In sobriety, we are tasked with confronting ourselves at the deepest level of our being. We look back on the past harms we have caused others, and often begin looking forward at all the things we are finally able to do in our newfound freedom from addiction and alcoholism. However, our thoughts about the past and future can often morph into regret, shame, and anxiety. By taking time to focus solely on the present moment, we find that we are able to reduce these fears. The spiritual teacher Sri Mooji once said, “Don’t be a storehouse of memories. Leave past, future and even present thoughts behind. Be a witness to life unfolding by itself. Be free of all attachments, fears and concerns by keeping your mind inside your own heart. Rest in being. Like this, your life is always fresh and imbued with pure joy and timeless presence. Be happy, wise and free.” Through the process of recovery, we give up trying to control the world. Instead, we have faith that by continually doing the next right thing, the future will work out as it is meant to, without our interference. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains that, by giving up our self-will and attempts to assert control over everything in our life, “we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt a new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mine, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow, or the hereafter.” We choose to live in the reality of the present moment and face life without the weight of our fear of the future or past. We cannot be certain of what will happen in the future, and our worries and fear are capable of overwhelming our thought and tricking us into thinking that we will not be able to handle what comes our way without the support of drugs and alcohol. To overcome our fears, we maintain an awareness of the present moment, pulling ourselves back into the reality of what is occurring as it is occurring, and progressing through life one moment at a time.
There is a solution to the fear and anxiety that controlled your story in addiction. The next chapter of your life can be one of peace and serenity. Oceanfront Recovery, a treatment facility in beautiful Laguna Beach, offers yoga and meditation, among many other treatment methods, as part of the Residential Treatment program. For more information about treatment options, please call today: (877) 279-1777
