Hopium

Addiction to hope or any other thing causes suffering. When I am addiced to hope for creating changes internally as well as externally, I am paving the path of disappoinement. Addiction is like clinging to hope for changing what I hope to change. Sadly, such clinging or being attached to even a worthy cause results in suffering. I want to change, I hope to change but I am afraid to change. What if things don't go right? What if I lose in my efforts to create change? As the author Margaret Whitney says hope is bipolar. Hope and fear are two sides of the same dynamic. When I have unrealistic hope and when I get addicted to it I cause my own suffereing. I have realized that my addiction to hope creates misery. Freeing myself from the addiction to hope is a wise way of living. I create my own suffering and I can be free from my own suffering. We cultivate skills of being rooted in the ground so that the winds of change and hope may not uproot us. Practicing the skill of awareness has helped me to be free from Hopium. May we all be free from Hopium! Namste. Jagdish P Dave

Faith roots my hope! I will always have hope (Psalm 71:14) is written in my laundry room (of all places). A visual reminder that thru faith my hope will be realized! I hear you.