Sunday Musings - January 21, 2024
Since I often work for/with those who are addicted to alcohol, other drugs, power, sex, food, things, ego or some other substance or thing I am reminded of the illusion of free will. I frequently recommend the 12-step program to the struggling addict. Sadly, many get stuck on the first step although they often state that they get stuck on the second step and third steps: The first three steps:
1. “We admitted we were powerless over X—that our lives had become unmanageable.”
2. “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
In some versions of the 12 steps, it is suggested that one think in terms of turning one’s will and life over to a higher power instead of a God. Many, when they think of a God or a power greater than themself, recall a very negative history with the idea or concept of a god. Many grew up being taught God is shaming and punishing; a god who either rewarded one if one was good enough by welcoming one to sit with Him in heaven or sending one to hell for eternal damnation. Who wants to believe that one is powerless before such an unkind God. All of us are human and even without the disease of addiction will, at times, behave in a way which is hurtful to self, others, and Mother Earth.
Some of us may have observed when adults take certain drugs, including alcohol, their behavior became much different. We might have observed that ordinarily kind, loving people sometimes becoming angry - even abusively violent, sexually inappropriate and/or otherwise abusive. Yet, most of us still like to think that we in charge of our thinking and behavior - that if we try hard enough, no matter what we inject or what diseases we have, we can control our behavior. We might accept that there are some exceptions such as when one has dementia or some other identified disease. We might even accept that head traumas, including those sustained when playing sports, can change one’s thinking and behavior.
Scientists who study the human brain and the factors which determine one’s thought processes are increasingly questioning the concept of free will even when not under the influence of a “recreational” drug or other disease. Those scientists are identifying the very complicated process of decision making in the human brain and how relatively little is under one’s conscious control. The best possible scenario is that if we have optimum health habits, we can optimize the possibility of free will which is consistent with our stated moral or ethical values. (In general, ethics are thought to be based on logical reasoning while morals are based on gut instinct or religious beliefs.)
The fact is that addiction and many other factors also affect one’s ability to make decisions which consider one’s own health and the health and rights of others. One is often powerless over that addiction and must accept that a power greater than oneself can restore one to sanity. It is that power that many struggle with. Many who have used the 12 step program to begin a recovery journey which allows them the maximum human ability to behave in a way which is conducive to their own emotional, spiritual and physical health know that a power greater than themselves may simply be other kind, relatively healthy, loving people - often beginning with one or a small group of people who care about them – perhaps others who have turned their life around using the steps and the principles of the 12 step programs. Some move beyond the group and come to believe that all the pieces of the universe have evolved to work as a unit and, thus, all are sacred. By taking maximum care of oneself emotionally, physically, and spiritually as individuals and as a group one can be a working part of the whole. Some choose to call this whole God. Some choose to call this whole simply the universe or universes. Some use other religious terms such as Allah to refer to an amorphous being who is in charge. Some choose to think in terms of plugging into a universal circuit board or power station.
However one thinks of this power, we know when we make decisions together with other healthy people, we are all more likely to do our part in creating a community and a world which honors the rights and needs of all the parts.
With some few exceptions such as the Unitarian Universalists Church, religious bodies are not inclusive organizations. One must accept their concept of God as the right and only possible concept. One almost always must accept that all have complete free will and if one chooses to obey all the rules allegedly dictated by that God one can gain the approval of said God which, in terns, allow one to be at peace with oneself and other members of that church or religious body. Although some in the 12-step program embrace the power greater than oneself as a more traditional concept of God, that is not the intent of the program. If anyone attempts to impose that limited concept on the newcomers who are seeking help, many will not be able to use the steps and the principles to reclaim a life which has a purpose beyond existing.
In my mind the steps and the principles of the program which are contained in the framework of honesty, open mindedness and willingness are dependent on accepting:
Written January 21, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Since I often work for/with those who are addicted to alcohol, other drugs, power, sex, food, things, ego or some other substance or thing I am reminded of the illusion of free will. I frequently recommend the 12-step program to the struggling addict. Sadly, many get stuck on the first step although they often state that they get stuck on the second step and third steps: The first three steps:
1. “We admitted we were powerless over X—that our lives had become unmanageable.”
2. “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
- “Decided to turn our will and our life’s over to the care of God as we understood him.
In some versions of the 12 steps, it is suggested that one think in terms of turning one’s will and life over to a higher power instead of a God. Many, when they think of a God or a power greater than themself, recall a very negative history with the idea or concept of a god. Many grew up being taught God is shaming and punishing; a god who either rewarded one if one was good enough by welcoming one to sit with Him in heaven or sending one to hell for eternal damnation. Who wants to believe that one is powerless before such an unkind God. All of us are human and even without the disease of addiction will, at times, behave in a way which is hurtful to self, others, and Mother Earth.
Some of us may have observed when adults take certain drugs, including alcohol, their behavior became much different. We might have observed that ordinarily kind, loving people sometimes becoming angry - even abusively violent, sexually inappropriate and/or otherwise abusive. Yet, most of us still like to think that we in charge of our thinking and behavior - that if we try hard enough, no matter what we inject or what diseases we have, we can control our behavior. We might accept that there are some exceptions such as when one has dementia or some other identified disease. We might even accept that head traumas, including those sustained when playing sports, can change one’s thinking and behavior.
Scientists who study the human brain and the factors which determine one’s thought processes are increasingly questioning the concept of free will even when not under the influence of a “recreational” drug or other disease. Those scientists are identifying the very complicated process of decision making in the human brain and how relatively little is under one’s conscious control. The best possible scenario is that if we have optimum health habits, we can optimize the possibility of free will which is consistent with our stated moral or ethical values. (In general, ethics are thought to be based on logical reasoning while morals are based on gut instinct or religious beliefs.)
The fact is that addiction and many other factors also affect one’s ability to make decisions which consider one’s own health and the health and rights of others. One is often powerless over that addiction and must accept that a power greater than oneself can restore one to sanity. It is that power that many struggle with. Many who have used the 12 step program to begin a recovery journey which allows them the maximum human ability to behave in a way which is conducive to their own emotional, spiritual and physical health know that a power greater than themselves may simply be other kind, relatively healthy, loving people - often beginning with one or a small group of people who care about them – perhaps others who have turned their life around using the steps and the principles of the 12 step programs. Some move beyond the group and come to believe that all the pieces of the universe have evolved to work as a unit and, thus, all are sacred. By taking maximum care of oneself emotionally, physically, and spiritually as individuals and as a group one can be a working part of the whole. Some choose to call this whole God. Some choose to call this whole simply the universe or universes. Some use other religious terms such as Allah to refer to an amorphous being who is in charge. Some choose to think in terms of plugging into a universal circuit board or power station.
However one thinks of this power, we know when we make decisions together with other healthy people, we are all more likely to do our part in creating a community and a world which honors the rights and needs of all the parts.
With some few exceptions such as the Unitarian Universalists Church, religious bodies are not inclusive organizations. One must accept their concept of God as the right and only possible concept. One almost always must accept that all have complete free will and if one chooses to obey all the rules allegedly dictated by that God one can gain the approval of said God which, in terns, allow one to be at peace with oneself and other members of that church or religious body. Although some in the 12-step program embrace the power greater than oneself as a more traditional concept of God, that is not the intent of the program. If anyone attempts to impose that limited concept on the newcomers who are seeking help, many will not be able to use the steps and the principles to reclaim a life which has a purpose beyond existing.
In my mind the steps and the principles of the program which are contained in the framework of honesty, open mindedness and willingness are dependent on accepting:
- We humans are social animals and need a healthy, genuine connection with each other to live a meaningful life. By ourselves we are powerless to be our best.
- At our very best our thinking and behavior is limited and controlled by a variety of factors.
- Addictions or what Buddhists may call attachments immediately and directly affect one’s ability to make decisions which consider the rights and needs of self and others.
- If we could envision the supreme God or being, we would be the God of everyone’s understanding.
- We do not need to be kidnapped by an addiction or other attachment to accept that we need a power greater than our tiny “I” to live a meaningful life.
Written January 21, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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