Possession: Do We Really Own Anything?

Let’s talk about possession. No, not the horror-movie kind where your head spins around like a windmill. I mean the everyday idea that we “own” things—our house, our money, maybe even the Wi-Fi password we guard with our lives. But here’s the million-dollar question (which you don’t actually own, by the way): Can we truly possess anything?

Owning the Unownable

Picture this: you’ve just bought a house. Congratulations! You now “own” walls, windows, and a roof. Or do you? If you stop paying your mortgage or taxes, you’ll quickly discover who really “owns” it. And even if you’ve paid it off, can you pack it in a suitcase and take it with you? No? Then how much do you really own it?

The same goes for money. We work hard, save up, and feel secure with a bank account full of numbers. But all it takes is a financial crash or a hacked password for those numbers to vanish like a magician’s rabbit. So, if possessions can come and go that easily, are they really ours to begin with?

The Illusion of Ownership

Here’s where A Course in Miracles (ACIM) steps in with a wink and a nudge: possession is an illusion. Just like everything else in this dream world, it’s part of the grand stage play we call life. In truth, we own nothing because we are already everything.

Possession implies separation—you over there, me over here, and this shiny thing in the middle that I call “mine.” But ACIM teaches us that separation isn’t real. There’s no “me” and “you”; there’s only oneness. If we’re all one, how can anything belong to anyone? It’s like arguing over who owns the air in the room.

The Problem with Possessing

When we cling to possessions, we invite fear. What if we lose the house, the car, or (heaven forbid) the last slice of pizza? Fear of loss becomes the shadow of possession, chaining us to a cycle of anxiety and attachment.

But when we recognize that possession is just a story we tell ourselves, the chains start to loosen. ACIM reminds us that true security doesn’t come from owning stuff; it comes from knowing who we really are—limitless, eternal, and perfectly whole.

Do We Possess Love?

Now, let’s talk about the big one: love. We often treat love like a possession, too. “You’re mine,” we say, as if we just bought someone on eBay. But love, in its true essence, can’t be possessed. It’s not a thing you can put in your pocket or lock away in a safe.

Love is something you extend. The more you give it away, the more you have. Sounds suspiciously like a bad business deal, right? But it’s true. Love doesn’t diminish when shared; it multiplies. Try that with your bank account and see how far it gets you.

A Humorous Take

Imagine explaining this to a toddler clutching their favorite toy. “Sweetheart, you don’t really own Mr. Fluffy. He’s an illusion.” That conversation won’t go well. And yet, aren’t we all just grown-up toddlers, clinging to our adult versions of Mr. Fluffy—our houses, bank accounts, and shiny gadgets?

So, What’s the Point?

The point is, possession is a trick of the ego, a way to keep us stuck in the illusion of separation. When we let go of the need to possess, we make space for something much greater—peace, freedom, and the joy of simply being.

Next time you find yourself clutching something and calling it “mine,” take a deep breath and laugh at the absurdity of it all. Because in the end, we don’t own anything. We just get to enjoy it for a little while before passing it on. And that’s perfectly okay.

As ACIM would say:

“To have, give all to all.”

So, let’s give up our imaginary possessions and trade them for something real: love, peace, and the eternal reminder that we are already complete. And hey, if you’re still holding on to that last slice of pizza—let it go. Someone else might need the illusion more than you do.