A contemplation experiment: research says that if we practice a new habit for 21 days our brains adapt and, after a fashion, rewire around the new habit. With a friend I have agreed to read a morning meditation from "the little black book," 24 Hours a Day. Each day we agree to share our reflections with each other. Here is Day One.

9/22 Woke up feeling pretty good for an old man. 24 Hour book was on coffee table when I sat down with my cup of java. What I got from the reading was that "each day is an opportunity to serve God." This is curiously one of those insights that often makes me smile. I call these my "baloney sandwich" moments. In 1986 I was alone in my kitchen, having just turned 40, and I was spreading mayonnaise on a slice of bread, grabbing a quick bite before charging off to whatever I had to face that day.
For reasons I have never understood, the thought occurred to me that all God asks is that we love God and serve God by doing what He would have us do. Within two seconds the experience had passed, and I was standing there with bread and baloney. How strange to think now, thirty years later, that I have never forgotten a baloney sandwich. Perhaps God was telling me that on the one hand I have "bread for the journey," and on the other hand there is "the baloney of my life." This never fails to bring a smile, because I usually expect that God should bring me a burning bush, a blinding flash of light, or at the very least the power to part the Red Sea or raise Lazarus from the dead. "No, John," God seems to say, "you're confusing the bread with the baloney. Just eat your sandwich, and I will tend the universe around you."
When Brother Lawrence wrote his letters about the Practice of the Presence of God, he said that he realized that he could feel close to God in the privacy and relative darkness of his monastic cell, but that he experienced God most clearly when he was amidst the noise, heat, and commotion in the monastery kitchen, where he had once despised his job as a distraction and a burden. Today I will think on these things as I toil and sweat, perhaps enjoying the discernment that helps me distinguish the bread from the baloney. I am smiling as I write this.

Addendum: Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered a secret about living spiritual life here on earth. That "secret" is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence. For nearly 300 years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day. You can browse a copy of the book on Amazon here.

Twenty-Four Hours A Day is available through major booksellers, and also from Hazelden. Written by Richmond Walker, it's a book that offers daily thoughts, meditations and prayers to help recovering alcoholics live a clean and sober life. It is often referred to as "the little black book." The three most published A.A. authors are Bill W., Richmond Walker, and Ralph Pfau, in that order. Ralph, who lived in Indianapolis, became in 1943 the first Roman Catholic priest to get sober in A.A., and under the pen name "Father John Doe," wrote the fourteen Golden Books© along with three other books, all of them still in print and read by A.A. people today. Richmond Walker got sober in Boston in May 1942, and later moved down to Daytona Beach in Florida, where in 1948 he published Twenty-Four Hours a Day©, which became the great meditational book of early A.A. from that point on.

Tags: meditation, mindfulness, recovery, 24 Hour Book

Many of us who found sobriety and recovery along the way also used alcohol and/or drugs to cope with unhappiness at work. The excellent Mayo Clinic website has good advice about identifying and dealing with "job burnout," a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about one's competence and the value of one's work. Before resorting to pills and alcohol to solve this unhappy state of mind, it's better to take inventory and see if burnout is really the problem. Here are some tips from the experts at Mayo:

Ask yourself the following questions:
• Have you become cynical or critical at work?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started once you arrive?
• Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers or clients?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
• Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits or appetite changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, backaches or other physical complaints?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing job burnout. Be sure to consult your doctor or a mental health provider, however. Some of these symptoms can also indicate certain health conditions, such as a thyroid disorder or depression. Several times a year I encounter a patient suffering from low thyroid, iron deficiency anemia, Vitamin D deficiency, and other conditions that contribute to fatigue and burnout.

Discover if you're at risk of job burnout — and what you can do
when your job begins to affect your health and happiness.

Job burnout can result from various factors, including:
• Lack of control. An inability to influence decisions that affect your job — such as your schedule, assignments or workload — could lead to job burnout. So could a lack of the resources you need to do your work.
• Unclear job expectations. If you're unclear about the degree of authority you have or what your supervisor or others expect from you, you're not likely to feel comfortable at work.
• Dysfunctional workplace dynamics. Perhaps you work with an office bully, you feel undermined by colleagues or your boss micromanages your work. These and related situations can contribute to job stress.
• Mismatch in values. If your values differ from the way your employer does business or handles grievances, the mismatch may eventually take a toll.
• Poor job fit. If your job doesn't fit your interests and skills, it may become increasingly stressful over time.
• Extremes of activity. When a job is always monotonous or chaotic, you need constant energy to remain focused — which can lead to fatigue and job burnout.
• Lack of social support. If you feel isolated at work and in your personal life, you may feel more stressed.
• Work-life imbalance. If your work takes up so much of your time and effort that you don't have the energy to spend time with your family and friends, you may burn out quickly.

You may be more likely to experience job burnout if:
• You identify so strongly with work that you lack a reasonable balance between your work life and your personal life
• You try to be everything to everyone
• You work in a helping profession, such as health care, counseling or teaching
• You feel you have little or no control over your work
• Your job is monotonous

Ignored or unaddressed job burnout can have significant consequences, including:
• Excessive stress
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• A negative spillover into personal relationships or home life
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes, especially in women
• Stroke
• Obesity
• Vulnerability to illnesses

Don't let a demanding or overwhelming job undermine your health.

Remember, if you think you may be experiencing job burnout, don't ignore your symptoms. Consult your doctor or a mental health provider to identify or rule out any underlying health conditions.If you're concerned about job burnout, take action. To get started:

• Manage the stressors that contribute to job burnout. Once you've identified what's fueling your feelings of job burnout, you can make a plan to address the issues.
• Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor. Perhaps you can work together to change expectations or reach compromises or solutions. Is job sharing an option? What about telecommuting or flexing your time? Would it help to establish a mentoring relationship? What are the options for continuing education or professional development?
• Adjust your attitude. If you've become cynical at work, consider ways to improve your outlook. Rediscover enjoyable aspects of your work. Recognize co-workers for valuable contributions or a job well done. Take short breaks throughout the day. Spend time away from work doing things you enjoy.
• Seek support. Whether you reach out to co-workers, friends, loved ones or others, support and collaboration may help you cope with job stress and feelings of burnout. If you have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), take advantage of the available services.
• Assess your interests, skills and passions. An honest assessment can help you decide whether you should consider an alternative job, such as one that's less demanding or one that better matches your interests or core values.
• Get some exercise. Regular physical activity, like walking or biking, can help you to better deal with stress. It can also help get your mind off work and focus on something else.
• Pay attention to your use of alcohol, pills, or other "stress relievers." Although booze and drugs can provide temporary relief, neuroscience tells us that the misuse of alcohol or intoxicants is bad for your brain. It's better to get proper help from a qualified professional.

The bottom line? Keep an open mind as you consider the options. Don't let a demanding or unrewarding job undermine your health.