FREEDOM MONTH: DAY 13: “It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” ― Bertrand Russell
We are a capitalist society; the structure of our culture tells us to work (too much) to have things that do not serve our souls. This drive feeds only the ego, but not the spirit.
To be free spiritually is to let go of the need to “keep up” with others, to look good at any and all costs, and to let ourselves off the hook. Success is not determined by the amount of stuff we accumulate in a lifetime, although this is a challenging dynamic to let go of. We get this confused with those things that make us spiritually successful.
The dynamic does not go well with financial success. In most cases, we neglect the things of the spirit to gain material wealth and accolades. There is a very fine line, and most addicts do not possess the radar necessary to navigate the distinction.
When we are able to let go of the ego-defining terms of success in a material sense, we are able to walk toward a more spiritual life and way of being.
The world at large will seldom recognize our success in a spiritual life. We are not here to be Mother Teresa, so her fame is not for us. We are here to be humble and quiet and recover from the ravages of a life spent hellbent on ego gratification at any and all costs.
When we are applying the spiritual aspects of Step 9 in our lives, we are walking through the world with an open heart, that we may serve all those we encounter. We are not here to just clean up our messes with those whose lives we rampaged through while drinking and using. We are here to make a living amends to the world at large.
There are so many ripple effects that are created by our behaviors, attitudes, words and actions that we will never know how many people were impacted by us in that insanity. Too many to ever know. So, we have an obligation to stop living in ego and live into the spirit in every area of our lives. Being kind and considerate of others is always a mandate, because that is what the BB says we do…we are a living, breathing example of what recovery from addiction looks like.
The spiritual principles we learn are much deeper than just not stealing or lying to those we know and love. This goes through all our day, everywhere we go. On the telephone, in the mall, on the freeway, at work, at home. We must walk without ego as much as we possibly can to make right the horrible ways we behaved before.
When the tipping point happens, I do not know. I believe it will be far into the future. I was not a particularly horrible person, but I do know that today I am free, only this day, from the insanity that ruled my life for far too long. And freedom, as the saying goes, is never free. I must continue to walk like a recovering person, without ego as much as I can. I am willing to pay back what I took from the world. And this is what it looks like today. Peace.
Dolphin Hug 