nicky,

I don't know about profound happiness all the time. I'm reasonably happy most of the time. But I have found a calm amidst the storm. I have true peace of mind and a contentment with life today that I heard about but never thought I'd experience but am so grateful for.

I have no money. But I walk with my head held high these days. I feel peace most of the time. I have a strong connection with God that I wouldn't exchange for a new car, a new house, more money. What I feel money cannot buy.

I do find delight in little things. It brings me great joy to see the growth in others. And it pains me to see them fall. But, oh, it was in my falling that brought me to a better place and that is what I hope for them.

Nothing, nothing beats love, affection, compassion. Daily vigilance.

Thanks for a great post, Nicky.

xx

It all comes down to human nature and the way society has taught us that more is better. Grant you we are all alcoholic or we wouldn't be here. But before we are alcoholic we are human. Wejust happen to be alcoholic humans. There are somethings that are bred into us from birth. One of those contributing factors is we deserve more than we've got and we will spend a lifetime persuing more.

I always like what he says - as far as talking spiritual is concerned the Dali Lama to me keeps the message so simple and easy for me to understand. I can never complicate what he has to say to much!

trying to fill my hole inside is a operation I perform all the time...sometimes I think money is too little and it really is....that is not greed it is fact...I have things like debts that I have to repay...

but I too know that no matter how many cars I have I want a different one....Unknown to me where the next dollar is coming from so that fact keeps me digging the hole looking for the next dollar...

I hate to think I am not entitled to money and higher standard of living than poverty....my family raised me better than poverty and I doing my thing got myself into poverty...what is the solution?.....

I wanna know the answer to that question and do not tell me it is GOD because I know GOD and he keeps providing at the levels I am in...which is poverty...

I think the only difference I would see to what he said is that it has been shown the world over that as long as peoples' most basic needs are met, such as water and sanitation, food, medical care, shelter (and then maybe education and employment), they have the fundamentals for happiness. If people live below those basic needs, life is a daily struggle and watching your kid die of cholera when it's unecessary ain't a recipe for a happy life. Of course spirituality helps people cope in those situations.

But above and beyond that, material wealth, status, a high income aren't the recipe for happiness. In fact, the studies show that people who have those things are less likely to be happy than people in a strong social support networks and extended family groupings and I guess spiritual values - love, compassion.

This has been a big learning curve for me in my recovery from alcoholism. I spent many years of study and many years in a high status, reasonably high income career, trying to tell myself and everyone else that I had my shit together because I had those jobs, the apartment and a car. None of those things are evil within themselves, but if we are attaching our value as humans to them we are on shakey ground. All that stuff comes and it goes. Thus, I have been forced to find that basis of spirituality that gives me a firmer footing in life in sobriety.

too true i still get into the thinking if i get that job then i will be sorted or if i loose a bit of weight that will make me feel better about myself, but the problem is my attitude and belief - i can try try try and recieve but i can still be discontent and ungrateful with lots of material things in my life. i can so easily forget that last drunk and the despair i felt and today im clean and sober now that is something :)

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