Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

INDIVIDUALITY


“I am one individual on a small planet in a little solar system in one of the galaxies.”

– Roberto Assagioli

Spirituality develops a humility that is realistic. Realism teaches me that I am one among many. That does not mean that I am less than anybody else, but it certainly doesn't mean that I am above others.

Arrogance, fantasy and selfishness are characteristics of addiction that stop the development of true individuality. To pretend to be something we are not, or have a grandiose illusion about our own importance, misses the truth, misses our truth and misses our individuality.

Humility is treating people with the respect we would want, giving people the freedom we require in our life. Humility is perceiving our God-given talent and individuality.

I pray that I will remember that I am a “part of”, rather than the sum total of this universe.

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

INDIVIDUALITY


“The race advances only by the extra achievements of the individual. You are the individual.”
— Charles Towne

The spiritual program that involves a “love of self” has made me get in touch with my individuality. Although we can identify with other people’s feelings and situations, we are also not exactly the same. Our dreams and aspirations are different, our gifts and achievements vary, our personal individuality adds to the variety of life.

My “difference” needs to be nurtured alongside my spiritual growth, especially since being a recovering alcoholic I am tempted to “please” the crowd. Today my personal inventory revolves around my needs, hopes and dreams that are realistic. Spirituality is reality.

In helping myself to the abundant richness that is within me, I am contributing to society and the world.

Thank You for making the world with such creative difference; may I continue to risk in this knowledge.  

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

INDIVIDUALITY


“You’ll never really know what I mean and I’ll never really know exactly what you mean.”

–Mike Nichols

There is a certain loneliness in life with which we must all live; perhaps this is the price of individuality. I am not always sure that I know what I am feeling or thinking and so I know I cannot be absolutely sure of what you are feeling or thinking. Today when I say “I know how you feel”, it is with this reservation.

Another problem I face daily is finding words to express what I feel — language seems so inadequate. Words, although bridges to meaning, are often barriers to understanding. What I mean by what I say is often misunderstood.

This awareness provides me with the stimulus to be more precise, explicit and creative in my methods of communication and understanding. Today I consider more seriously what the other person is trying to say, rather than just listening to the words. Because I am sensitive to my difficulties in being understood, I am becoming patient with my neighbor.

Teach us never to become victims of our language.

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A DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrecovery

Reflection for the Day

I can attain real dignity, importance, and individuality only by a dependence on a Power which is great and good, beyond anything I can imagine or understand. I will try my utmost to use this power in making all my decisions. Even though my human mind cannot forecast what the outcome will be, I will try to be confident that whatever comes will be for my ultimate good. Just for today, will I try to live this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once?

Today I Pray

May I make no decision, engineer no change in the course of my lifestream, without calling upon my Higher Power. May I have faith that God’s plan for me is better than any scheme I could devise for myself.

Today I Will Remember

God is the architect. I am the builder.

© 1989 by Hazelden Foundation 

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KEEP IT SIMPLE #essentialsofrecovery

Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt 

When we were using alcohol and other drugs, we often thought that we were different from others. We secretly thought that no one could understand us. Maybe we tried to be one of the group, but we were lonely.

Now we know for sure—we are different from others. Everyone’s unique. We all have this in common. Being like others helps us feel safe and normal. But we need to feel good about the ways we’re different from others too. We think a little different, act a little different, and look a little different from anyone else. We each have our own way to make life better for others.

Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, help me be an individual. Help me use my special gifts, not hide them.

Action for the Day

Today, I’ll make a list of the things I’m good at. I’ll think about how I can use these gifts.

Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation 

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Fr. Leo's Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

INDIVIDUALITY

“The People, though we think a great entity when we use the word, means nothing more than so many millions of individual men and women.”

~ James Bryce ~

I am an individual. I am unique. I am special. Today I am able to enjoy my difference. I do not need to hide in alcohol, food, or drugs. I do not have to put energy into being the same as my friends or neighbors. I do not need to please others to feel good about myself. Today I am my own person.

God made people varied and different in many ways, yet so many of us spend our time trying to be the same. The effort I exerted to achieve the lowest common denominator was exactly that—the lowest. My spiritual program demands that I be honest with who I am and what I feel. My self-worth is rooted in my individuality. In my difference lies my soul.

Eternal One, may I always remain true to my individuality. 

© 2008 Leo Booth 

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DAILY REFLECTIONS #essentialsofrecovery

AN INDIVIDUAL ADVENTURE

Meditation is something which can always be further developed. It has no boundaries, either of width or height. Aided by such instruction and example as we can find, it is essentially an individual adventure, something which each one of us works out in his own way.

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 101 ~

My spiritual growth is with God as I understand Him. With Him I find my true inner self. Daily meditation and prayer strengthen and renew my source of well-being. I receive then the openness to accept all that He has to offer. With God I have the reassurance that my journey will be as He wants for me, and for that I am grateful to have God in my life.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrecovery

MAJORITY

“One individual with courage is a majority.”

~ Thomas Jefferson 

Alcoholism made me afraid of my shadow. I became so paralyzed with fear I could not enjoy my life. I felt I could do nothing. My disease told me I was helpless. I existed in an atmosphere of doom and gloom.

Then I experienced a “moment” of sanity in which I recognized myself as the problem. My pain was caused by my own actions and attitudes. I took courage, confronted the disease, and decided to take small steps toward recovery.

I have built my confidence on that “moment” of courage. I am not an island unto myself. I am not alone. God is with me in my life, and so is my recovering community.

Give me courage to be what You have created and accept my miracle.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

INDIVIDUALITY

“I am one individual on a small planet in a little solar system in one of the galaxies.”

– Roberto Assagioli

Spirituality develops a humility that is realistic. Realism teaches me that I am one among many. That does not mean that I am less than anybody else, but it certainly doesn’t mean that I am above others.

Arrogance, fantasy and selfishness are characteristics of addiction that stop the development of true individuality. To pretend to be something we are not, or have a grandiose illusion about our own importance, misses the truth, misses our truth and misses our individuality.

Humility is treating people with the respect we would want, giving people the freedom we require in our life. Humility is perceiving our God-given talent and individuality.

I pray that I will remember that I am a “part of”, rather than the sum total of this universe. 

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DAILY ZEN #essentialsofrec

But how, if the individual of the individual is pure, empty awareness, can a conventional self and a moving mind exist at all? Here is an example based on experiences we all have: when we dream, an entire world manifests in which we can have any kind of experience. During the dream we are identified with one subject, but there are other beings, apparently separate from us, having their own experiences and seeming as real as the self we take ourselves to be. There is also an apparent material world: the floors hold us up, our body has sensations, we can eat and touch.

When we wake, we realize that the dream was only a projection of our mind. It took place in our mind and was made of energy of our mind. But we were lost in it, reacting to the mind created images as if they were real and outside of ourselves. Our mind is able to create a dream and to identify with one being that it places in the dream, while disidentifying with others. We can even identify with subjects that are far different than we are in our life.

As ordinary beings, we are in the same way, identified, right now with a conventional self that is also a projection of mind. We relate to apparent objects and entities that are further mind projections. The base of existence (Kunzhi) has the capacity to manifest everything that exists, even being that become distracted from their true nature, just as our mind can project beings that are apparently separate from us in a dream. When we wake, the dream that is our conventional self dissolves into pure emptiness and luminous clarity.

From : Paradox of the Essenceless Self by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec

INDIVIDUALITY

“The race advances only by the extra achievements of the individual. You are the individual.”
— Charles Towne

The spiritual program that involves a “love of self” has made me get in touch with my individuality. Although we can identify with other people’s feelings and situations, we are also not exactly the same. Our dreams and aspirations are different, our gifts and achievements vary, our personal individuality adds to the variety of life.

My “difference” needs to be nurtured alongside my spiritual growth, especially since being a recovering alcoholic I am tempted to “please” the crowd. Today my personal inventory revolves around my needs, hopes and dreams that are realistic. Spirituality is reality.

In helping myself to the abundant richness that is within me, I am contributing to society and the world.

Thank You for making the world with such creative difference; may I continue to risk in this knowledge. 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Individuality

INDIVIDUALITY

“You’ll never really know what I mean and I’ll never really know exactly what you mean.”

–Mike Nichols

There is a certain loneliness in life with which we must all live;  perhaps this is the price of individuality. I am not always sure that I know what I am feeling or thinking and so I know I cannot be absolutely sure of what you are feeling or thinking. Today when I say “I know how you feel”, it is with this reservation.

Another problem I face daily is finding words to express what I feel — language seems so inadequate. Words, although bridges to meaning, are often barriers to understanding. What I mean by what I say is often misunderstood.

This awareness provides me with the stimulus to be more precise, explicit and creative in my methods of communication and understanding. Today I consider more seriously what the other person is trying to say, rather than just listening to the words. Because I am sensitive to my difficulties in being understood, I am becoming patient with my neighbor.

Teach us never to become victims of our language.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

A DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrec #Recovery #God #Dignity

Reflection for the Day

I can attain real dignity, importance, and individuality only by a dependence on a Power which is great and good, beyond anything I can imagine or understand. I will try my utmost to use this power in making all my decisions. Even though my human mind cannot forecast what the outcome will be, I will try to be confident that whatever comes will be for my ultimate good. Just for today, will I try to live this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once?

Today I Pray

May I make no decision, engineer no change in the course of my lifestream, without calling upon my Higher Power. May I have faith that God’s plan for me is better than any scheme I could devise for myself.

Today I Will Remember

God is the architect. I am the builder.

© 1989 by Hazelden Foundation

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialosfrec #FrLEo #INDIVIDUALITY

INDIVIDUALITY

“The People, though we think a great entity when we use the word, means nothing more than so many millions of individual men and women.”

~ James Bryce 

I am an individual. I am unique. I am special. Today I am able to enjoy my difference. I do not need to hide in alcohol, food, or drugs. I do not have to put energy into being the same as my friends or neighbors. I do not need to please others to feel good about myself. Today I am my own person.

God made people varied and different in many ways, yet so many of us spend our time trying to be the same. The effort I exerted to achieve the lowest common denominator was exactly that—the lowest. My spiritual program demands that I be honest with who I am and what I feel. My self-worth is rooted in my individuality. In my difference lies my soul.

Eternal One, may I always remain true to my individuality. 

© 2008 Leo Booth

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #FrLeo #Individuality

14
October 

INDIVIDUALITY


“I am one individual on a small planet in a little solar system in one of the galaxies.”

– Roberto Assagioli

Spirituality develops a humility that is realistic. Realism teaches me that I am one among many. That does not mean that I am less than anybody else, but it certainly doesn't mean that I am above others.

Arrogance, fantasy and selfishness are characteristics of addiction that stop the development of true individuality. To pretend to be something we are not, or have a grandiose illusion about our own importance, misses the truth, misses our truth and misses our individuality.

Humility is treating people with the respect we would want, giving people the freedom we require in our life. Humility is perceiving our God-given talent and individuality.

I pray that I will remember that I am a “part of”, rather than the sum total of this universe.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Individuality #Program

11
August
INDIVIDUALITY


“The race advances only by the extra achievements of the individual. You are the individual.”
— Charles Towne

The spiritual program that involves a “love of self” has made me get in touch with my individuality. Although we can identify with other people’s feelings and situations, we are also not exactly the same. Our dreams and aspirations are different, our gifts and achievements vary, our personal individuality adds to the variety of life.

My “difference” needs to be nurtured alongside my spiritual growth, especially since being a recovering alcoholic I am tempted to “please” the crowd. Today my personal inventory revolves around my needs, hopes and dreams that are realistic. Spirituality is reality.

In helping myself to the abundant richness that is within me, I am contributing to society and the world.

Thank You for making the world with such creative difference; may I continue to risk in this knowledge. 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Recovery #INDIVIDUALITY

22
June 

INDIVIDUALITY


“You’ll never really know what I mean and I’ll never really know exactly what you mean.”

–Mike Nichols

There is a certain loneliness in life with which we must all live; perhaps this is the price of individuality. I am not always sure that I know what I am feeling or thinking and so I know I cannot be absolutely sure of what you are feeling or thinking. Today when I say “I know how you feel”, it is with this reservation.

Another problem I face daily is finding words to express what I feel — language seems so inadequate. Words, although bridges to meaning, are often barriers to understanding. What I mean by what I say is often misunderstood.

This awareness provides me with the stimulus to be more precise, explicit and creative in my methods of communication and understanding. Today I consider more seriously what the other person is trying to say, rather than just listening to the words. Because I am sensitive to my difficulties in being understood, I am becoming patient with my neighbor.

Teach us never to become victims of our language.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec