Day 17
Seek Peace.
Wow, that is one short and sweet sentence.
When this notion first presented itself to me, I must admit having spent 5 years in crack cocaine hell this was a foreign concept.
did I know peace? did i know how to get peace?
Well if I did not, I knew I wanted to learn.
I knew that my life w/ cocaine provided no peace, ever.
Chaos upon impending chaos. Feelings of gloom, doom and depression.
This sounded a novel concept, but a good one at that.
What a great idea.
Honestly, I cannot remember when, if ever, it had ever occurred to me that I actually COULD seek peace?
"Seek and you shall find"
Looking for some peace? we need only look inside.
Now that we are being honest in all our daily endeavors. No more using, means no more lying, no more hiding, no more coniving.
No more lying, hiding and living in dread and shame. That is peace in itself.
No more running and scheming to get drugs and to use them. NO MORE.
That is peace.
No more of the pure hell that life brings. What a huge relief.
Now that we are focusing on our new journey, we shall practice seeking peace.
No matter what is going on around us we can always find peace.
We must try and realize that though this notion imay be new to us , that it IS possible and that practicing seeking peace we will learn to do so , and it will get easier with practice.
We simply have not known peace. Peace is what we want, and peace is what we need. It is worthwhile to locate it.
Again, just being rid of the guilt and the shame provides peace.
We are learning that our proper behavior each and every day provides us with peace as well.
In addition,
Take time away each day , as often as you can to find some peace, however small.
Listen to the birds singing.
Find a quiet place and relax, still the thoughts and find the silence inside of yourself that is pure peace.
Put on some relaxing music.
No arguments, no fighting, no drama.
If you are feeling fidgety, restless or tempermental, realize this is from coming off your drugs and that IT WILL PASS. We must allow it to pass and not react to it. It is only a temporary symptom of our detox. We can counter this by taking some time and some effort to find some peace.
Seek peace and learn to appreciate that aspect of the new journey unfolding.
Here are some scriptures to aid you to find some peace:
Spend 10 minutes contemplating these or any other verses you find that bring you peace:
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(Psalm 23:1-3)
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
(Psalm 29:11)
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
(Psalm 34:14)
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(Psalm 37:11)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(Psalm 37:23,24)
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
(Psalm 37:37)
In addition: as a special treat for Day 17 and since we are practicing here some replacement therapy, and some operant conditioning, we will be doing what is right each day and we will establish rewards for ourselves as we go. These rewards should be making themselves manifest to you automatically, but use some energy now to treat yourself.
A movie, A nice dinner? A new book or a new cd?
Here is the special treat today for seeking some more peace:
This is a guided meditation that you can use on your journey to help you to find some peace:
Today's Saying: NO MORE EXCUSES!
there are no "can't"s
we replace them with CAN