What comes to mind when you first look at this topic? Webster defines poverty as: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. It goes on to add: scarcity and dearth. Lack of money is the most common thought about poverty.
But there is definitely more to poverty. One may be the wealthiest in the county but poorest in self worth and self image. This leads to the poverty of the mind that inhabits the thoughts and actions of so many. Especially those who suffer the effects of alcoholism and/or addiction. This mental poverty, in turn, leads to losses in every part of life. Families, friends, jobs, relationships, good feelings, yes even money, disappear. It may not be noticed as it is occurring. Because, as it does, the problems become overpowering. Overpowering to the extent that one does not have time or energy to realize what is melting away. UNTIL IT IS GONE, in many cases.
Is this the end? Is there no hope for one who is just starting the slide down the slippery slope of active alcoholism? NO, IT IS NOT! It is not over until it is over! Since the most powerful ingredient of our existence is our thoughts, let’s start there. You THINK that you have nothing. If you continue thinking you have nothing, you soon will have nothing. Why? Because of the slippery slide mentioned earlier. Look at all you have lost so far. After doing this, do you THINK it is about time to change things? Do you wish to keep losing things? Do you have much of anything left to even lose?
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, COD. Come On Down! Join us. If you do, you will be surrounded by people who were and are just like you. One BIG difference, though. They are changing their thinking, Thus actually changing their lives. Did you ever think “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen!” (to borrow from an old song.) “Nobody knows what or how I am thinking and feeling!” Guess what? YES WE DO! We have all been there in one way or another. We all have wanted to end it someway, somehow. Even if it meant suicide.
Prisons are full of people who can’t make it on the outside. This leads to committing another crime or crimes. This is to go back to the structured existence that prison life is. They have a name for it. Recidivism. This is one way out of the problems of the world for some alcoholics. Forced recovery! This is a POVERTY OF THE MIND!
There are many who marry multiple times. Many because the somewhat structured life that living with another calls for can not be handled. Just like their alcoholism can’t be handled. This is another POVERTY OF THE MIND!
There are some who were raised in total poverty of mind. Raised by adults who suffered poverty of the mind, themselves. That is all that the persons knows from infancy. So, it becomes habitual. Another addiction, of sorts.
WOW! Is there a solution to this poverty! YES! There absolutely is! There are millions of us who have lived with the narrow tunnel of poverty of the mind. We have come out into the light. We discovered a new way of living. It has brought us out into the light. Now we can BE the light for others. Others who once feared the light at the end of the tunnel.
The way for me and these countless other millions has been the Way of Alcoholics Anonymous. What did AA do for us? It changed our thinking. This led to our lives being totally changed. It can work for you, too! ALL that you must do is say the shortened version of the AA 3rd Step. Simply say “God, help me!” Then, hang on because it becomes an exciting, wonderful life with as many frills as you want in it. You will learn how to really love. What follows, if that you will find that you are really loved too. If you have a problem with this thought, just let us love you until you can love yourself. What do you have to lose? Misery? Dread? Despair? What do you have to gain? EVERYTHING GOOD! We can believe for you until you believe yourself, too.
The poverty of your life can take a “poof pill” and disappear. But, only if you want it to. Choose this way of life and it will be the best choice you have ever made. God bless you!
Our AA Zoom meeting is every Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM EST. Meeting ID is 6035280704. Password 399778. It is simple to locate the blogs and Facebook pages. Simply search #spiritualityandrecovery For the podcasts, just go to https://anchor.fm/james-b-boylan On iPhone say “Hey Siri, Play the podcast Spiritualityandrecovery.” Or, on Android “Hey, Google. Play the Jim Boylan podcast.”
