Restoring Sanity Individually and Collectively
Everyone has the freedom and the power to exercise their free will and make beneficial ripples in the fabric of our lives
“If I wait for just a second more
I know, I’ll forget what I came here for
My head was so full of things to say
But as I open my lips all my words slip away” — the first verse of Nobody’s Diary by Yaz (Yazoo in some countries)
The other night while in my favorite plane of existence, the twilight twixt sleep and awake, whether experiencing hypnagogia on the way in or hypnopompia on the way out, of that, I’m never quite sure — pondering what I might share with you all next, that lyric came to mind.
How can I ponder in this state? It is a period of hallucinatory sentience during which I am, and you are, capable of controlling attention. Later the same night, this Viktor Frankl quote entered into the experience:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way…between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Since deciding last week to post free-to-read content, which precipitated my escape from the chains of algorithms and partner program payment expectations and aggravations, I have much to say. It is hard to decide where to begin.
So I asked myself, my soul, and my tour guides to give me ideas before closing my eyes. I have to start somewhere…
“It’s not important for you to know my name
Nor I to know yours
If we communicate for two minutes only
It will be enough
For knowing that someone in this world
Feels as desperate as me
And what you give is what you get” — the first verse of Start by my 2nd or 3rd favorite band, The Jam
“Now I’m ready to start
I would rather be wrong
Than live in the shadows of your song
My mind is open wide
And now I’m ready to start
Now I’m ready to start
My mind is open wide
Now I’m ready to start
Not sure you’ll open the door
To step out into the dark
Now I’m ready” — the last parts of Ready to Start by Arcade Fire
Let’s begin.
“It may be that if I lead the life I’ve planned for myself it may affect others; the effect may be no greater than the ripple caused by a stone thrown in a pond, but one ripple causes another, and that one a third; it’s just possible that a few people will see that my way of life offers happiness and peace, and that they in their turn will teach what they have learned to others.” — the character Larry in Somerset Maugham’s masterpiece, The Razor’s Edge, which I read recently, and highly recommend.
Several times I’ve written that 12-step programs leave much to be desired as solutions for substance abuse and other obsessive-compulsive disorders, which the statistics bear out. On the other hand, I believe every human being would benefit from understanding and working many of the steps into their lives. They contain much spiritual wisdom.
When I use the term spiritual, I use it in a manner that transcends the binary of theism versus atheism. One can act entirely spiritually with or without a belief in “god” however one understands that term. Spirituality only requires honesty, empathy, compassion, courage, and love, both for oneself and others.
Spirituality like science searches for truths, both cosmic and personal. Personal truths lead to being the best person that one can be, and every high school curriculum should include a discussion of practicing Steps 4 (a fearless and searching moral inventory), 5 (sharing the inventory with another), 8 and 9 (make a list of those we’ve harmed and offer sincere amends where to do so won’t harm another person), and 10 (continue to take personal inventory and when wrong, promptly admit it). These steps lead to self-awareness which leads to serenity and contentment/happiness.
(“Shadow work,” which I see as just another name for 12-Step Work, presents another path to the same destination. Jung wrote a forward to “The Big Book.”)
I focused on steps 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 because they don’t mention God (Step 5 does but it doesn’t need to). Today, it’s time I take on the more difficult task of wide application of Steps 2 and 3.
Many years ago, I used to frequent meetings in church basements. That’s a euphemism for AA. At the time, I hadn’t achieved “a God of my understanding,” thus I struggled with steps that mention God and with the sometimes beneath-the-surface and sometimes in-your-face Christianity in the rooms.
Step 2 says, “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” That also didn’t sit well as the way many people read it is best described by steps 6 and 7, which I outright reject: (“6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”)
Only I can fix myself. Only you can fix yourself. However, we can receive help and guidance from others, which in and of itself is a power greater than ourselves.
Moreover, one can still believe that a capital P power greater than ourselves can help with the restoration without diminishing our own power or worshipping “God.” Here’s how.
Step 3 says, “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” Many in the rooms would talk about letting go of their own will and letting God run the show. That never sat right with me.
Then, I realized something. At the end of the discussion of Step 2 in The 12 and 12, it says:
“Therefore, Step 2 is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to God.” [emphasis added]
The part I bolded was the key for me. Turning our will over means a choice, freely made, to stop being selfish, and to stop living in resentment, fear, and hate, and judgment and envy — to decide to live in compassion and empathy, in love, acceptance, and forgiveness (I know I just lost some of you on that one but the person forgiven doesn’t ever need to know you granted it).
All those latter states of being are in right relation to God — or right relation to a power greater than the individual — right relation to your community, no matter how small or large — or to the Power of the collective consciousness or unconsciousness.
It’s time to connect the dots to A) a Jodie Helm channeling, God’s Will or Man’s Will?, The Archangels Explain the Difference, which I read last July, in which I left a response that outlined the Steps 2 and 3 substance of today’s post, and B) Richard Bach’s wonderful One, which I was reading at the time.
I highlighted much of Jodie’s post, including parts of these passages:
- “Your life was planned by your soul, and most of the hardships you experience are part of your life plan. It was designed for maximum spiritual growth and experience. While the soul plans the lifetime, the human being lives it and has the power of free will to override it. You all have a team of Guides to help lead the way through the life plan, but they cannot force you to comply. To say that occurrences during a lifetime are God’s will is incorrect. God does not plan your life, your soul does. God does not live your life, you do.” [emphasis added]
- “God’s will is seen in the perfection of the Earth and the universe, in all of creation, and in humanity. The will of God is life. The will of God is creation. You as human beings have been given everything you need to live and to create your life. It is up to you to use your gifts and resources, and your free will to provide a good life for all people. You do this by promoting and championing equality, compassion, and acceptance of each other without qualification. You do this by making sure that all people are valued and have the opportunity to exercise their free will, to create a safe and fulfilling life, and to participate fully.” [emphasis added]
It is up to [us] to use [our] gifts and resources, [our] free will to provide a good life for all people.
Ripples. We can all make ripples that build upon ripples, and eventually, that can lead to exponential growth, personally, across communities, and the world.
We can all choose to do right, for ourselves and towards others.
In One, Richard and Leslie’s interdimensional voyage in their seaplane lands them in a foundry, where crystals are formed and each crystal represents an idea, and all the ideas are interconnected. Right up my alley :-).
“The man turned at her words, saw us watching. ‘Hello!’ he said, warm as an old friend. ‘Welcome!’
‘Hello,’ we answered.
‘Do we know you?’ [Richard] said.
He smiled, and I liked him at once. ‘Know me, yes. Remember me, probably not. Name’s Atkin. Once I was your aircraft rigger, once your Zen master. … [all ellipses in the original] Oh, I don’t suppose you remember.’ He shrugged, not bothered at all.”
[I wrote in the margin, “Spirit Guide.” At least one of my spirit guides and I have walked the Earth together in other incarnations]
“I stumbled for words. ‘What … what are you doing here?’
‘Take a peek.’ He pointed to a binocular eyepiece mounted near the crystal. Leslie peered in.
‘Oh, my!’ she said.
“What?”
‘It’s … it’s not glass, Richie. It’s ideas! It’s like a spiderweb, they’re all connected!’
‘Tell me.’
‘It’s not in words,’ she said. ‘You have to put it in words however you can, I guess.’
‘What words would you use? Try it on me.’
‘Oh,’ she said, fascinated, ‘look at that!’
‘Speak,’ I said. ‘Please.’
‘OK, I’ll try. It’s about … how hard it is to make the right choices, and how important it is to stick to the best we know … and that we really do know what the best is!’ She apologized to Atkin. ‘I know I’m not doing it justice. Would you read this silver section to us?’
Atkin smiled again. You’re doing very well,’ he said, peering into another eyepiece ‘It says: A tiny change today brings us to a dramatically different tomorrow. There are grand rewards for those who pick the high hard roads, but those rewards are hidden by years. Every choice is made in the uncaring blind, no guarantees from the world around us.’ And next to that, see? ‘The only way to avoid all frightening choices is to leave society and become a hermit, and that is a frightening choice.’ And that connected to: ‘Character comes from following our highest sense of right, from trusting ideals without being sure they’ll work. One challenge of our adventure on earth is to rise above dead systems — wars, religions, nations, destructions — to refuse to be a part of them, and express instead the highest selves we know how be.’”
I assume my readers can see the lines and planes I have drawn between all of those dots. Feel free to ask questions in the comment section or via email. If you don’t have my email, ask for it in a PN.
I’ll leave you with one more quote from Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge:
“It was hard for me to believe that God thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. I should have thought the worship most pleasing to him was to do your best according to your lights.”
Further Reading:
Spirituality Redefined, Plus a program for living a spiritual life [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
12 Step Programs’ God Problem, These spiritual programs need to stop proselytizing religious principles and groupthink mentalities and promote the the vital and authentic uniqueness of each individual [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Efficacy of 12-Step Programs for Addiction Treatment, Groups and treatment centers must alter their “sit down, shut up, and listen” approach and remove the absolute abstinence requirement that is not found in the Big Book or the 12 and 12 [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Ménage à Trois Between Science, Spirituality and Philosophy
They should have a permanent and mutually satisfying interdependent polyamorous relationship [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Life Is School for the Soul, A reader asked me: “What if upon reincarnation the person is still a narcissist?” I clarify my thoughts on reincarnation in order to reframe and attempt to answer the question [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Remember what Jodie channeled about life plans and God? Well…
I prefer my term — “Lifecycle Improv Scripts”
I view the Lifecycle Improv Scripts as Larry David’s show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, on steroids — imagine 100 writers drafting a lifetime worth of improvisational scripts and the negotiations and debates as to who gets to play what roles in each other’s lives…I love the irony of this oft-quoted and misunderstood saying:
“Man Plans, and God Laughs.”
This statement is used to diminish the role that free-will has upon our lives — that we cannot defeat the universe’s scripts. The irony is that while our higher powers have to approve our scripts/outlines, we wrote them. I wonder what goes on in the Executive Producer’s lounge as Zoroaster and Vishnu and Shiva and Rama and Kali and Kama and the rest of the heads of our tribes negotiate the interplay of their charges’ life spans.
I think Steinbeck said it better in Of Mice and Men,
“The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray”
Apropos to this month’s Catharsis Chronicles theme of acceptance:
My Selection — Alcoholics Anonymous (Colloquially Known as “The Big Book”)
Acceptance is the Answer (Authors — Anonymous (see images at end of story)) [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Last week’s not paywalled post:
And previous posts building off of Richard Bach’s One:
Mindfully Filling My Mind, A poem written in an angelic spot [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
People are People — Not Us and Them
Two takeaways from Richard Bach’s wonderful novel One including that it foreshadowed Medium [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
Imagine Your Future Without Changing Anything About Your Past
Look forward to a future built on past mistakes [and here’s a friend link for non-members]
In Rama I create, with soul energy surging through my body, inspiring me and breathing wind into my sails,
