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A Walk Through the 12 Steps: Step 11

© Carol Webber (Jausten)

Step 11 of any 12-Step Program says that we sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.

For those of us who have seriously taken the previous ten Steps, our own experience in learning of ourselves through these Steps is proof that some Power greater than ourselves is working in our lives. We have learned that we really are never alone or at a loss for what to do in any given situation, because this Power is always available to comfort and guide us.

At times, we may forget and try to take control of our lives once again, but we are reminded of this Higher Power when things do not work out as we had planned. Those of us with fibromyalgia must maintain some control over our lives, but it is only the control of managing our pain, fatigue and other symptoms. We are in charge of our own health care, and what treatments we seek is ours alone to choose. However, this is different than trying to control every aspect of our lives. We can not control others, nor should we allow others to control us.

When I take control of any given situation and try to make it work for me alone, I fail. Learning to trust and depend upon a Higher Power to guide me through the difficult times of my life is what brings me success in my dealings with others. As I have walked through the Steps and related them to fibromyalgia, I have learned what my part is in my own well-being.

Prayer and meditation are two vehicles that we can use for spiritual communication. However, the terms "prayer" and "meditation" mean different things to different people, and we must interpret them in the way that works for us. No one else can tell another how to pray and meditate for these are very personal and individual forms of communication with a Higher Power. Both are used in many different forms, and it doesn't matter whether it is through a particular religion or just spending time in solitude out in nature. It is the healing of our emotions and spirits which is more important than the form that we choose for our prayer and meditation.

No matter which form of communication we use, they all have a common goal. It is to put us in a more conscious touch with the God of our understanding. This God is the proven source of strength, love, and hope that we need daily in our lives. We don't always get these things from others in our lives, and just setting aside time each day to communicate with our Higher Power is what gives us the strength to continue each day in spite of pain and fatigue.