The Central Valley North area of Narcotics Anonymous (CVNNA) is located in Northern California and consists of the cities of Stockton, Lathrop, Lodi, Lockeford, Manteca, Tracy and Ripon
JFT & SPAD
or
August 10, 2026
Regular prayer and meditation
Page 232 "Most of us pray when we are hurting. We learn that if we pray regularly, we won't be hurting as often or as intensely." Basic Text, p. 45 Regular prayer and meditation are two more key elements in our new pattern of living. Our active addiction was more than just a bad habit waiting to be broken by force of will. Our addiction was a negative, draining dependence that stole all our positive energy. That dependence was so total, it prevented us from developing any kind of reliance on a Higher Power.
From the very beginning of our recovery, our Higher Power has been the force that's brought us freedom. First, it relieved us of our compulsion to keep taking drugs, even when we knew they were killing us. Then, it gave us freedom from the more deeply ingrained aspects of our disease. Our Higher Power gave us the direction, the strength, and the courage to inventory ourselves; to admit out loud to another person what our lives had been like, perhaps for the first time; to begin seeking release from the chronic defects of character underlying our troubles; and, at last, to make amends for the wrongs we'd done.
That first contact with a Higher Power, and that first freedom, has grown into a life full of freedom. We maintain that freedom by maintaining and improving our conscious contact with our Higher Power through regular prayer and meditation.
Just for Today: I will make a commitment to include regular prayer and meditation in my new pattern of living. Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
August 11, 2026
Harmony in Spite of Conflict
Page 231 "When we practice living in harmony with our world, we become wiser about choosing our battles. We learn where we can use our energy to make a difference and where we need to let go." Living Clean, Chapter 3, "Awakening to Our Spirituality" Freedom of choice is a new concept for most of us in recovery. Recovery allows us to start to make healthy choices for ourselves and to consider the consequences of those choices for everyone involved. We begin to realize that we are not the center of the universe and strive to practice goodwill. Living in harmony with the world comes easily when our interactions with others are guided by mutual respect. We may be unaccustomed to disagreeing without being disagreeable, but we can see the benefits of this approach.
When we're engaged with life, disagreements and conflicts come with the territory. In recovery, we learn to navigate confrontations differently than we had in the past. None of us gets clean to be a doormat, so we've got to learn to defend ourselves and fight for our passions in principled ways.
With practice, we become less impulsive in our actions and take time to decide where we want to spend our energy. One member described how he questions his own thought process: "Am I championing this cause as a matter of principle or pride? Is this my battle, or do I need to let go?" We learn from our mistakes and those of others, and we consider the suggestions made by members of our support group more often. We grow to understand the preciousness of time. With only 24 hours in a day, we choose to find our way through conflict in ways that preserve our dignity and foster harmony.
I will take a deep breath as I decide how to spend my time and energy. Today I will choose responses that preserve my dignity and that of those around me. Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved