Complacency: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements
If I feel "complacency" first I need to identify if it is me feeling that, or if I am picking up on it around me. If it's me then there are a myriad of things I can do...I can learn a new skill, set some reasonable goals I can stick with, ask God I can know him better, explore and imagine, seek and ask, help others....etc.
I don't think our natural state is exciting or our bodies were meant to be excitable. I think that is a false construct that was put in place to replace God and keep us occupied and addicted to seeking the "next thing" to get excited over. Sobriety was gifted to allow us the opportunity to get to know God, not to be in a constant state of excitement and elation. When an untreated alcoholic or active alcoholic is bored, they get into trouble. They start looking for excitement and/or revert back to unprocessed trauma loops in which they felt "alive" even if it was painful and destructive.
Like a dog to vomit-we go back to what we know until we know better. We have an inventory process to find out where on our personal timeline we are "stuck" so that we can get "unstuck". What I have observed is that more and more people in AA are choosing to stay stuck then to go through the process of getting unstuck. They then pass that message in sponsorship which feeds the battery of complacency and God is nowhere in that message.
As I grow up and mature in AA; (*note that when I say grow up and mature, there is zero inflection of criticism behind these words-it's merely fact. I am growing and maturing everyday and will do so until I leave this world) I am genuinely learning that it's ok to not be excited, but I do need to be consistent with something to keep growing spiritually. Growing isn't always fun either-but the alternative is dying spiritually and mentally.
Fun is another one of those childlike constructs that I must leave behind as I mature. That doesn't mean I do not experience "fun" but I can't make it a priority or means in which to live because what happens when things aren't "fun" anymore? I would go to the opposite extreme and be depressed because nothing and no one is fun anymore, or be disappointed when the fun ended and then I would start obsessing on finding fun again. Growth, diligence, consistency, gratitude, service to others-isn't always fun, but way worth it in the resolve of growth and maturing. I shudder to think about all the broken homes that came as a result of the idea that "nothing is fun anymore"..YIKES!
So to keep me from stirring up some sh*t out there by indulging in defect territory, I have a program that keeps me busy with purpose. We can either be busy bodies, or bodies that are busy with purpose. I can stay busy and filled with reasonable goals without expectation to be perfect-this allows me the freedom to be creative and have healthy fun. Perfectionism is paralyzing which will inevitably lead to complacency and boredom. I need to look at all the bondage I still hold on to that is keeping me stuck in false beliefs about myself, AA, and even God everyday to be open to a new experience.
What does my Spiritual Program of Action look like today??
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.
We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.
What is the proper use of self will God and show me what that looks like within the confines of your covering and protection??
Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action.
Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action.
If I do not feel the Spirit flowing into me and through me then I need to find out what is blocking that because again, the point of sobriety is to know God, not to have my version of fun. I need sustainable stability in good times and in bad times-not fun. Joy is way, way, way different than the highs and lows of depression vs. excitement.
Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer.
Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer.
Everyday!!! Not just when I want to or when things are going well...
God, please set aside everything I think I know about You, everything I think I know about myself, everything I think I know about others, and everything I think I know about my own recovery, for a new experience with myself, a new experience with others, a new experience with my own recovery, and especially a new experience with You!
