Webster's dictionary defines sacrifices as giving up something valuable for the sake of something else, it is the act/ritual of offering. It can be your time, yourself, certain habits, a lifestyle, a loved one, any number of things
This was inspired by Niamh's article "I sacrifice comfort for despair" The article was well written and made tons of sense. It was so well written, I even made a handout out of it to give to my mental health clients. But the principle itself really turned my stomach. As a male I found it a very distasteful concept. Although I did do sacrificing, I never looked at it that way. When I wanted something, I hunted after it, if I could not reach it, I withdrew and waited for the next opportunity. I lived very much in the moment, very much on instinct. My instinct allowed me to become a jack of all trades, but never really had the focus to sacrifice myself to something bigger. Voluntarily giving up something or myself seemed like paying the bully in school not to beat me up and hoping he kept his end of the bargain. It felt like the other main sacrifice I hear about all the time, how Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins - even more distasteful than the bully imagery.
As events have changed recently in my life, I realize just how short sighted this was. The sacrifice part, not the Jesus part. I realized I could no longer have my cake and eat it to. I realized if I was going to have any meaningful depth in my life either way I would have to sacrifice something. Whether it was dreams for stability. Time and energy for studies of the spiritual. I realized why my life had not been working all of these years, it was because I was not willing to make that investment, that total commitment, that total sacrifice.
As I look at and start to learn and live the meaning of sacrifice, I am realizing the many principles involved in it. First, the sacrifice like anything needs to be well thought out, if not, then there are no take backs, no returns, no exchanges, no do overs. It also has to be something truly of value to you, otherwise the sacrifice is a joke and a dishonor to the divinities or powers that be.
Like anything else good you have to give yourself whole heartedly to this process. You must see the beauty of it. The sacrifice to be truly worthy must be voluntary and it is an act of bowing down to something that is bigger than you, be it it a god/goddess, a goal, situation, or a purpose, or perhaps even a spell. It really carves the ego down to size in a good way, for those who are willing to put this small part of themselves down. When sacrifice is done non voluntarily or forced is when it becomes much more uglier. It is then called a consequence or a punishment.
A strict warning to fluffy bunnies abound, the only problem with sacrifice is that you get typically get the treats/reward until after the sacrifice is made. Be it cooking a stew, a relationship, meditation, studying for an exam etc. A good end result is NEVER guaranteed. Though certain things are a better bet than others. Another warning is that typically whatever you sacrifice will have consequences to not only yourself but those around you, if not now, then later. Once a path of sacrifice has been made, it will require more.
In practical terms I have experienced this in meditation. I have started to confront my scattered thoughts and impulses by mentally saying "I sacrifice my desire to get up, to get distracted for something even better higher good. Now I am suddenly finding the concept of sacrifice in everything I do and say. I am finding it all over in the world.
In the end it I have found this concept of sacrifice very grounding. It is not always ice cream and puppy dogs, but it is a cornerstone to leading a life of substance and something you can be proud of. Once you begin to truly live it, it will turn you from a boy intor a man, from a girl into a woman, from a novice into an elder. What are you willing to sacrifice?