Meditation in Recovery.

My parTy supplies were kept inside a wooden box with a glass top. The inside was lined with velvet, complete with a strap to hold the pipe and a pocket for the baggie.

A crafty buddy of mine fixed it up for me. We used to do a few hot rails, then tackle craft projects and/or dress in drag.

The following design is made from a bed skirt and took me five hours to assemble.

The glass top of my box was perfect for hotrails. And portable, too! That same buddy and I made a hotrail contraption out of tubing that worked beautifully.

As my active use became a daily habit, I used my box for hotrails while getting ready for work. Especially if I'd been awake for several days.

One particular Monday morning, after some hotrails and an interesting drive to work, I reached my office on the Executive Suite level. I can recall my mind being "stuck." No thoughts. No movement. I was soooo high. I sat down at my desk and my brain latched onto the sound of the air conditioning vent.

I was mentally absent.

For four hours.

A knock on my office door jarred me 'awake.' It was my boss, the President of the company. I missed the board meeting and didn't hear the phone ringing.

I had sat staring for four hours, stuck on the sound of the vent.

I was let go the next week.

THAT must have been the most still my mind had ever been. It was also the beginning of my life burning down all around me.

When I compare that day to my meditation practice now, I smile. I still love to latch onto the sound of an air vent. It takes me into a clear state where I can observe my thoughts and detach from the world.

But now, the practice elevates my life instead of destroying it.

On this week's podcast, I have the honor of hosting Jason Linney of Monkey Mind Meditation. He is the best meditation teacher I've ever met, and I am in LOVE with his friend JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out).

Listen to the episode here:

Watch the episode here:

Meditation Basics:

Jason emphasizes that meditation isn't about stopping thoughts but becoming aware of them without judgment. This is a crucial distinction, especially for those new to meditation or struggling with addiction.

The mind naturally produces thoughts, and trying to forcefully stop them often leads to frustration. Instead, meditation teaches you to observe your thoughts as they come and go, like watching clouds pass in the sky.

This practice of mindful observation can be particularly helpful for those in recovery from crystal meth addiction. It provides a new way of relating to cravings, difficult emotions, and triggering thoughts.

You create a space between stimulus and response by learning to observe these mental experiences without immediately reacting to them. This space allows for more conscious decision-making rather than automatic reactions that might lead to relapse.

Consistency Over Perfection:

One of the most important aspects of meditation in recovery is consistency. It's easy to get discouraged if you believe each meditation session needs to be "perfect" - free from thoughts or achieving a state of bliss. However, the real benefits of meditation come from regular practice, even if each individual session feels imperfect.

Jason encourages starting small, even with just two minutes a day, and gradually building up. This consistent practice, over time, can lead to significant changes in your brain and behavior. Regular meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve presence, and help people reconnect with their authentic selves.

For those in recovery, this can mean better stress management, increased self-awareness, and a stronger connection to your motivations for staying sober. Remember, it's the cumulative effect of many "imperfect" meditations that leads to lasting change.

Inner Child Healing:

Through his puppet character Jomo, Jason introduces a unique and powerful approach to meditation that nurtures the inner child. This concept can be especially meaningful for gay men in recovery from crystal meth addiction.

Many may have disconnected from their inner child due to trauma, shame, or the pressures of hiding their true selves. The playful, non-judgmental presence of Jomo creates a safe space for adults to reconnect with feelings of innocence, joy, and wonder that may have been long buried.

This approach to meditation goes beyond stress reduction; it's a form of emotional healing.

By creating a nurturing internal environment, you can begin to soothe past hurts and rebuild a loving relationship with yourself. This inner child work can be transformative in recovery, helping to address root causes of addiction and fostering self-compassion.

Meditation as a Recovery Tool:

Consistent meditation practice offers several benefits that directly support recovery from crystal meth addiction.

First, it can lower your baseline stress levels. Chronic stress is often a trigger for relapse, so having a tool to manage stress effectively is crucial. Meditation also improves self-awareness, helping you recognize triggers, emotional patterns, and thought processes that might lead to drug use. This increased awareness allows for earlier intervention in the relapse process.

Furthermore, meditation provides a healthy coping mechanism - a way to sit with difficult emotions without needing to escape or numb them. Over time, this builds emotional resilience.

For gay men in recovery, meditation can also offer a space to explore and accept their identity without judgment, countering internalized homophobia that may have contributed to substance use. By incorporating meditation into your recovery toolkit, you're not just managing cravings, but building a foundation for long-term healing and growth.

I'd love to hear about your meditation practice. Reply and let me know OR if you'd like some support.

Dallas 💚

Reflective Questions:

1. How might regular meditation practice impact your recovery journey? Consider both short-term and long-term potential benefits.
2. In what ways have you struggled to connect with your inner child, and how could Jomo's approach help? Think about times when you've felt disconnected from joy or playfulness.
3. How do you typically respond to racing thoughts or cravings, and how might meditation change that response? Reflect on a recent challenging situation.
4. What misconceptions about meditation have held you back from trying it before? Where did these ideas come from?
5. How could viewing thoughts as separate from yourself change your self-perception in recovery? Consider how this might affect shame or self-judgment.

Journal Prompts:

1. Describe a moment when you felt truly present and connected to yourself. How can you cultivate more of those moments in your daily life?
2. Write a letter to your past self, offering compassion and understanding for your struggles with addiction. What would you want that version of yourself to know?
3. Reflect on your inner child. What does he need to feel safe, loved, and heard? How can you start providing those things for yourself now?
4. List three ways your life might improve if you could lower your baseline stress level through meditation. Be specific about how these changes would look in your day-to-day life.
5. Describe your ideal "mental sanctuary" - a place where you feel calm, safe, and centered. Use all your senses in your description.

Actionable Exercises:

1. Two-Minute Meditation Challenge: Try a 2-minute daily meditation practice for one week. Set a timer, sit comfortably, and focus on your breath. Note any changes in your mood or stress levels in a journal.
2. Create Your Meditation Space: Set up a simple, comfortable meditation area in your home. Include items that bring you joy and peace, such as pillows, candles, or meaningful objects.
3. Sky and Weather Visualization: Practice this visualization daily for a week. Imagine your thoughts as passing clouds while you remain the constant, expansive sky. This helps create distance from challenging thoughts or cravings.
4. Mindful Breathing Reminders: Set three daily phone reminders to take three deep, mindful breaths, bringing yourself into the present moment. Notice how this affects your state of mind throughout the day.
5. Explore Monkey Mind Meditation: Visit Jason's Monkey Mind Meditation TikTok channel and participate in a live meditation session with the community. Reflect on how it feels to meditate with others, even virtually.