DISCIPLINE MONTH: DAY 29: “Discipline not just determines success but determines how long you can stay successful.” ― C Muthu Palaniappan
Success is such a fun word to work with. It means money and fame to most people. I can see so many who have achieved that kind of success and do not want what they have.
To be honest, my financial wherewithal and notoriety were a lot higher and more in line with that kind of success when I was drinking and using. It went, as it usually does, when the bottom began to appear on my horizon.
I never wanted it back. It was such an empty way of living. If not, then why use drugs and alcohol? I have so much more in my life today. A great life of service and creativity and fun! And I am happy, because I do not have anyone to impress and no reason to live inside Ego like I did in those days.
There is nothing in my life today that can be improved with money or fame. Nothing. I am so blessed to know this. Many will spend their lives working for an empty and shallow way of life and feel successful because of that.
I get to talk to people all the time that believe they have to damn-near kill themselves to be successful. I believed this at times myself. It did not pan out that way. I sacrificed my life (my time) for the exchange of dollars and Ego. Sad…I am glad I learned here that it was an empty sacrifice and NEVER made me happy.
When that is all you have and you lose any part of it, you die a little. Today there is nothing I am not prepared to walk away from. I don’t need any of it to be happy. I have learned to be happy with very little and enjoy whatever comes, but it is not the source of my happiness. Life is. God is. Love is.
I did not believe that could happen here, but it has; and I am the happiest person I know.
Step 10 keeps me on the path of no Ego. I can remain humble when I am doing what I truly need to be doing instead of chasing illusions of success that I see in the world around me. I would rather watch a butterfly drink honey nectar from my finger. I did that yesterday, and my heart was filled with joy and wonder…see? Cannot buy that, although I did purchase the honey and paid my water bill. But the life I have is not for sale. My world is not for sale. It is beautiful, don’t you think?
Dolphin Hug 