[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”25px” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none” last=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_title hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” content_align=”left” size=”1″ font_size=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_top_mobile=”” margin_bottom_mobile=”” text_color=”” style_type=”default” sep_color=””]What to Do In the Throes of Addiction[/fusion_title][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]
In the beginning, leaving the thing behind is difficult. There might be times where you cannot will yourself to do anything else but pace around to avoid the thing that you’ve been addicted to.
Sometimes I stretch, sometimes I pray, sometimes I write, sometimes I clean, but ultimately, I have to hold in mind that what I am striving to get through is lure towards whatever the object of my addiction is. I won’t attain peace of mind until I can do that. Yet peace of mind is difficult when you’re fiending for whatever it is you’re addicted to.
It’s OK. It’s going to be OK. Whatever it is—you don’t need it. If your addiction is food, then this part is a little different for you because you do need food, but you can develop a thought train that at least for the moment can deliver you through the urge.
Peace of mind is the objective, and it comes when you realize that you’ve lowered your addiction to a preference.
It helps to not try to do too much at one time. To be a little easy on yourself. Well-formed addictions have a hold on you. Their tangles are everywhere throughout your thoughts. One seemingly random thing can suddenly lead you back to thoughts about attaining whatever it is you’re addicted to.
A random event in the past, a person, a thing, a smell, and suddenly your thoughts are all off track—it happens before you even realize it.
This is why meditation is helpful. In the beginning, meditation can be harmful if you can’t control your thoughts. But once you gain more control, meditation is a great vehicle to use to gain an overall awareness of the tenor of your thoughts.
Be strong. Willpower is good to exert. Self-discipline leads to success. Small victories boost self-esteem. Stay honest with yourself. Pure thoughts, pure emotions.
Keep your higher ideal in mind. Your ultimate objective. The thing you most want. The thing that you want so bad that you don’t want whatever it is you’re addicted to.
You might allow yourself to get angry. Fuck you, addiction! Fuck you. You can really lather yourself up in the anger. Addiction covers up all sorts of emotions. It’s a coping mechanism. Let the emotions come out and experience them. It might be painful. This can be cathartic and help you move on.
Adopt the whatever it takes attitude. Whatever it takes—I’ll get through. Expect success. This addiction can’t beat you. Hell no. You’re better than that.
Look disdainfully at the lure. Say, I know what you’re trying to do to me, and I don’t accept it. I’m pure. I’m in control. I’m purposeful. I’m better than you, addiction.
Get used to the silence. Don’t constantly feel the need/urge to be doing something. Sit around and don’t feel guilty. Don’t watch TV during this time, don’t read books, don’t think. Just sit. Bask in the glow of life. Look at everything and experience its beauty. Beauty in front of me, beauty behind me, beauty to my left, beauty to my right. Beauty everywhere!
You can do it. Put it behind you. Carry on. Recognize the past and who you were and forgive that person. Say, I understand. I understand what you were going through and you didn’t know it would lead to this and its OK now because I’m back. I don’t need that addiction anymore—nevermore!
Cast your gaze high. Consider what inspires you. Think about what inspires you. Shift your thoughts to only those things which uplift. Let yourself be lifted. Remember, whatever it takes.
Get through the moment, get through the day—and do it over again. The feelings might come back again, but you’ve experienced victory and you are stronger now. Thing of how strong you are. You’re a rock. Unfazed. You can stare it in the face and say, “Get away!” And cast your gaze elsewhere and never look back.
Fuck addiction. It destroys. It’ll destroy you. Addiction is everything you despise in yourself and others. You see it everywhere. Forget it. Overcome it. Don’t acknowledge it. Think only of the strength of yourself and the strength of others to overcome it. Think how powerful we all are. How smart. How intelligent. We won’t let our capacity to self-immolate take control of our lives. We know we have a choice.
Two roads.
Two sides of our personalities.
The strong side—powerful, appealing, energetic. And the weak side—slumped over and withered. Yeah, we’ve been that weak side, but no more. We’re moving on from that. All of us. Cast the addictions aside and bask in the beauty of a glorious, victorious self-control.
Strength. Honor. Purity. Calm. Peace.
Those are the feelings you get when you overcome your addiction. And when that happens you’re a better person. The world is a better place. You’re more encouraging. You’re more forthright. You’re more honest.
And until that happens, you’re miserable.
Kick it. Kick the habit, kick the addiction that is no longer serving you.
When addiction strikes, read these words and think these thoughts. They will support you and sustain you and get you through.
You can do it.
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