“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.”
Mother Teresa
as the rest of my life unfolds, i find that i still encounter many places that scare me. i don't have all the answers, but i do find that i feel comforted when i rely on a higher power. my impression of higher power has morphed with time. i certainly don't think of hp now in the same way i did when i first got clean, nor before i stopped using. i think the following describes a bit how i feel about higher power at this time of my life. this is a book recommendation really. i find myself drifting towards buddhist philosophy as it allows space for my own vision and room for my skepticism. i can't say that i have begun to embrace the places that scare me, but it is an ideal i am working toward. when i can traverse my fears knowingly, i seem to come out on the other side a bit more grounded and maybe even enriched. maybe that has to do with not being alone.
The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
In The Places That Scare You, Pema Chödrön continues the teachings of When Things Fall Apart, showing how at the core of the most painful experiences lie the seeds of spiritual awakening. Here she presents key teachings on recognizing and cultivating the soft spot that is the gateway to compassion and open-heartedness.
In this book she discusses:
The four great catalysts of awakening, and how to integrate them into our lives
Why the soft spot is necessary for spiritual awakening
The basic goodness that is inherently ours
How the three noble principles can enrich everything we do
The maitri meditation that multiplies love
Why an attitude of don't know can be wiser than the world's greatest spiritual teachings
How to keep the heart open with equal fearlessness to both heartache and delight
