Addiction and Sprituality

With all the recent celebrity deaths in the media from overdoses of prescription drugs, one has to wonder what is missing in all these lives that open the door for such addictions.

Many years ago I did a paper that compared the Twelve Step Program of AA (or NA) to a religious code. The similarities were astonishing. One of the major steps for a recovering addict is to accept a power higher than themselves. Another is to make ammends with all those that the addict has hurt.

Spiritually speaking, what is missing in an addict's life is the ability to put the good of others before the selfish needs of self. In other words, if an addict could look to the Light of God for guidance, they would see the fulfillment that comes with doing things for the good of others rather than to satisfy their own ego.

Of course, this sounds simple, and we all know that it's not. However, just as most of the world's major religions teach, trusting God and treating others the way that we want to be treated is a great place for everyone  to start.

What about Ego?

Ancient mysticism teaches that the ego was given to mankind so that the soul could have a reason to move forward, making corrections through acting upon desires. You see, there is no growth without change, and there is no change without the desire to move. Spiritual growth cannot take place if our desires are based only on selfish needs of the ego. So, here is my dilemma ... If we do things to satisfy our desires, how can we control our ego which is the very thing that feeds our desire. How are we supposed to control our ego while we grow?

I've often noticed that celebrities thank God when they are awarded for their success. Perhaps this is a clue to my dilemma. We need to remember where our talents come from. Judaism teaches that we are on this earth for "Tikkun Olam," to heal the world. How better to heal the world than to accomplish the very things that God has given us the talent to share while remembering where that talent originated.

For instance, I could ask myself why I am writing this blog. Naturally, I want as many people as possible to read it, but why? Is it to share my knowledge to help others or is it to get the satisfaction in knowing that people want to read what I have written. If it's for both reasons, how can I control my egotistical desires? The key is that I should always remember that my ability to write is a God given talent, and therefore I should use it to share with others in a way that will help the world. In this way, I am using the benefits of my writing ability for the good of others rather than for my own selfish reasons.

I sincerely hope that your ego will lead you to the ability to share your God given talents with others. Remember to trust your conscience as a guide to right and wrong ... both in your personal and in your private relationships ... and you can't go wrong. As long as your heart is in the right place, you will be using your ego in a way that brings you closer to a spiritual life.

It’s all about the Energy

Have you ever thought about what our bodies are actually made of? If you have, then the idea that I’m about to put forth may be one that has already occurred to you, but perhaps you never thought about it in quite this way. A large percentage of the human body is water, and water is an excellent conductor of the electric impulses that run through our minds and nerves. In other words, our bodies are largely energy. Have you ever wondered why some of us start each day with a lot more energy than others?

So often we waste energy. Try to picture yourself holding all your energy in your hands. What is the best way to make use of it? If you think of it as something very valuable like money, you certainly won’t want to waste any of it. Yet, that’s what most of us do each day.

One of the greatest spiritual lessons found in almost all of the major religions is that we should put our trust in God. Ever wonder why? It’s all about the energy. If we begin with the basic premise that God is the source of all our energy, it then becomes clear that man’s freedom of choice is in his ability to choose what to do with this energy. Our thoughts are energy, and negative thoughts such as worrying, obsessing, stressing out … they all use an incredible amount of our energy. Does worrying change anything? Of course not, but most of us seem to do it none the less.

We have all experienced the fact that everything in life is sweeter when we can appreciate it and share it. Well, the same is true of God’s energy. So, the next time you are obsessing over plans gone awry or over reacting to a difficult situation, remember it is totally your choice as to whether or not you want to waste your most valuable resource. Let go of the worry and fear, and you’ll be amazed at how much energy you have left, and how much better you’ll feel about yourself.