Alcoholism often masquerades as a mere physical ailment, a series of bad habits demanding nothing more than willpower and perhaps medical intervention. Yet, those who have wandered through its darker corridors know otherwise. We understand that alcoholism and addiction are not merely a physical struggle; it is a profound enslavement of the soul by an insidious and foreign entity. This article proposes a radical rethinking of addiction: not as a disease of the body, but as a possession of the mind.
Imagine the essence of who you are—your hopes, dreams, and fears—slowly overshadowed by an invasive presence that twists desires and magnifies fears. This is the tyranny of alcoholism, a state where one's very self becomes the instrument of one’s captivity. It is like waking up in a familiar room where all objects have been subtly rearranged to disorient and trap. Under such tyranny, the individual is both jailer and prisoner, chained not by iron but by lost control over one’s thoughts and actions.
In this narrative, we delve into the psyche of the alcoholic, a psyche not merely plagued by a mental obsession for substances but haunted by a deeper malaise. This haunting is a form of possession where the ‘self’—our core identity—becomes burdened with an alien will. It is a will that coerces us into destructive cycles, convincing us that relief is found only in the very source of our pain.
Our journey explores this transformation that moves us from despair to hope, from the entrapment of self to the liberation of the spirit. It will challenge the conventional discourse on alcoholism, suggesting that the battleground is not just the body but the mind itself. We will venture beyond the physical symptoms to touch the profound depths where true healing begins.
As we navigate through these insights, drawn from reflections on seminal works like the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, we will uncover the spiritual dimensions of recovery. Here, the fight against addiction is not just about abstaining from substances but about reclaiming the mind from the clutches of a parasitic invader. This is a battle for spiritual autonomy, where victory means emerging sober and spiritually renewed.
Thus, this intro sets the stage for a transformative journey that transcends the mental and physical and pierces into the spiritual, offering sobriety and salvation. As we progress, remember that this transformation's essence is deeply embedded not in the tangible realm but in the vast, often unexplored landscapes of the human spirit.
Welcome to all, especially those joining us for the first time. Let me clarify from the outset: I am independent of any particular organization or community. Today, I wish to share insights deeply rooted in my personal journey through the menacing shadows of addiction, guided by reflections on the profound text of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book.
In its pages, particularly on page 62, Bill Wilson confronts us with the notion of "Selfishness—self-centeredness." He suggests this as the crux of our defeat. According to Wilson, self-centeredness involves viewing every aspect of life from a narrow perspective—purely how it impacts oneself. This perspective of alcoholism frames the 'self' not as our true essence but rather as an alien imposition akin to a parasitic or demonic possession.
This perspective redefines the concept of self as a hostile force, an external entity warring against our inner peace. As Wilson writes on page 64, "Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, is what had defeated us," we face the truth that we are not this self. Instead, we are under its siege, driven not by our own volition but by a foreign intruder dictating our thoughts and actions.
This battle with self is constant. Our task is to disengage and recognize that these thoughts of self are not truly ours. The key lies in discerning that this continuous mental chatter—what we mistakenly believe to be our own voice—is actually the parasite speaking. Understanding this can be profoundly liberating; it shifts how we perceive our thoughts and impulses, leading to disinterest and eventual freedom from this parasitic influence.
Consider the term 'driven' as Wilson uses it—indicating that we are not the drivers of our actions but are instead compelled by unseen forces shaped by fear, delusion, and self-pity. The narrative that unfolds in the Big Book describes this process vividly, showing how our sense of self can lead us unwittingly to harm others and ourselves, perpetuating a cycle of pain and retaliation.
Through the rigorous honesty of a Fourth Step inventory, we confront these manifestations of 'self'—the self-pity, the self-delusion, the self-seeking. These are not mere aspects of our personality but are rather impositions that warp our interactions and experiences. As we catalog these instances, we start to see the pattern: decisions once thought harmless or justified were seeded by this parasitic self, leading us invariably into situations where we suffer or cause suffering.
This is not merely an exercise in awareness but a battle for spiritual liberation. The Big Book is not just a guide to understanding alcoholism addiction; it is a manual for spiritual warfare, teaching us to recognize and reject the tyranny of the bondage of self.
Thus, recovery is framed not as a journey back to a former state but as an ascent to a new plateau of spiritual and mental clarity. As understood in the Twelve Steps, the Higher Power offers relief and a radical transformation—from the bondage of self to the freedom of self-transcendence.
Bill Wilson posited that our troubles are essentially of our own making. Yet, this view might be adjusted to reflect that while we harbor the factory of troubles, the operations are not under our management but are driven by the self we have come to identify falsely as our own. Here, the spiritual journey diverges from mere self-improvement to a profound spiritual awakening.
In understanding and embracing this view, we find not just solace but a path forward—a path that leads us from the depths of despair to the heights of spiritual freedom. It is a path well-trodden in the rooms of recovery, where the shared stories of descent and ascent weave a tapestry of hope and resilience.
As we continue this journey, let us always remember that the enemy is not the self we know but the self we are called to overcome. In this spiritual battle, our victory lies in the realization that we are far more than our desires and fears, more than our obsessions. We are beings of light temporarily ensnared but eternally capable of breaking free and returning to our true nature.
⋆.˚🦋༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚.🎀༘⋆🫶🏻❤️🩹˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆🌸🎀🦩💕🌷𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆。🧿💠🌀
Keep the Faith