Step Eleven
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.
Please share your experience, strength, and hope as it relates to Step 11. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
I used to think that meditation was about doing it right. And that I was doing it wrong because I kept getting distracted by thoughts and feelings. With a new app I’m using, I’m learning that meditation is a practice. That it’s normal for my mind to go off on tangents, so I get to practice coming back to my breath again and again. And if a pain or tightness comes up, I can focus on that for awhile and see what happens to it. Same with emotions. Instead of stuffing them or pushing them aside, I can practice focusing… Read more »
I used to TELL God what I wanted him to do for me and get very disappointed when he didn’t do it. Now I ask God to lead and guide me in the direction he wants me to go. I pray every day for acceptance of his will for me. And when He speaks, I listen. Sometimes I’m amazed at the different ways I hear his voice and the serenity I feel allows me to pay attention. In the past my mind was always working so hard, there was no way I would have heard him. I have discovered that… Read more »
As this year comes to a close, with Covid19 spiking, I can discern more growth in me by profound belief in the God of my own understanding. God is working overtime to create something even more beautiful than ever before. It’s gone full circle for me. As a child, I learned to practice my faith in unique ways. I drifted as an adult. The student in me was ready when my teacher appeared alive in me living because of Al-Anon. I returned to my faith in relationship miraculously. There’s always a Grace. It’s up to me to choose God’s Grace…a… Read more »
When I arrived here many years ago I believed in nothing and didn’t want to hear about God of anyone’s understanding. Thankfully they let me stay believing in nothing (of any religious faith or none). I have always appreciated that we never discuss religion in our meetings. Finally accepting a Higher Power and coming to terms with Step 3, my life changed, I am not good at formal prayer so when I start my day I always say good morning God what are we doing today, it reminds me that I am no longer in charge . Today I have… Read more »
Before Al-Anon, I feared God, I Knew the God of love in the program, and during the Steps I got to know myself and God better. To live with more peace and acceptance, when I feel I have God, I continue easily and simply and my fears decrease. I calm my mind with meditation and I love myself and others with a calm mind.
Step Eleven reminds me that I am not alone and that a Power greater than myself is there to help me manage my life and my relationships with Him, with others and with myself. When I first came to the program, I had not prayed for quite a while and medidation was just a far away concept. I started to believe in God of my understanding with Step Three, which paved the way to get a conscious contact with Him. They say that praying is talking to God and meditating is listening to Him. Since I love to talk, so… Read more »
Step Eleven:”Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact contact with God, as we understood Him…” And from a meditation, my Higher Power seemed to say, “Almost everybody has it all wrong about Me! I’m much more simple than what you’ve been told. This is how simple: I am that Piece Of Energy, vibrating within you, that carries you to the next level of peace that you still disqualify yourself from. You know I exist because you’ve already experienced samples of Me, and you’ve limited ME by believing that your next level doesn’t exist … or maybe you fear that… Read more »