Let’s start with the power called The Present. This reality is like the sun, shining its light on what lies before us in perfect illumination. This is our guide as we proceed on the path of life. This light illuminates our mind and where we stand right now. The Present takes in all that we are, where we are and how we are. If you traverse outside its boundaries, mostly in the yesterdays and the tomorrows of your life then there may be problems. If you do spend more and more time in what was and what might be, then the illumination casts its bright light away from the NOW and into a path not yet taken. All I have is the Present and the NOW. Today is all that I have and the 24 hours that make up this light and darkness of my daily life.
Mindfulness means the awareness with how we live out our lives in this 24 hour time period. To be mindful is to be aware and conscious of all our surroundings, both those inner and external realities that make up our world. Mindfulness also relates powerfully to how we talk to ourselves in the Present and in the NOW. Are we aware of our feelings that break through and into our immediate consciousness? What do these many feelings, pleasant and unpleasant tell us about ourselves? Are these feelings fearful? Or are these feelings filled with peace and hope for ourselves in the NOW and in The Present? And for a time, have we denied these feelings of darkness and despair and managed to blunt them, numb them with mind altering substances, with numbing thoughts that keep us in the dark? Is there a way out of this powerlessness? Yes. Simply stated.
Speaking for myself and the many, many folks who now are mindful of another way of thinking about their selves and what is going on in and around them have experienced this bright light. A path is revealed. All of us who have been in the darkness are finding hope, serenity and the stepping stones to help us to continually walk with hope. We are mindful NOW of how to live in the Present and how to gradually walk this wide road with so many other mindful travelers. Because we have been willing to see where this light leads us, we NOW know that healing is ours and that we are never alone. We have risked living in the light –refused to live in the darkness of the past and march on today using as our guide the Twelve Steps of recovery. I am now mindful of a Power greater than myself. Because I came to believe in a power greater than myself (finally- tired of living in the hell of despair) I “surrendered” and made a “decision to turn my life and will over to the god of my understanding.”
So, in order to be free of unconscious living I am always mindful (at least I try to be) of the work to be done that lies right in front of me. I’m sticking to the plan.
I am mindful of all the “red flags” that warn me of potential dangers that could throw me back into those life threatening days of depression. I am mindful that when my mind turns to resentments, self-pity, hopelessness, hostility toward others, and negative thinking and isolating behaviors, that I need to get back into the bright light of hope, serenity, prayer, a daily meditation(Higher Thoughts for Down days) and the Fellowship of our mutual help support group, Depressed Anonymous. I also talk with a group member of the fellowship whom we call a sponsor.
All of what I have written above can produce what all of us are yearning for, namely, that peace that rests the mind and relaxes the body. Serenity is what we want. We want to leave the mess of our lives, get a grip on how to change it, and choose to live with hope. Oh, there will be problems, as always, but now we have the mindfulness, to recognize where lies the hope and the freedom for living…in the NOW, with Mindfulness!
Do you want to live in the Present, in the NOW, with mindfulness and serenity? Please think about doing what I have done and as has countless others, to be a part of this great human fellowship bound together by our living out the Promises of the Twelve Steps.
I hope to meet you along this path someday. Please join us!
Hugh
SOURCE: Copyright (c) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition (2011). Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.
VISIT THE STORE : Check out the literature for more help on how to be part of this fellowship.