Nothing changes…
Three frogs sat on a log. One decided to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log?
The answer is three because without action everything remains the same. Well, let me clarify.
Consider that the world is always in movement. That is, nothing remains the same…there are hydrogen atoms moving about swapping molecules every microsecond of every day, and the rest of the world does too. (p.s. Did you know that ‘Nothing Remains The Same’ is an album by Swedish rock band ‘Pain’?)
Plato is quoted as saying, “Everything changes and nothing remains still.”
We are either getting better or we’re getting worse, so if things aren’t moving in the direction that you want, then something has to be done in order to make a change of direction. This is good news and bad news.
The bad news you are already an expert on. Addictions only get worse if they are not dealt with. This could be re-phrased as — in the future, you are going to head towards jails, Institutions, and death rapidly. More swiftly than is comfortable.
If you do not like the way things are for you, the only way is down unless you change.
**Hope, Disaster, Addiction, and Recovery: My Hero’s Adventure: A Joseph Campbell Journey** medium.com
Good News
The good news is, you can make changes now.
There is ample evidence of things that work for other people, and we have already established that you and I are more LIKE other people than we are different. We are like most Orangutans, too (family Hominidae).
Having become aware of the state our body mind and spirit are in and accepted that we are addicts, then action can be and must be implemented as soon as possible. NOW.
Now is the only time you can do anything.
Now is the only time you can be happy. Or feel anything, really. In Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now which some of you have read, he explains to us that the ego is living in the future and making us fearful and/or living in the past creating regret, pain and self-loathing.
Conquering the ego by living in the present is a powerful way to gain control over one's thoughts and emotions. The ego is often the source of negative thoughts and feelings, such as fear, insecurity, and self-doubt. By focusing on the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, we can learn to quiet the ego and gain a sense of inner peace. This can be achieved through practices such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other forms of self-care. When we are able to live in the present and let go of the ego, we are better able to make decisions that align with our values and priorities, and ultimately, lead a more fulfilling life.
The job at hand for everyone, addicts and otherwise, is to conquer the ego by living in the present.
THAT’S IT!
I hope you enjoyed my essay.
NAH, that’s not all!
Body Mind Spirit
Let’s focus our activities in three main areas of being — The Body, the Mind and the Spirit — That’s what I had to do when I was relapsing all over the place and getting SICKERER.
As a recovered alcoholic, I can attest that addictions only get worse if they are not dealt with. If left untreated, an addiction will only continue to escalate and can lead to dire consequences such as jail, institutionalisation, and even death. It is crucial to address an addiction as soon as possible in order to prevent it from becoming worse in the future. It's important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that it takes courage to confront and overcome an addiction.
Spookily, spiritual activity is usually concerned with salvation, liberation, and union with God.
This is very similar, if not exactly the same, as recovery from addiction.
We want to be saved from further pain. We need deliverance from a fateful predicament, which is the domination of our drugs of choice over our lives.
We NEED liberation from a dictator which defines the feelings we encounter as well as the actions that we must take in order to have our fix.
And we are alone. For the sake of conversation and debate, I decided long ago that ‘God’ is the word I relate to as meaning the Higher Power that I and other people seek union with.
This can mean the regular ‘God’ of all Judeo-Christian belief systems. It can mean any spirit referred to in Pagan literature and the religious practices of the indigenous peoples of the World.
It can refer to Buddha and the Bodhisattva's, Deities, and Gods of the Hindus and other Asian cultures.
Finally, the connections we have between ourselves that are not manifested in the five senses is a spirituality that is both ineffable and real. Even relations between animals and humans, animals and animals and plants to sentient beings, have more dimensions than are currently explicable.
All this is very entertaining, but what can we do as addicts to overcome the compulsive and obsessive nature of our demon?
love alwaz,
mike