Alan Cohen Daily Meditation February 8

February 8

I’ll Be Your Rock
"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece
of nature."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

The acclaimed motion picture Field of Dreams touched the hearts of
millions and was nominated for an Academy Award as best picture of the
year. Actor Kevin Costner accepted the lead role in spite of a deluge
of criticism from his advisers, who warned him that he could damage
his image and career by making a “Care Bear" film. The sponsoring
studio also levied immense pressure against Costner and producer Phil
Robinson in an effort to add sex and violence to make the movie more
marketable. When Robinson was tempted to buckle, Costner urged him,
“Don’t give in, Phil? I’ll be your rock. ” Encouraged by Costner’s
support, Robinson held his ground, and the film went on to be a huge
success without exploitative elements.

Is anyone your “rock"? Have you acknowledged this person? Are you a
rock for another? What can you do to support someone who is being
challenged to hold to their vision?

The support of a friend during a time of adversity can make the
difference between success and failure, despair and triumph.
Encouragement and confidence are priceless spiritual gifts that can
change an entire life.

Give me the strength to be a rock to my friends.
Help me sustain the spirit of my loved ones and to be open
to receive their support.

Founded in Spirit, I can do all things
in the name of love.

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This meditation is an excerpt from Alan Cohen's meditation book, A
Deep Breath of Life.

Easy, easy

Easy, easy, slow and steady.

I get busy and stay busy,
working towards my needs.

I may not feel like it, I may
not be motivated. I may be tired
and sore and depressed..
but still I make myself move.

One step at a time,
one moment at a time,
one decision at a time,
one thought at a time.

Leaving off the past....
it does not command me.
Setting free expectations...
they only sabotage me.

Nothing is worth getting upset
over. Nothing is worth worrying
over. There is balance between
moving forward and obsessing
over how it will play out.

I detach from all people,
places, and things. I can only do
right by others, but I cannot try
and draw them to me.
My first priority is to self.

If I am caring for self,
being true to self,
and defending myself,
taking responsibility for all
my own thoughts, feelings,
actions and needs....I do not
need to blame another.


I can only
live as best I know how right
here and now, and I can't
put the weight of my happiness
on specific circumstance.

I choose to be happy that the
sun is shining, that I have time to
myself, that my life can be simple
if I refuse to let in the drama.

Things are not that bad.
Things will be all right.
Live your life and leave others
to live theirs; I am not needed to
fix them and they are not needed
to absolve me.

All is well with things just as they are.

Just For This Moment....

Just for this moment

Let me be still
Let me allow life to exist without
my orchestrating and protestations

Let me live as if this moment
were my last
worrying about nothing whatsoever

Let me recognize and accept that
everything is okay
and be free from angst, despair, regret,
manipulation or dramatic reaction

Let me try simplicity and peace,
being easy and free, leaving complications
and judgment behind. My opinion matters
very little.

Let me leave the past in the past;
it is only alive so long as I maintain a
connection to it.

Let me embrace this moment, here, now
and nothing more.

Let me release criticism of the world,
of God, of others, and even myself
one thought at a time. Let no gossip
pass my lips.

Let me leave pride and distancedness
and struggle and ego behind,
admitting that I need not be alone,
and that weakness is not defeat.

Let me carry myself towards my ideals
and carry those ideals with me; I need
not be swayed by words, circumstances,
or an invitation to a battle. I have choices.

Let me be released from perfectionism
and acknowledge that chaos and uncertainty
are part of the fabric. Let me resist pulling threads.

Just for this moment....

Soldier

I am whole, complete, and perfect just as I am

I do not require permission to exist

  nor to live my life as I am intended

I am unaffected by the ideas & actions of others

I am wholly me, without sensitivity to others' 

   demands;

it is not my job to care for the needs of others.

I stand fast for my beliefs;

I am beholding to none, nor am I anyone's 

   doormat.

I say what I mean

I am creative and uninhibited

I am unashamed of my true self

I let no person steal my joy

Speak your mind...

Be compassionate, but not at expense of self....

Don't buy into the lies, no matter how many 

   participate...

What does it matter what another thinks?

What does it matter what another does?

Don't waste time on anger and jealousy....

Be passionate...

don't hide your love to please another....

Spare no time for meaningless pursuits...

Ask for what you need...

Risk reaching out to another....

Release burdens...don't carry them around

Fight for yourself; no one else can.