The 11th Step: Contemplative Prayer & Meditation For 12-Step Recovery - by Thomas J Bushlack

COURSE

The 11th Step: Contemplative Prayer & Meditation For 12-Step Recovery

With Thomas J Bushlack

In this 10 day course we will explore how contemplative prayer and meditation can help us to recognize and begin to heal from our addictive desires and patterns and the underlying wounds that drive them. In doing so we begin to reclaim the experience of freedom and joy, and we move toward sharing those gifts with others in healthy communities and relationships.

AddictionRecovery & HealingVisualizationContemplative PrayerChristianityReligionSpiritualitySpirituality

Meet your Teacher

Thomas J Bushlack
St. Louis, MO, USA

This course draws upon Tom's two decades of practice in contemplative prayer and meditation (informed primarily by lectio divina, Centering Prayer, and yoga, and by dialogue with many spiritual traditions), one decade in recovery, and his academic teaching and research in theology, spirituality, and ethics. After struggling for many years with severe anxiety and addictive behaviors, Tom has found that his sobriety and peace of mind are best supported by a twelve-step recovery program combined with a daily commitment to contemplative prayer and meditation. Tom has developed and offers this course as a part of his 12th step - that is, to share the fruits of his practice and recovery with those who suffer from addictive patterns and behaviors.

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10 Days

9.0k students

4.8 stars

13 min / day

Addiction

English

Lesson 1

Experience Strength & Hope

On this first day we will establish the importance of a regular, daily practice of contemplative prayer and meditation and how your practice helps to support a program of spiritual recovery, especially by noting how non-judgmental, mindful awareness can help to disrupt compulsive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. We’ll also discuss the terms and language used in this course to refer to God or a Higher Power in a manner that is open to persons of any spiritual or religious background, or none at all.

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Lesson 2

First Things First

Progress on the contemplative journey and in recovery both require rigorous honesty and self-examination. This is hard work. That’s why it’s important to be sure we have all the necessary supports in place as we begin this difficult task. In this lesson we discuss three essential supports and four recommended supports. We highlight the importance of having these are in place before moving deeper into the hard work of contemplation and recovery.

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Lesson 3

Let Go and Let God

Contemplative traditions and 12-step recovery programs recommend that freedom from addictive behaviors is supported by trusting in something greater than our wills. In this lesson we will explore some creative ways to place trust in a Higher Power that is fitting for your spiritual or religious background (or none at all), and that is supportive of ongoing contemplative growth and recovery. How we surrender to a Higher Power through a daily contemplative practice will be the focus of the rest of the course.

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Lesson 4

HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

The acronym H.A.L.T. reminds us that certain situations and triggers can activate our desire to engage in addictive behaviors. In today’s lesson we explore how mindfulness - a non-judgmental, moment-to-moment awareness - can help us to recognize when our addictive cravings are triggered, and to break up the habitual chatter of our mind that feeds into compulsive behavior.

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Lesson 5

Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional

Yesterday we learned to bring mindful awareness to notice and learn about those things that trigger addictive processes and behaviors. In today’s lesson we focus on ways that skills developed within a daily contemplative practice can help us to respond to those triggers in healthy ways, in ways that further disrupt the addictive process. Today’s guided meditation includes an embodied practice of learning the difference between a contemplative stance of open receptiveness and unhealthy reactions of attachment or avoidance.

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Lesson 6

Resentment is Poison; Forgiveness is Healing

The Big Book of AA describes resentment as “the number one offender...from it stem all forms of spiritual disease.” In today’s lesson we explore the difference between anger - which can be a healthy emotional response to harm done to us or others - and resentment. First, we focus on learning ways to recognize and respond to anger in healthy ways so that our anger does not harden into resentment; second, we explore ways to cultivate a willingness to forgive through a contemplative approach to steps 4 through 7.

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Lesson 7

Principles Over Personalities

Connection with others is the ultimate antidote to the pain, isolation, and shame we experienced in addiction. In today’s lesson we explore how contemplative prayer and meditation support development of healthy, intimate relationships - especially within our recovery community and with our Higher Power - as a foundation for recovery. We also emphasize the importance of setting aside regular time for silent, contemplative practice in order to deepen our intimacy with the God of our understanding.

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Lesson 8

Progress, not Perfection

We’ve dealt with triggers, pain and suffering, resentment and established the importance of healthy relationships for recovery, this lesson focuses on deprogramming perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking. Today we explore four attitudes supported in a contemplative practice that help us to continue to make progress (not perfection) in recovery: 1. friendliness toward those who are happy, 2. goodwill toward those who are virtuous, 3. compassion toward those who suffer, and 4. indifference toward those we perceive as wicked or evil.

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Lesson 9

One Day at a Time

Today we focus on setting clear goals and intentions for maintaining a daily contemplative practice that supports healthy recovery in all aspects of life. The more we practice contemplative prayer and meditation the more we are able to align our deepest desires and our intentions toward our Ultimate Concern. Clarifying and committing to our intentions releases a tremendous amount of energy that will support sobriety and living for the good of others and the world around us.

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Lesson 10

Give it Away

The paradox of contemplative recovery is that whatever good things we have discovered in our practice we must give away and share with others. To do this we need to cultivate presence by showing up to our daily practice of silent prayer and meditation, to meetings, to our work, and to those we love and care about. Today we consider how cultivating a fully embodied and aware presence provides us with everything we need for working the program toward sobriety and moving toward union with our Higher Power. When we bring this presence to our lives and relationships we will automatically give away and share the fruits of our transformation with others.

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Ask your teacher

This course includes 147 community questions and 39 audio replies from Thomas J Bushlack. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

147

4.8 (752)

Recent Reviews

Karen

January 9, 2026

Wonderful

Leonie

November 16, 2025

Thank you so much for this wonderful course. There is so much within it that I need to revisit. I expect that I will listen many times.

Shannon

October 27, 2025

Great information, guidance, and practice! Tom is a fantastic teacher and example!

Velda

April 24, 2025

What an amazing way to understand more about my spiritual experience. Very thorough!!

Mike

March 18, 2025

Thank you for sharing your insight on step 11 and the practice of contemplative prayer. As a long time recovering addict it is helpful to explore ways that others practice and to remain teachable.

Dee

February 18, 2025

Thanks so much! Excellent course.

Victoria

February 13, 2025

Excellent course for centering focus and mindfulness in relation to the 12 steps really enjoyed it - really enjoyed it. I wish he would do additional courses.

Joan

February 8, 2025

A powerful blended course perfect for those like me living a twelve step life❤️

Dianna

January 20, 2025

I cannot put into words what this course has done for me. I feel lighter, calmer, And on a higher spiritual understanding level than I have ever been before. Those are the words I have to offer. I highly recommend this course, even if you do not have an addiction to deal with, it will definitely open you to a better understanding of life. And yourself.

Phoenix

December 19, 2024

I enjoyed the depth of this course. I liked the teacher's style and personal stories. Even though I'm not in AA, I am in recovery and found this course really beneficial.

Kurt

September 8, 2024

Thank you! Appreciated the “gratitude” version of the serenity prayer and your reading of the promises in the present tense was very moving!

Bryant

March 21, 2024

A refreshing contemplative practice. A great resource 🙏🏻🌅✨

Elaine

January 28, 2024

Gift from god

Pablito

January 10, 2024

Thank you for the present tense version of the Promises! Thank you for the gratitude version of the Serenity Prayer! And thank you for all the insights on silence, mindfulness, and faith. In the words of Bobby Dylan, “May you always do for others, and let others do for you. “

Emily

November 17, 2023

Best course for a compassionate approach to strengthen my 11th step practice. THANK YOU!

Catherine

November 11, 2023

Thank you for all the work you do behind the scenes to bring all of us this peace and serenity in a world that I pray will settle. It is people like you that have the goal and I thank you for it x

Luke

November 6, 2023

Great course. Thank you

Stefi

October 27, 2023

Thanks for the reminders and reinforcement for practicing the program. Blessings and gratitude. 💝🙏

Ken

October 10, 2023

I can now add a contemplative practice hear the guidance of my Higher Power. Thank you!

Zory

August 23, 2023

This course is excellent for anyone trying to deepen their spiritual path whether in recovery or not. These are true and tried ideals that improve the wellbeing and quality of life. With sincere gratitude. Z

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