The following cards (#13-30) are additional spiritual principles and practices that can be essential in recovery.
Lion enjoying a sunny day
Most of us constantly crave something we think will bring us satisfaction, but once we obtain it, we quickly lose interest. We immediately begin chasing the next pleasure in hopes that this time it will produce lasting happiness. The allure of the material world is endless, yet it can never fill the inner void we find inside. The problem is not material things themselves, but the way we try to use them. An enduring feeling of peaceful satisfaction is an attitude that comes from a spiritual focus rather than a material one. Here are some suggestions to cultivate contentment in our lives:
- Go outdoors – An appreciation of nature can have a calming effect. The seasons remind us that change is a normal part of life. What else can we observe and learn from the natural world today?
- Arrange priorities – Write a list with needs (essentials) at the top and wants (nonessentials) at the bottom. Do we have what we truly need?
- Recognize freedom of choice – We have a choice about what we dwell on and how we spend our time. When doing a task we don’t enjoy, we can keep our mind on the activity itself instead of where we’d prefer to be. Helping others (in whatever way we can) is a sure way to shift the focus from our own discontent to a more positive place. Do our thoughts and activities nurture our spirit or leave us feeling empty and restless?
- Live in the present – Expectations that never materialize can set us up for frustration and create anxiety about the future. Do we dwell in the past, the present or the future?
- Talk to others – Deep communication with people we trust can give us a feeling of belonging; they can help us be aware of the resources we have. Is our focus on what we lack or what we have?
It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.
~ Dale Carnegie
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