So, in case you didn’t already know this, I am from Texas. This means I love things like Tex-Mex, Blue Bell ice cream, Whataburger and of course, I LOVE CHILI! The best way to enjoy a big bowl of steaming hot chili is with Fritos...some even call this a Frito-Chili pie (my mouth is watering as I write this).
With this hunger-generating knowledge about me on the table, I have a few questions about your own chili experience. Are you a fan? Do you like to cook? Ever cook Chili?
Here we go…
What would you say are some of the MAIN ingredients in chili?
Meat (I mean I am from Texas)
Beans (not optional)
Tomatoes and tomato sauce
Water
Garlic
Salt
Shredded cheddar cheese
and....FRITOS
Ok, we nailed it. This is a great list of the MAIN ingredients for chili. But, as you have probably guessed, I have another question.
What do you think is the KEY ingredient in my hot and delicious pot of chili?
Most of you are way ahead of me:
Chili Powder!!
You cannot make a pot of chili without chili powder. I don’t care how great your meat, beans, tomatoes and sauce is; chili is not chili without chili powder. Are we in agreement? It doesn’t take much but it makes all the difference and that is why it is a key ingredient and not a main ingredient.
Stay with me as we bring this home.
Let’s talk about a journey out of addiction.
Who can tell me the MAIN Ingredients in sobriety/recovery?
12 Steps
Meetings
Having a sponsor
Being a sponsor
Helping others/being of service
Taking it one day at a time
Honesty
Gratitude
These are all great MAIN ingredients of recovery and absolutely paint a picture of a recovering person’s commitment to this program.
But, what do you think would make the KEY ingredient in recovery?
In my opinion it is Humility.
Humility is the key ingredient in sobriety/recovery.
Listen to this definition of humility: freedom from pride or arrogance.
Wow. The Webster dictionary just equated humility with freedom. I love that. This definition so beautifully correlates pride and arrogance with being bound, enslaved and certainly not free. My pride and arrogance absolutely keep me bound to myself, my secrets and my deepest struggles and when I sprinkle them with humility I am set free.
So what does this even mean?
It means that I need people in my life I trust more than I trust myself.
It means I have handed over the car keys of my existence because the last time I sat behind the wheel of my life I was headed for a cliff doing about 110mph (figuratively speaking).
It means when someone speaks the truth in love to me I am not going to respond with pride or arrogance.
Humility frees me from the chains of my ego. Initially it sorta sucks but man, does it get better.
I am headed to get a bowl of chili and some Fritos...wanna come with?
By Robert Shryoc