Moving On Beyond Addiction

You may not see yourself as an addict. However, my take on our society is that we are almost all addicted to something. It may not be alcohol or drugs, but it could be shopping, gambling, relationships, work, travelling, and more. 

Dr. Gabor Mate, an expert on addiction,  describes his addiction to purchasing music. He would addictively go into music stores and buy records and CDs.  

Besides substance addiction, the real rage I see for most of us is process addiction, which is more acceptable in our society as being just fine.

Work, for example, is one of the most accepted addictions in modern times. Yet, it destroys health and relationships. 

Let’s look the first step in a Twelve step program:

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction- that our lives have become unmanageable.

Once the addict has admitted they are not able to stop on their own, the recovery process can begin.

The process of recovery can be a long and painful one. When the application of the program is rigorous, and regular recovery becomes a way of life.

We will always be addicts.

We will always be in recovery.

And the hope is there is life beyond addiction as we take steps to know ourselves at the deepest level. Call it the authentic self or the true self, which was masked by the use of the addiction.  

 I coach addicts who have some recovery and are ready to go beyond addiction with a deeper, more fulfilling life.

My work has led me to go beyond the twelve steps into a model that can help us lead a life more aligned with our true nature. 

 Here is the first step:

Moving On Step 1: I am accountable for my life - my life is guided by my intention.

Try it for yourself and see if it resonates with your life and how you want to live.

Addiction is a separation from your authentic self.

You cannot give to others what is not operational within yourself. 

There is a knowing inside of you that has been there since you were born. It is so close and intimate that you might not realize it is, and always has been available for you. 

Amid the endless voices giving you direction about your upbringing, relationships, and family history, this knowing has remained clear and unique to you. This is your Essential Self, your authentic self.

As an adult, you are unaware of the trauma of the historical teachings stored in your nervous system, which have created the illusion of separation from your Essential Self.

To adjust to life, you have been born into, adapted to, and then chosen, you have used certain forms of self-abuse and turned them into addictions. 

There are two parts of addiction you are not aware of, and both initially contribute to the alleviation of your pain.  First, the obsession of the mind is powerfully operative on a moment to moment basis. It drives you to use your “drug” of choice, whether it be substance or process. For example, one of the most socially acceptable forms of addiction is work. You work as though there is no tomorrow, head buried in tasks at hand. Your mind tells you the only way to succeed is to prove your value through your results. It also makes sure you do not ask for help because teamwork will take away from the accolades you will receive. Your ego loves the accolades.

Second, the body craves the “high” produced by engaging in your addiction. You are pushed into using the drug over and over again. It is inescapable because your brain carries the signature of the “drug” and gives you the rush. Until it is too late, and you are no longer excited by the “high” and live the obsession as a way of life. 

Living in separation from your true self in obsession is soul debilitating, exhausting, and bone-crushing drudgery.

Is there a way to change your experience?

Most certainly, there is. The first step is to start a recovery program. The first step of recovery is abstinence. 

Recovery comes with many benefits. You become keenly aware of how your brain brings forward the self-talk that using your drug of choice is okay.

As you dedicate yourself to a life free of your drug, stability starts to re-enter your life. Most importantly is your conscious awareness of how you are thinking, speaking, and behaving. 

Moving On Beyond Addiction is a way of life.  I have designed this way of life-based on my recovery.  Reconnection to my true self and living with the clarity and purpose that comes from knowing my Essential Self is guiding my journey.

As part of Moving On Beyond Addiction, I have undertaken to use the model of the twelve step program to provide a framework for restoring your connection to your Essential Self.

Today, I have provided you with steps two and three.

Moving On beyond Addiction Step Two: 

 Came to believe I am good, loving, compassionate, and creative and that I am restored to wholeness.

Moving On Beyond Addiction Step Three:

Made a decision to accept my wholeness, including my will, and live my life connected to my Essential Self.

Accepting anything other than your wholeness is an illusion you have lived and worked with as though it were true.

 We anchor ourselves in the original knowing that we were born with when we move beyond addiction.  So our thoughts, and actions contribute to the aliveness of our authenticity instead of feeding the illusion of separation. 

This journey is an exciting one, in which you can be filled up with all that life has to offer you. I’m excited to have you on the journey with me.

If you are looking for a community, come on over to our Facebook closed group, Moving On Beyond Addiction. We are building a community to share our journey and all that goes with it.

All my best