I grateful for the work of Al-Anon?

Don’t talk, don’t trust and don’t feel are the three
main rules in dysfunctional families. And rules can
get passed down over the generations. Where
families understand what’s going on and the
reasons why, there is more family recovery. The
addicted person usually gets the main attention and
other family members are side-lined, often at great
emotional cost. Al-Anon not only educates but
supports such people. Today I give thanks and pray
for the wellbeing of all its members.

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

How important is it?

King Midas of Phrygia was granted by the Gods the
power to turn everything he touched into gold.
Unfortunately, this meant his food, his wine and
even his daughter became gold within a short time.
Luckily the Gods relented before he died of
starvation, but he had learnt a valuable lesson:
there are more important things in life than gold. A
lot of people nowadays don’t seem to have
noticed. They pursue wealth as if it is the answer to
everything. Do I understand that money is not the
answer to all my problems?

American Billionaire Chuck Feeney gave away all
his eight-billion-dollar fortune, living his last days in
a rented apartment, owning just one pair of shoes.
He was influenced by early twentieth century
benefactor Andrew Carnegie’s dictum: To die rich is
to die disgraced. His message to other billionaires
thinking of giving while living was: Try it, you’ll like
it. Today I ask to remember that by giving, I will
receive.