We live in a world of expectation. We have expectations of others and they of us. Why wouldn’t we expect to wake up tomorrow morning, just as we have each and every morning up until now. And of course, we expect our children will listen to us, our fast food will be hot, and our lattes will be made to perfection.
The biggest benefits of my consistent, long term meditation practice include ending my long time marijuana addiction, getting control of my gray area drinking, and stealing back my stolen focus.
Dependence and addiction are anchors. They numb us to possibility. And they cause us to fear impermanence and seek escape from it. Alcohol and drug dependence are the realms of regret, loss, and decay. The world closes in around you and suffocates all it envelops.
When you live a life of comparison, the simple fact is that your spending will always outstrip your income regardless of how many promotions you receive, raises you are awarded, or lotteries you win. Why? There will always be more to buy if for no other purpose than to impress The Jones and their ilk. Why do you think most lottery winners end up bankrupt within five years?
I have to admit, quite embarrassingly, that during the hundreds of nights we spent in the mountains playing for hours on end, I was binge drinking myself stupid. So much of the creativity and character development came as a result of me drinking beer the entire time. And it worked, because once I was a few beers deep, I completely let go and became a child again myself.