Ten Tenets: Theft

The last of the Ten Tenets is Theft. Theft is a mostly negative energy, and is similar in nature to greed. Unlike greed, however, which is just taking more than we need, theft is taking specifically from others. This makes it one of the more obviously "bad" behaviors, too, because none of us really wants to be stolen from, even if we can see the advantages to be had in taking from others. Like all the other Tenets, however, theft also can have benefits.

Being conscious about what we take and give to and from others is a major part of many of the other Tenets. As you've probably gathered reading through the series so far, the Tenets are all as interconnected as we and everything else is; through seeking balance in one aspect, we are often improving balance in other regions. Never forget that if you are giving in effort, you aren't taking. You're giving what you have, and that's all that matters!

The positive nature of theft does exist. For one, there are times when it is necessary for us to take from others in order to survive. Stealing clothing, food, shelter, or water that we would genuinely go without otherwise is not necessarily the worst thing. Through continuing your life energy, you gain the ability to make amends for the theft, possibly even providing something to someone else in a similar position through the positive act of charity, so that they do not have to steal. While the goal should always be to not take anything without payment, there are times when we genuinely do need whatever belongs to someone else badly enough that it makes the act necessary to survive, or to be able to continue on in order to find a better means of fulfilling our needs.

There are also times in which so much of value belongs to one or just a few that the rest of the community suffers. We've all heard the tale of Robin Hood, right? Taking from the rich to give to the poor is sometimes acceptable, especially if those rich are living exorbitant and lavish lifestyles, while everyone else is unable to have access to their necessities for living, such as their food, housing, or medical needs. While it is not good to take from others just because they have more than we do, it also isn't good for someone or a group of someone's to have well and above more than enough, while others live on next to nothing. It is not "stealing" to demand that everyone have enough to live comfortable and healthy lives when a portion of the populace is able to live in luxury or elite status. The real theft is that of the elite, literally taking food and other necessary things from the mouths and hands of those who desperately need them.

The last positive aspect of theft is satisfaction. It can be fun to take! The thing that comes to mind with this is the game Capture the Flag, in which the entire point of the game is to outwit and physically outclass your opponents in order to capture their flag while defending yours. It is incredibly satisfying to hold that flag in your team's grasp at last after a difficult game, knowing your teamwork, strategy, and skills are up to par. Inversely, it teaches the losing team a lot, too. It can show flaws in our strategy or skill level, can help them realize the value of attaining that which is important to us, and also teaches the emotional value of a victory through the pain of loss. Of course, theft isn't as fun as capture the flag when it's something genuinely valuable to us! It's important to know the difference between fun theft, and genuinely hurtful theft (see Kindness!).

The negative aspects of theft are more apparent, if you ask me. Namely, theft reveals an inner greed to have that which is someone else's. Theft means we wanted something we didn't earn. Just because it is not easy to steal something doesn't mean we worked for it, either. Does the act of stealing repay the time and effort that someone else put into attaining that which we are stealing? Nope. Avarice drives us to seek reward without appropriate effort or payment, too, not just to take more than we need.

If we are stealing, we are also displaying a distinct lack of faith. If we truly believe in ourselves and the nature of the universe to provide for us, we do not take from others, because we know that we will always receive and have enough. Believing in our efforts and ability to create the physical world we desire around us means knowing we can create that world through our own action. Those who think to take from others are not living in a place of faith in the goodness of the universe and the people around them, but instead place that faith on themselves. This can create lack mindsets, and perpetuate the need to steal, as they lose their ability to believe in community and the universe to provide for them.

Lastly, theft takes from others. This is not charitable or kind. It can create a sense of despair or anger in other people. We also know that taking from others dismantles what they are working to make, which is not something we would wish for ourselves, for one, but is also relying on that which belongs to someone else, rather than building with the tools and materials being provided for us by our own creative work, the universe, and the community around us. It robs us of the ability to learn how to create or generate these things for ourselves, too, which may be the ultimate tragedy!

How do you view theft? Has theft impacted your life personally? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.