Return To Soundness Of Mind (Step 2 Of The 12-Step Wisdom)

Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Step two in the 12-step tradition invites us down a path of belief.

It invites us to let go of what we don't believe in,

Replacing it with what we do and knowing that that will restore us to sanity.

So let's break this step down just a little bit.

First off,

It's a natural follow-up to step one.

In step one,

We admit powerlessness and we see unmanageability created by our own actions.

We're at bottom,

In a sense.

Life is painful and we're ready for a change and we're ready for help.

This second step opens the door to help from a power greater than ourselves.

I love the fact that the founders and the writers used that phrase and invited each of us to find our own truth,

Our own higher power.

Some use the word God,

Some Allah,

Some the universe,

Love,

The quantum field.

All are names and pointers.

Perhaps one of my favorites is Rumi,

Who used the word friend with a capital F.

I find it helpful and useful to imagine the qualities of the best friend possible as I come to believe in this power greater than myself.

The step finishes with the phrase,

Restore us to sanity.

Restore to me indicates a state that's already there,

That's been blocked somehow,

But available within.

For me,

I like the phrase soundness of mind or psychological well-being.

That's a much richer landscape than merely not crazy.

And so this step is a journey.

Came to believe indicates a process.

A power greater than myself can mean different things at different times.

And so the journey will evolve,

As will my sanity,

My psychological well-being,

Or soundness of mind.

So today in this meditation,

Let's contemplate this step and invite new understanding.

So let's begin.

Please find a posture comfortable for meditation.

I prefer sitting with my head held high,

Moving my shoulders back just a bit to bring forward the heart.

Now gently close your eyes.

And notice the pace of your breathing as your body breathes itself.

Let's take some fuller,

Deeper,

Slower breaths to enhance the state of relaxation.

Let's take three together.

Breathing in,

Fully,

And deeply.

And out,

Slowly,

Easily.

Again,

Inhaling into the belly.

And exhaling,

Relaxing the shoulders as you let go of the air.

And again,

Breathing in,

Fully,

Deeply,

Expanding the belly and the chest.

And contracting gently as you let go with a quiet sigh.

And now bring your attention to your eyes.

Gently relaxing the area between your eyes and at the temple.

Letting any tension there slowly melt.

Relax your jaw,

Allowing it to move gently downward with gravity.

And now a little more,

Feeling the muscles of the neck and face and jaw.

Relax.

Letting any tension that you have in you in this moment slowly drain down.

Pull toward the floor by gravity.

And out into the earth.

So for this short time together,

Relax.

Feel supported by the chair,

Supported by the floor.

This trip to invites you on a journey.

A journey toward soundness of mind.

Into restoration of psychological well-being.

And it begins with your willingness to come to believe in a power greater than yourself.

With your best interests at heart,

In mind,

I am open to believe.

Think of the best friend ever.

Beyond human form,

I am open to believe.

An energetic presence.

Available everywhere.

I am open to believe anywhere.

Here.

Now.

And if your mind wanders or resists this idea from a place of habitual questioning,

Habitual skepticism,

In your mind's eye,

Envision that mental habit in a beautiful wooden ornate box floating in front of you.

Always available,

Ever ready to serve you,

And yet in this moment,

Set that aside.

I am willing to learn.

And open to new possibilities.

Allow your mind to relax,

To slow.

And your body to simply settle.

I am willing to learn.

This step simply asks you to be willing to believe in a higher power that loves you.

That wants the best for you.

I invite divine help that sees the best in you.

Forgiving you,

Encouraging you,

Supporting,

Lifting,

And loving you.

I invite divine help.

If you have grown up with a conception of a God that no longer works,

Let that go.

I let go of old beliefs that no longer serve me.

If you've practiced the habit of debating the beliefs of others,

Let that go.

I let go of old beliefs that no longer serve me.

Are you willing to open to new beliefs?

I seek truth.

Can you bring to mind the feeling of gratitude mixed with wonder,

With curiosity?

The kind of energy that makes you smile and laugh in amazement.

Feel that feeling right now.

And allow the idea,

The possibility,

That this higher power will surprise you,

Will teach you,

Will grow your belief.

Your part is willingness.

Again,

When skepticism and doubt or old rejected beliefs arise,

Let them go.

They've served their purpose and no longer serve you.

It's time to make room,

To begin to grow and build what you do believe.

The great gift of this step,

The great gift and calling of this life,

Is for you to ask and search and listen and discern for yourself.

What will restore you to soundness of mind?

It's within you.

It's coming your way.

Again,

I ask you to bring to mind that feeling of gratitude,

That feeling of wonder and curiosity,

Knowing that answers will come to your questions.

The placebo effect is medical proof of the power of belief.

It demonstrates that a person can heal themself by calling on their belief.

In their mind,

It's the pill that they're taking that's doing the healing,

And yet the pill that they take is incapable.

And so the higher power of their healing systems in their body take over,

Fueled merely by the belief.

This to me is a fantastic clue,

A bit of evidence directing me toward my higher power and the power of belief.

I believe that each of us has within direct connection to that.

Call it God.

Call it enlightenment.

Love,

If you like.

Doesn't matter the name.

Come to believe that that is within you,

Awaiting your knock,

Your ask,

Your invitation to be restored to soundness of mind.

And so as we bring this meditation toward its close,

I invite you to practice believing the answers are coming,

Feeling the gratitude for them before they get here.

And if you struggle with the belief,

Believe that I believe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I am open to believe.

I am willing to learn.

I invite divine help.

I let go of old beliefs that no longer serve me.

I seek truth.

I desire soundness of mind.

I believe.

Help me in my unbelief.