We show diligence to the simple life, recognizing that the rewards aren’t as immediately visible; and if we are to switch our habits to simpler ones, then we must be diligent in reading to transform our thoughts. As we become readers, we engage in reflecting on the doing—the reading experience—and then during these reflections, concepts are planted in our minds about what to do next, and we devise a new plan for new experiences. Instead of reading indoors, we now venture outdoors, creating further reading and exercise experiences. This reflection framework helps us to see where the highs exist in the simple life.
Now that our life is starting to align with the simple life path, we begin developing trust from others. We have started to show that we care as we diligently pursue these new health rewards, creating a path diverging from the addiction-laden six-lane freeway. People start recognizing our caring and consistency; they now see us moving towards gaining a competency they have never witnessed in us before. And not only that, we start trusting ourselves as true confidence begins to emerge in our system. We walk a little taller, and the determination to keep chasing optimal health becomes our new way of life. We’ve realized that hate is never to be trusted; and that if hate and resentful thinking occupy space in our minds, we had better pause, take a deep breath, bring ourselves into the present moment, and get lost in prayer to our higher power so that we can discern the truth about the assumptions we have created. Remember, the man in the back, behind the eyes, not attached to thought—is the meek man in Christ. Of course, there will always be a time to think—and when that time comes, we will be refreshed with spiritual insight being dropped into our minds by the Spirit. Therefore, hate is never to be trusted.
As this competency grows in our soul, and as the character defects are replaced with character strengths, people will recognize this unique competency, and gratitude will come into our minds and hearts for the way of life we have now gained from the way of life we used to live. Without the bad life, we would have never experienced this new good life. Therefore, we can be thankful for the bad because it gave us the opportunity to live two lives. The first life was our training in the school of addiction, and our new life is our training in the school of addiction recovery. And even though we often become overwhelmed with anxiety and fear, we can force thankful thoughts into our minds that will help us flip the script as we are moving in scenery while listening to uplifting music. The exercise in scenic views creates a new perspective and again helps us escape the head prison of fear and resentment.
This diligence, knowledge, trust, and now gratitude—is the SOAR path that leads to peace and creativity. Weeks 5 & 6 are the change of heart weeks, where we now see life through a creative, peaceful lens. We’ve shown diligence in capturing knowledge and creating experiences; we now have shown that we are to be trusted, and that we also trust in our higher power’s plan for us. The gratitude swells within our heart and soul, and when we go dark with anxiety, we have learned the gratitude coping skill of flipping the script. Peace has started to make its entrance into our lives, and we now recognize those behaviors that drive the spiritual peace out of our heart and soul. We have gotten more creative and aren’t afraid to do things alone anymore. The hike to the top of the peak to read and have an out-loud prayer is now common and comfortable. We have switched from the six-lane freeway to the small, meek, and lowly grass path that leads to God.
