Addictions.?
One of Jung’s ideas was that addictions are a distortion of a need for spiritual ectasy. The problem is every time you satisfy your craving, it actually takes you further from what you really need.
Sometimes the addiction is just a habit of relating (or not) to other people in certain habitual ways.
Sometimes it’s food.
Sometimes it’s feeling sorry for myself.
I take full responsibility and the way out is staring me in the face.
So why the h*ll do I keep choosing what’s bad for me?
Why the h*ll does the ego fight so hard agains’t our true nature?
How can the ego stand agains’t our true nature?
(On the vino this evening!)
P.s. the vino isn’t one of my addictions.
Ya’s is at the moment? I need your answers, more, more, MORE!!!
Thanks CT, you reminded me of something. I guess it is like walking into a dark wood, the further you go the darker it gets. It must take a lot of confidence to keep going until you come out the other side and see the Sun rise over the ocean.
I’ve heard about the ocean, but those woods are so scary!!!
your bang on their, absolutely……keep trying though.
You ask a really good question. The reason is that the ego needs to be undistorted in order to be able to hold the sense of connection to a higher self/spirit/god. People take up addiction because they are in emotional pain, owing to damage that has happened in their developmental process, as small children. The addiction numbs out the pain, but the work that is really needed is that of psychotherapy, which enables the person to get to grips with the pain, disentangle it, build a functional ego which is strong enough to hold connection to the divine.
If you are interested in this, try reading the book below and/or find a psychosynthesis psychotherapist.
It’s possible that, as Jung thought, that addictions are basically a need for spirituality gone wrong. If that is true, and you believe that, then perhaps you need to substitute spiritual things for the vino. Only a fool consistantly does the same thing, but expects different answers or results. Change what you’re doing and see if you don’t get different results!
We all have addictions that are bad for us,but as of everything else is the control we exercise on this addiction and the matter of excess.My control is the key,help is there,just go and do what is right.I think of other people when my addiction might hurt them, i choose to abstain and find another point for my euphoria,replace a bad addiction with a right one.
its called temptation, extremely hard to resist, but if you put all your faith in god you can conquer these addictions, i am a recovering alcholic and drug addict, i had no love for no one i was a wreck, i cared about people but refused to show any feelings towards anyone or anything, i thought it would be a sign of weakness, but eventually god broke me down, he seeked me, but i tried to fight him of, but in the end i let him into my heart and mind, even though my body was weak and close to failing on me, i found this inner strength that was so great it overwhelmed me, i cried for days about everything i had held in for years, i poured my heart out to my poor girlfriend, who had stuck by me, with in 6 months of these episodes i found myself a detox then a rehab, i had help from a worker that i believe god sent to me, he really believed in me and had faith in me, somthing i hadnt felt for a very long time, my life changed, im now clean and soba 19 months, im not saying its been all plain sailing, but each time temptation is put in front of me, i look to god and remember all hes done for me, and i surpass my temptation, i owe my life to god, and i can still show my emotions with out worrying im weak, i cry to sad films, and sad stories on the news, but its fine, this nothing wrong with having feelings, and this nothing wrong in showing affection, god gave us a heart to love, so open your heart to god, let him in to your life, dont be ashamed. god bless everyone.
As T.S. Eliot put it: “mankind cannot bear much reality”. Sometimes looking ourself in the face or, more painfully, delving deep down into the soul, brings us up against things which we don’t like. I think at such times we might take refuge in addiction as an escape from this uncomfortable reality. As we ignore our inner selves, we ignore the consequences of our addiction. We become more and more adept at finding excuses for what we do. When we run out of excuses, we just indulge ourselves anyway. I am interested in what you say about our true nature. Which, after all, is our true nature? The good part of us which resists, or the bad part of us which gives way? St Paul in Romans 7 v. 14-25 describes his own inner struggle. It seems to be something which will inevitably dog us until we leave this earth.
Why do we try to satisfy the mind by satisfying the body?
Every time we smoke a cannabis enhanced cigarette, we become less aware, less in control.
Every time we drink an alcoholic beverage, we become less aware, less in control.
This is the reason why it is addictive. Our bodies like the feeling that they are free from the control of our minds.
We are no longer in control, we are no longer aware. How then, can we have awareness of the world around us, and react to it in a controlled manner?
Regardless of legalities and religious standing, any substance that alters the mind’s functioning should be rejected, as it can interfere with our capability to become who we wish to be.
Addictions, no matter how harmless to the addict, are harmful to the addict’s lifestyle and how they react. Therefore, is it not safe to say that they are hamful to the addict’s families and friends?
To say ‘I will never kill a man’, then to drown in a bottle of vodka means I may as well have not said a word.
This is a classic case of “the best things in life are illegal, immoral, and fattening!”
Cheers!
Blimey mate, go and do some hard physical labour!!!
When we are about 4-5 years, we are curious, spontaneous, looking forward to life in all it’s wonder.
We are rapidly conditioned to take life more seriously! Grow up! The fun is over!
After layers of conditioning, entrenched belief systems, socially acceptable etiquette, schooling, etc., that original ‘nature’ is well hidden. And we miss it.
We feel like something is missing and fill that hole with ‘stuff’…cars, houses, clothes, vacations, friends, relationships, booze (vino), etc., etc. The void seems to be gaping (this is true for some of the wealthiest people in the world!) We are missing our genuine ‘self’…that little gal/guy who felt at home in his own skin. The one who watched the inch worm wriggle up a tree for the highlight of the day!.
Our natural/eternal essence never gives up until we find our way ‘back’.
There’s only one way home and that is to ‘touch’ as often as possible ‘reality’…being with life ‘as it is’.
There’s a great book “As It IS” by Tony Parsons (UK). I highly recommend this book!!! You’ll find lots of answers in this one.
If you accept and work with your addictions you may be able to gradually wear them down or replace them with more harmless ones. Coffee is a big one for me so I’m gradually taking the opportunity to replace it with a cup of hot water.
The ego does struggle away in surprising ways supplying all sorts of rationale for weakening your resolve but that will in the end respond to techniques such as prayer or meditation.
Good luck and take care.