Читать книгу Meditations for Pain Recovery - Tony Greco - Страница 37

JANUARY 28

THINKING OF JOY

MENTAL BALANCE

“As he slowed down and breathed, joy replaced anger and anxiety; he relaxed and his pain diminished.” A Day without Pain

Joy comes from being in balance. I go about my routines, focus on exercise, reading, studying, and doing step work, or work out of Pain Recovery. But when I focus my mind on things other than quietly sitting, meditating, praying, or breathing, a couple of days go by and I’m feeling restless. I’m not in touch with the joy that is already inside me. It takes time, dedication, and focus of the mind to listen to and feel that joy. If I’m not feeling it, that’s not because it’s not there.

Joy is like my higher power—always there and waiting for me to be open to that power. Joy is sitting patiently and waiting for me to bring my thoughts to bear on it. There is joy for life, joy for living without drugs, joy for my family and friends, even joy for my pain. But when I’m not balanced mentally, I cannot feel the joy that is in my heart. All other kinds of excitement, happiness, and freedom with outside things and accomplishments are temporary. Joy is permanent and never leaves me. It runs deep—as deep as I’m willing to go to find it.

I honor and acknowledge the joy I feel, even when I’m not feeling it strongly. I take the time to make sure that my mind is in balance and know that through my thoughts of a spiritual connection, my joy is waiting for me.