Can God Help You Quit Your Addiction?

In my book I did mention God several times.  I didn't want my book "I Quit!" to be religious, but I wanted it to rather be a spiritual book in a way.  I know from my own personal experience that if I didn't give up my addiction by letting each one go, I wouldn't have been as successful as I am.

Oh, I may have been able to quit each addiction, but it wouldn't have been as easy as it is now.  I'm not saying I'm special at all, it's just that I took the path of believing God would help me---and He did.

I think I'm going to take a turn with my work and my writing, bringing God more into it, since that's really what helped me to quit my 3 addictions.  It's the truth, period.

And it's beautiful to me too....that I didn't do it all on my own......

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It's Easter

I'm going out to breakfast with my family so I didn't have time to wait for the gym to open today.  But I wanted to get in a mile walk in so that I still could exercise today.

As I was walking I was thinking about Easter and what it means.  For Christians it's a sacred day, signifying the day Jesus rose from the dead.  What is the analogy here regarding addictions?

I think it's that we always have another chance to win.  If you fail day after day trying to quit your addiction, you always have tomorrow, and tomorrow could be the day that you quit and your life will forever be changed.

Just my thought on my walk this morning........

Happy Easter...

To Quit Your Addiction You Must Be Relentless

I was watching a religious program the other morning and the minister was talking about how one must be relentless to have a relationship with God.

I then thought that in order for us to accomplish anything worthwhile in this life, most times we must become relentless.  Think about the big things in life---getting a college degree, learning to drive a car, getting your body into the shape you would like it---these things all take being dedicated and relentless.

Addictions are the same way I believe. When you decide to quit your addiction, you may be surprised to find that it's relatively easy.....for a period of time.  Then the doubts may come in.  Will I be able to quit my entire life?  Will I get cravings, and if I do, how will I respond?  Will I go back to my addiction?

You must become relentless at this point.  It may start by having to talk yourself out of taking that cigarette or drink.  Every time you seemingly almost give in, then don't give in you become stronger.  Then the times you think of starting your addiction again become less and less.

But until you get to that point, learn to become relentless.  In becoming relentless you never have to be addicted again.

Habits and Addiction

I was driving back from the gym today after having done a few errands afterwards.  I got to thinking how "un-fun" working out and doing errands really is.  I'd rather putter around at home where it's warm, than be out in the cold (although the weather was in the 50's).

But.....I almost always work out on Sunday mornings.  And I usually do some errands after I work out.  It's a habit, so I don't have to think about it anymore.  If I started wondering.......hmm....do I really need to work out today?  Or if I think that I have so much to do that I don't have time to work out......I could get used to not working out.

So I don't ask myself what I feel like.  Who cares about what I "feel" like.  I know that I always feel better after I work out, my clothes fit better, I'm healthier. 

And the good thing about habits---think about this---once you establish a habit, you don't have to do the back and forth thinking about it.  The decision has been made!  It makes life easier for you.  You don't have all that mental anguish thinking of all of the reasons why you should put off quitting your addiction, working out---whatever.

Habits are great!

Happy Valentine's Day

The thing about being addicted to drugs, alcohol or binge eating is that it’s not very romantic to anyone else who has any sense in their head. Addicts don’t get many Valentine’s Day cards. If you’re trying to quit, or already have quit, don’t wallow in lost love or all those stupid things that have been done and can’t be undone, even though they make you feel alone this time of year. This year, be your own Valentine.

Plan something that will make you happy on Valentine’s Day. Go see a movie, visit a good friend or sympathetic relative. Splurge a little on a gift or a special meal.
Spend the exact amount of money you would have spent on a drink, a pack of cigarettes or a super-size box of Oreo cookies. Put a red bow on your little splurge. Write a note in red ink that says, Happy Valentine’s Day to Me, sign it, seal it up in an envelope and open it on Valentine’s Day. (I know it may sound corny, but it won't if you do it!)

Studies show that people stress over holidays because of the money involved or because it puts them in situations they can’t control -- like being forced to spend time with negative people. Don’t do it. Don’t spend money if you don’t have it. Don’t make any plans involving people who are negative, or who will indulge in those same addictions you don’t want to be anywhere around. Don’t get stressed.

Happy Valentine's Day....

Do You Have to Know Why You're Addicted?

For years when I was drinking I thought that the only way I could ever quit was to figure out why I was drinking. I read books, watched tv talk shows like Phil Donahue (he had psychologists and the like on a lot) and read magazine articles trying to figure it out. I never really found out, and I haven't had a drink in almost 22 years.

On the day that I quit drinking it hit me like a ton of bricks---I didn't need to know why I drank, just so that I was done with drinking. I may figure it out down the road, and I may not. I saw clearly on that day that the most important thing I could do was to quit drinking. Then it didn't really matter in the long run why I drank because drinking wasn't going to be an issue for me anymore anyway.

I think that most people think like I did initially---that you have to find out why you are addicted, then when you do it will magically fall away on its own. It doesn't work that way.

But the good news is, you don't need to know why you're addicted. You just need to quit.