Using the Just for Today Meditation to Manage Change
Self Help addiction groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Sex Addictions Anonymous, often use daily meditations to help remind members to stay focused on sobriety. The “Just for Today” meditation is one of these popular meditations. It reminds people that we have choices. We cannot control changes that occur in our lives, but we can choose how to respond to changes. During stressful times, it may be helpful to remind ourselves of these principles. The following is a version of this mediation:
Just for Today
Just for Today I will try to live through this day only, not tackling my whole life problems at once. I can do something at this moment that would bother me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
Just for Today I will try to be happy realizing that my happiness does not depend on what others do or say, or what happens around me. Happiness is a result of being at peace with myself.
Just for Today I will try to adjust myself to what is and not force everything to adjust to my own desires. I will accept my family, friends, my business, my circumstances as they come.
Just for Today I will take care of my physical, intellectual, and spiritual health.
Just for Today I will do an act of service for someone else without being found out. If anyone finds out about it, it will not count. I will do at least one thing I do not want to do, and I will perform an act of love for my neighbor.
Just for Today I will try to go out of my way to be kind to someone I meet; I will be friendly and act appropriately, I will dress becomingly, talk low, be courteous and not critical, I will not try to control situations or other people.
Just for Today I will have a program. I may not follow it perfectly, but I will have it.
Just for Today I will stop saying, “if I had time”. I will never “find time” for anything. I will have to take time.
Just for Today I will make time to meditate and seek serenity, truth, and acceptance of myself and others.
Just for Today I shall be unafraid. Particularly, I shall be unafraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, and what is lovely in life.
Just for Today I will accept myself and live to the best of my ability.
Just for Today I choose to believe that I can live this one day.
When people are struggling with stress and change, they can lose sight of recovery. It is important to renew ourselves physically, intellectually, and spiritually often. Considering the Just for Today meditation can help with this endeavor.
