• NARANON FAMILY GROUPS • CALGARY • ALBERTA • CANADA •

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STEP ELEVEN

NarAnon Step Eleven

Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Feeling the presence of God or a Higher Power in our life might be different for each of us. For some of us, a Higher Power is part of a spiritual path outside of religion. For others, Higher Power is the same as God.

"To me, it's listening to that calm voice inside that can only be heard when I let go of worry, desperation and the need to live for others. I grew up thinking only weak people needed religion - that it was a crutch. That the only faith outside of faith in me was blind faith. Now I see that I was desperate to control myself and those around me, unable to trust. Now that I have a personal relationship with a Higher Power for the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to not face my troubles alone - and I recognize that quality of peace when I see it in others."

How do we come to peace? Meditation is, for many, the vehicle. Some meditate "in the car", "in the bathroom", "in bed at night", or "on a walk in nature" when they have the solitude of time alone.

There is amazing comfort in not needing to have all the answers. When we learn that we don't have to have all the answers, that we don't need to take care of everyone, everything, and every situation, we ask our Higher Power for help. "When problems arise in my life, my first reaction now is to pray. I turn whatever is troubling me over; listen for that quiet voice, then try to follow it." When we start asking our Higher Power for a specific outcome and, (Oh, while you're at it, will you get it here by such-and-such a date...) we know we've gotten off course. Higher Power may not give us what we want, but we surely get what we need and with the benefit of time and perspective it becomes clear.

A favourite cartoon shows a guy standing on a street, looking up at a street sign, which reads, "ONE OF MANY WAYS". A willingness to believe in a Higher Power, and in fact listen to this Higher Power, allows us to make choices. At any point along the way, the choices may be good or bad ones. If the decision we made wasn't a good one...through prayer and meditation we can still the noise, quiet the fears and listen for another option. One is sure to come along. We don't have to be perfect. We only need to be willing to trust, stay calm, and take care of ourselves. We listen so much better when we're spoken to with compassion.... "And I'm of the sneaking suspicion that God never yells."

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