WEEKLY MEDITATION
When all the desires are distilled, you will cast just two votes. To love more and to be happy.
-Hafiz
At its center, the drive for both active addiction and for successful recovery are the same. In both cases it is the pursuit of fulfillment and contentment in life that drives them, they are simply functional vs. dysfunctional means to the same end. In both cases, it is very easy to lose sight of this important truth, and herein lies an important point. In active addiction this emphasis is lost within the pursuit of the substance or behavior one is addicted to, especially in cases of extreme physical addiction. In recovery, this truth can be lost within the material desires legitimately associated with living a successful life. There is no need to reject the material world or corporeal goals to stay focused on the fact that it is love and contentment that are the ultimate states of attainment in life. It is just as important to remember that our material goals should be servants to our larger goals, not the larger goals themselves. Often, if this is forgotten, we end up serving our desires instead of their serving us. Whether the material goal is heroin, sugar, the winning hand, the new job, car, or a sound retirement plan, the larger goal remains the same. We are always seeking love and happiness and the contentment and security that come with their acquisition.
