Instant gratification. It is an impulse that at times can take on an almost religious fervor in the pursuit of fulfilling an immediate desire. Little, if any thought, is given to the implications or consequences of satisfying the desire; and invariably strategy is reduced to a quest to chase after whatever rabbit runs by next, or obtaining the next shiny object that appears on a screen or in a store window.
To my mind, the recent military operation to extract President Maduro from Venezuela and bring him to trial in the United States was an act of instant gratification, a statement which, on one level, makes little sense because there was nothing instant about “Operation Absolute Resolved “. The operation involved extensive planning and meticulous execution which, from President Trump’s announcement after Maduro and his wife were whisked away., was carried out flawlessly (even though 80 people were killed). But in many quarters, the gratification has come quickly, if not instantly, and has many layers: the military elite have demonstrated that they are, in fact, elite; a corrupt tyrant has been brought to justice; America has not only successfully demonstrated its resolve and power, but has announced that we won’t be pushed around or manipulated anymore, especially in this hemisphere. All of that can fuel a deep sense of satisfaction, a gush of patriotic pride, and a fulfilling feeling of domination.
And when the adrenaline rush has run its course, what next? Instant gratification doesn’t go beyond meeting its immediate need. And there is a lot to consider: that the operation violates international law, that Venezuela is not a culprit in the trafficking of fentanyl (which causes most of the fatal overdoses in the US); that Congress wasn’t involved, nor were any allies; that Russia and China have publicly condemned the operation, but many have indicated that both countries are privately rejoicing because they now feel even more freedom to follow the US example and breach international boundaries and carry out their own aggressive operations; that the extraction of Maduro will create even more chaos in Venezuela. And – this may be speculation, but given the history of President Trump’s behavior, is nonetheless plausible, that Operation Absolute Resolve serves as a distraction from the potentially damaging information contained in the ongoing release of the Epstein files.
President Trump has a mind numbing and heart stopping genius for creating intense reactions to his words – and to his decisions. They range from pride to fear, adoration to resentment. These reactions either stroke or assault the ego, which turns out to be Trump’s primary domain, his operating principle. And as the President proceeds with every decision, tweet, or announcement, he subliminally is seeking to hold the American populace hostage to their own egos. And nearly everyone – supporters and adversaries alike – become prisoners of our glee or anger, our embrace of either instant gratification or instant resentment.
How do we break free from these ego driven snares? For me, some days it doesn’t seem possible as I am so constricted by fear, disdain, anger and resentment. I am not alone. At these moments I need to remember that beneath the ego lies the soul, which is the source of love and compassion, generates creativity and hope – and has the capacity to look beyond the immediate and see the larger picture. Oftentimes, and this is one of those times, the ego does all it can to suppress if not deny the presence of the soul. Whereas a threatened or hyper-sized ego can seek to destroy the soul, a well nurtured soul recognizes the need to live in balance with the ego.The ego helps us keep order; it gets us up in the morning and keeps us on task. The ego can alert us to danger, and the soul can assess the danger and propose a way forward because the soul is invested in hope.
Let us engage our souls, which can set us free from the ongoing and unrelenting crusade of the ego. We need to name the ego trap we are in and find ways out of it that works for each of us, whether religious or not. An intentional action of engaging the soul – through workship, prayer, breathing with purpose, drawing, writing – actions that take us beneath the constraints of the ego to places of creativity. If the national and international events are beyond your emotional bandwidth, find some “soul act” in your neighborhood or family. It can reframe the way we look at the world and how we react to it.
Drawing on the strength of the soul can help us – all of us – move beyond the tyranny of instant gratification. Intentional spiritual practices, engaging in life giving religious traditions, can set us free from being hostages to the ego and at the same time open our hearts, expand our horizons, and release the presence and power of the soul.
