For some reason, I have been trying lately to figure out how I would fix all the problems of the world if somehow I was made King Of The World. Why? I don't know--I have been having trouble sleeping lately and I find if I put my mind to work on something difficult, I fall asleep faster. Anyhoo, I have actually spent time thinking how I would build large walls around some countries, and put certain leaders in jail, and yada yada........
My conclusion is that each time I move a piece of the puzzle, something else bad would happen. Then AA took over my thinking and I decided if I was going to spend time on anything, I should spend time figuring out how to conquer myself. I think I am sleeping better.
Tom
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
Love it Tom! Although I've yet to tackle such broad reaching issues in my imagination, I do have a tendency to wish I were Queen for a day... Then I realize the same thing you did.
Well Tom, ... I have no problem what-so-ever going to sleep ... lately however, my dreams are getting 'way out there' ... last night, I dreamed I was a ghost ... I went around trying to hug my wife(or maybe it was Col ... LOL) ... when that got no reaction, I tried knocking things over to get her attention ...
It seems I had hidden away a large sum of money that no-one knew about and I wanted her to find it ... but I never got one twitch out of her ... then I woke up , just as poor as when I went to bed ... just kidding ... I've learned that being rich is a matter of learning to want what you have ...
Maybe I stay up too late on this board ... oooooh, Dori and I were discussing something in a PM .... aaaaah, that's where the ghost idea came from I think ... oh boy, maybe I'm going nutso ...
Maybe I should ask Nutasha ... I think she's rubbing off on me ... dag-gummit!!!
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thinking that I could solve the world's problems was one of the biggest driving forces of my initial plunge into alcoholism. Unlike you, though, I was a total egomaniac. I used to lay in bed for hours dreaming of ways that the world could be saved if only my ideas could be implemented: sexual liberation, class equity, environmental awareness and balance, anti-racism and anti-sexism, and of course more money for the arts. I became so convinced that I knew how to "fix" the world's problems that I started believing that everyone else's ideas and thoughts were invalid. Because the task seemed so overwhelming and "everyone else" was to blame for the world's problems, I would drink myself into annihilation because I felt so frustrated. In hindsight, I was naive and immature and totally self-centered. It wasn't until a year ago that I realized that, ironically, the only way for me to transcend being so self-centered and miserable was to understand my flaws and work at fixing them. And here I am. I still commit myself to helping others, but now more from a place of compassion and less from a place of being a total bastard.
-Adam
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When every situation which life can offer is turned to the profit of spiritual growth, no situation can really be a bad one.-Paul Brunton
Living within my hoolah hoop is typically the best I can do....though sometimes I do muse about larger issues.
Most often I find myself thinking about class issues, race issues, and poverty.... This is due to working in the foster care system and seeing so many casualties day in and day out (children). If I think about it too much, I get lost and frustrated and feel defeated. All I can do is remember that my work is at least part of the solution and not the problem and I leave it at that. Class issues, race relations, and poverty will not be eradicated in my lifetime, but that doesn't mean I stop doing my part (via 3rd step) however my HP deems me useful on a daily basis. Thinking becomes a problem when it stops me from doing or when it makes me question what I know are good things that I'm doing.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
To add: most folks tell me "I couldn't do what you do" when they hear about my job. When I reduce it to "What? You can't play with kids and try and help them feel good about themselves?" that is a much more manageable belief and way of thinking about it. If I think of myself at taking on all the forces that got these kids in the foster system (race problems, class issues, poverty, drugs alcohol and addiction, domestic policy)...it is too much.
In other words, I can wax philosophical but only for short periods before my alcoholic brain takes over and turns it toxic and unhealthy.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I know how to fix the whole world ... without a doubt ... just get everyone on the same page ... (some of you won't like this) ... but if everyone were to live the 'Word' of God ... there would be no more fighting and no more hunger, just love for each other ... one person helping another, just like the AA principles ... there would be nothing to fight about, no anger, just love and the desire to serve one God ... ... ... no religious division ... everyone simply doing God's will ... as we in AA strive to do daily ...
WOW ... what a concept!!!
As in our program ... SIMPLE ... ... ... but not easy!
It starts with ME being what I wish to see in the world today ... ... ... and that, my friends and family, is the TRUTH of the matter ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Pappy said it all for me. What a concept indeed. :)
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
I am with you too Pappy, but alas... that is not His will. Sadly, self determination says that God will show you the path and help you along the path, (Hell, in my case, He drop kicked me over the goal posts) but it is up to the individual to find God. That's why I find it more important to conquer myself and do God's will. Now please, anyone with a HP that does not fit my example, please insert your HP into the analogy. I do not want to get into the personal nature of anyone's HP.
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
I am with you too Pappy, but alas... that is not His will. Sadly, self determination says that God will show you the path and help you along the path, (Hell, in my case, He drop kicked me over the goal posts) but it is up to the individual to find God. That's why I find it more important to conquer myself and do God's will. Now please, anyone with a HP that does not fit my example, please insert your HP into the analogy. I do not want to get into the personal nature of anyone's HP.
Oh boy, you did that on purpose didn't you ??? ... ... ... you knew I would have to go a little deeper now ... when you said:
I am with you too Pappy, but alas... that is not His will.
I think I'm going to have to differ with you Tom ... I feel that God's will is exactly what I posted, that He/She wishes for us all to get along ... the big difference is, that He/She is not going to force us to love Him/Her ... God gave us all 'free will' ... and I, like you, did not chose to do God's will until I got kicked through the goal posts of life ...
God gave us a choice ... a love that is forced is not love at all ... it must be chosen ... but that doesn't mean that it's not God's will for us ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
