Practicing Meditation

Meditation is often thought of simply as getting quiet enough to hear what has been described as “the still, small voice of God.” Meditation has been used across time in many cultures, so there are many examples of how to practice meditation. Many of us found it helpful to work with others to learn how to meditate. Some common methods of meditation include a dedicated period of time for focusing on breathing and emptying oneself of troublesome thoughts, repeating prayers or phrases, practicing a mindfulness about each action during our day, concentrating on a single idea or image, or constructively imagining ourselves placing our troubling situations in the care of our Higher Power. Even though many of us initially felt meditation would be a waste of time, it was not long before we found it to be an indispensable, energy-enhancing activity we could not go without, just like eating or breathing. Especially when combined with prayer and the self-examination of Step Ten, we found that meditation balanced us emotionally and provided a deeper connection with our Higher Power.

Reprinted from S-Anon Twelve Steps, page 138.