ABANDONING SPIRITUAL PIETY FOR “HAPPY USEFULNESS” – “… our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.” (The Big Book, p. 130)
HAPPINESS: “A RADICAL AND DESIRABLE ACT” – “Just for today I will be happy.” “‘Let It Begin with Me’ is a way to change the things we can – especially our own attitudes – instead of waiting for everyone else to change to suit us.” (How Al Anon Works, p. 69)
“We’ve just learned how to balance ourselves a little better so that we’re happier way more of the time than not, and, you know, being happy is a radical and desirable act if you ask me.”
– Anthony Kiedis (1962 – ) U.S., lead singer of The Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP)
Yertle the Turtle -RHCP megamix (10:00)
Happiness in Relationships Guided Meditation (3:52)
How has your spiritual practice helped you to become happier in your own life, lately?
Happiness
by Carl Sandburg
I ASKED the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
their women and children
and a keg of beer and an
accordion.
IMHO there is little more painful than not being taken seriously – when others reframe my reality, I tend to become irrational and then…Welcome to the Pity Party. That is strictly my own experience. I have also read that in the ER if they ask you on a scale of 1-10 how bad the pain is, if you say “10” they might automatically assume you’re addicted to pain meds. So as far as I can hear, there are a couple of things going on: the pain of not being heard or believed, and the physical pain. Aside from meds, have they offered alternatives (i.e. biofeedback, chiropractic, acupuncture, meditation)? How have you offered to partner with your healthcare providers (i.e. “What is your experience in dealing with cases like mine? What have other people tried? etc.). I have learned from the HIV community that it is really helpful to have someone go with you to ask even more questions, take notes, and suggest alternatives. For me, the bottom line is what is the spiritual lesson in all this? What is my Higher Power trying to tell me? I will keep you in my prayers that you may have relief, serenity, and peace. Make it a blessed and beautiful day!
Thank you SO much – that helps A LOT. you are exactly on target – I felt “crazy” at not being believed. Gratitude gratitude at your response and prayers. serenity restored. whew!
I am asking for advice (is that allowed on SFZ?):
I have a pain disease that requires pain meds. to avoid the “torture pain” level. The doctors in the ER and my neuro. won’t give them – they try other meds. that aren’t working & meanwhile I suffer huge pain.
The problem is apparently in Miami where I am now there was a huge problem with addicts feigning illness to get meds. & now after the crackdown practically NO ONE gets pain meds. My case was dealt with suspiciously & when I go to ER am not taken seriously until they see my records.
Anyway, I have a problem with they think I am lying and I am not. Any advice on how to handle this?
Thank you.
It seems to me we all have questions from time to time. Sometimes forming the questions help us find the solutions for ourselves.
I would only caution that responses be tempered with love, compassion and tolerance and gratitude for the opportunity for being heard.
Hopefully we can become a supportive spiritual community in addition to the ones we’d encourage developed outside of cyberspace.
As we grow we can decide these things and reflect our consensus on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
The quotes in this SFZ make me feel very peaceful – life is not so scary when I know I am not alone.