Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

And yet, if you make sure your ego knows that you are only going to be
courageously Kind for one moment, it tends to relax and allow you to do so. And
afterwards – once the ego experiences how GOOD it feels to act selflessly, and once it
realizes that it isn’t at all “dangerous” or “irresponsible” to do so after all, it will begin to
progressively relax – and it will become progressively easier to make similar choices in
the future.
So, now that you have recognized the need for another way, and have assuaged
the fears of your friend the ego, it is time to take the final step into the great unknown of
the realm of real Freedom. And this final step is …
Step 03) TRANSCEND your ADDICTION by being pro-actively Kind …
This is the final step on your journey back to True Self – and it is a crucial one, for it is
not enough to engage your addictions with mere thoughts or hopes or feelings or even
“good intentions”. Action must be taken – and the more courageous the act, the more
completely your addiction will be replaced, and the more smoothly you will be able to do
so again at the next opportunity.
Please note here that it is not necessary to do anything “radical” to supplant your
addiction (though a courageous act of Kindness is an extremely effective way of doing
so). Rather, it is only necessary to replace the self-centered act that you wanted to do
with a deed that is selflessly Caring. And when doing so – at least in the beginning, it
helps immensely if the replacement deed somehow resembles the addictive one (e.g.
drinking green tea instead of drinking coffee – or better yet, giving that cup of green tea
to another person instead of drinking coffee yourself) … Examples of alternatives for all
mentioned addictions will be discussed in the chapters that follow this one.
So, that’s it – that’s all you have to do. Once you have consciously replaced a
selfish urge with a Healthy (i.e. a Kind) alternative, you have already succeeded. In that
moment, while you are doing potent Good as opposed to reaping hollow pleasure, you are
no longer an addict … Congratulations!
Of course, you will be truly Free only for as long as you choose to actualize that
particular choice. Thereafter, your ego will “take the wheel” again and try to steer you
back towards your selfish, pleasure-hoarding habits. That’s the way our brains are hardwired
… and THIS IS OK!
Indeed, without such a constant set of challenges, our lives would be devoid of
Meaning. In-deed, because it is so difficult to Care for another instead of caring about
yourself, it is always very powerful whenever we choose to do so.
And … to remain Free, all you must do is pause and REPEAT the 3 STEPS
(again & again & again). The opportunity to do so will be there for you in every moment
of your life – for the rest of your life, which is truly Good News indeed.
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