“Our mental life becomes focused more and more upon the here and now and less and less upon the past or future. Often, we can admit our mistakes as soon as we make them.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 51

I noticed that after a few years of clean time, I have been able to continually develop my spiritual muscles. The daily spiritual practice of meditation and gratitude helps me focus more on the beauty of the present moment. Less and less do I regret my past or worry about my future. I am able to be more cognizant of when these feelings arise and I am able to nip the distressing feelings in the bud, leading to a more consistent state of peace and serenity.

From time to time, anxious thoughts do creep in, but I am able to witness the anxiety-ridden thoughts and the tense bodily sensations pulling at my heart. After this period of awareness, I simply label the situation as what it is, anxiety, stress, rumination, anger, or whatever it may be. By labeling it as nothing but intrusive thinking and my mind wandering away from the present, I immediately gain back my power and control. In addition, I utilize the healthy coping behaviors I learned through the program: call a friend, call my sponsor, meditate, deep breathe, and I “let go and let God,” regaining my presence.

Final thought: Today, I focus on the here and now.