Consuming, when is it Enough?

The other day I heard an interview with a gentleman who had been a heroin addict for 10 years and now is a writer. He stated quite simply it is not the drug or the addiction which causes us trouble. It is the foundation in life where consuming, when is it Enough? For him escaping with drugs was the only avenue for getting through the day. He became a slave to the drug but what precedes the slavery is the addiction to consuming.

Consuming comes in a variety of Forms and Functions.  

We all have a kind of neurosis inside to be more, better, faster, thinner, happier, influential, rich, free, accomplished, in control, etc. Our whole society is bent on telling us we are not enough. The anxiety we feel is subtle, seductively demanding we try a new shampoo, toothpaste, diet, sneaker or sports craze. Anything to keep consuming, when is it Enough? We feel we need to alleviate the lack we have inside by consuming more. The feeling is constant. We are seduced all day long by the media which is offering more and try it Now!  Cars, houses, foods,vacations, a face lift, computers, TVs etc, there is no end to the want and desire to have “it”.

The anxiety comes from never feeling comfortable or clear about who we are. The anxiety comes from believing we are not supposed to be uncomfortable, ever! In the base of our consciousness there is a nagging relentless doubt that life which is not as good as it “should “be. How might we shift the value of life to realizing, It Is enough, so we can live gently and be thankful?

Notice when enough has been given

Take  moment and sit down, close your eyes and breathe an entire minute. 16 breaths. Then open your eyes and ask what is marvelous and mysterious about being. Open up to every tiny detail and movement around and inside of you.  Light, sound, color, texture, smell, heartbeat, body position, tightness etc. Where did all this come from?  What is its value?

Here’s the hook, whether what you see stinks or is marvelous, it did not come about in an instant and it did not happen by accident. Lots of factors are linked together. Think about the connections and ask yourself what part “I” play in all this. The next time you see toothpaste at the store ask yourself the same questions. What did it take for that tooth paste to appear? You will never be board again, you will always be fascinated by life, and you will feel connected in ways you never expected.

We all have a chance to stop consuming.

The change and shift in consciousness for this millennium will be a new paradigm. I suspect it will hinge in part on how we are connected. What a nasty person does and what a wonderful person does affect the whole.  Christ said, “The poor will always be with you”. I think He meant the poor are those who cannot see this marvel of inter- connectedness.  If you do not live from your oneness with all, you will forever feel isolated, forgotten and alone and desperate. That my friend, if acute, causes us to invade, destroy, rant and rave, kidnap, horde, judge, deceive, malign, injure, etc. because we want more!  A person who’s mind and heart is filled with wonder and thankful awe does not envy or crush another.

We have been imprisoning others for their bad behavior thinking we had nothing to do with the making of it. We constrain by force the drug addict, the thief, the embezzler, the freak, the insane etc. thinking we had nothing to do with the making of them.  We are them. We are on this globe together; more for me will never make it enough for everyone. If it is for you alone  consuming will never be Enough?

Help the slave escape consuming

Each time we yell and scream, are jealous or gossipy, nag and twist the truth, hinder or deny; we are helping create one more frustrated and sad individual.  Each of us is on our own journey. Let us begin to watch and see how we are connected before we launch into action. There is so much we miss because we are going too fast, trying to fill the “I want, I need, I have to have”. Slow down and be where you are. It Is enough and there is plenty to share as well, even if it is just air.