Whats your poison? Whats the payoff?
February 2nd 2008 11:54
I was talking recently with a cousin who asked how another relative was after having gastric band surgery to deal with his obesity. The rather sad news was that it simply hadn't been as successful as he hoped or that I imagine the doctors would have liked. It has been no fault of the surgeon or the procedure. This person loves their food and the habits that led to them seeking this surgery are simply still there playing thier part in his life.
The cousin who sat before me had just given up smoking. I know it is not the first time but she feels confident it will be her last. She knows her triggers and she knows her weaknesses. Most of all though she truly wants to give up.
We have so many addictions or poisons to choose from. There are the obvious ones like drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling. Then there are the more insidious and not as obvious such as drama, approval, being the victim, being the martyr, and even physical illness. Each addiction is a game we continually choose to play and like any game we play because there is something to gain or win.
Now the obvious question is "What the hell do you win with heroin addiction/ a bad back/ being constantly stressed/etc?" The answer to this can be answered quite simply- "You get to live life just a little less, hell sometimes a whole lot less."
Living life less serves us well as we can hide behind the excuse of our addiction. It saves us from reaching out to taste our dreams and experience all we imagine. On one level our addictions protect us from the hurt and dissappointment we would have "suffered" if they didn't work out. But they also stop us from the fun of trying, and the joy of exploring our passion.
The less we do this then the more comfortable we are to stay disconnected from our passion. We are safe and we know how the game is played. Why swap it for a game where we don't know the rules.
Next time you dream of writing a book, learning to skydive, making a pavlova, going for a walk, not having that next piece of chocolate, applying for a job, biting your tongue, speaking up, starting a new study course, asking that girl/guy out,............. and you hear that voice that says "your not good/smart/thin/special/worth y/handsome/beautiful enough" then you have the true source of your excuse and your addiction.
We can blame nicotine, alcohol, abuse as a child or slow metabolism but the real source is that voice within us. The key is learning that it aint always right.....
One of my favorite quotes is from Van Gogh
"If you wish to paint but a voice inside you says 'do not paint' then paint anyway and that voice will be silenced"
Our heart and soul will never stop us from pursuing our dreams and passions. Our minds though enjoy rehashing past dissappointments and are just a little over active at protecting us. In the new energy we can bring them all into balance, working together harmoniously to create amazing things. When all parts of us work in balance we create magic and we do it magicly. No drug, ailment or excuse can compete with that.
The cousin who sat before me had just given up smoking. I know it is not the first time but she feels confident it will be her last. She knows her triggers and she knows her weaknesses. Most of all though she truly wants to give up.
We have so many addictions or poisons to choose from. There are the obvious ones like drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling. Then there are the more insidious and not as obvious such as drama, approval, being the victim, being the martyr, and even physical illness. Each addiction is a game we continually choose to play and like any game we play because there is something to gain or win.
Now the obvious question is "What the hell do you win with heroin addiction/ a bad back/ being constantly stressed/etc?" The answer to this can be answered quite simply- "You get to live life just a little less, hell sometimes a whole lot less."
Living life less serves us well as we can hide behind the excuse of our addiction. It saves us from reaching out to taste our dreams and experience all we imagine. On one level our addictions protect us from the hurt and dissappointment we would have "suffered" if they didn't work out. But they also stop us from the fun of trying, and the joy of exploring our passion.
The less we do this then the more comfortable we are to stay disconnected from our passion. We are safe and we know how the game is played. Why swap it for a game where we don't know the rules.
Next time you dream of writing a book, learning to skydive, making a pavlova, going for a walk, not having that next piece of chocolate, applying for a job, biting your tongue, speaking up, starting a new study course, asking that girl/guy out,............. and you hear that voice that says "your not good/smart/thin/special/worth y/handsome/beautiful enough" then you have the true source of your excuse and your addiction.
We can blame nicotine, alcohol, abuse as a child or slow metabolism but the real source is that voice within us. The key is learning that it aint always right.....
One of my favorite quotes is from Van Gogh
"If you wish to paint but a voice inside you says 'do not paint' then paint anyway and that voice will be silenced"
Our heart and soul will never stop us from pursuing our dreams and passions. Our minds though enjoy rehashing past dissappointments and are just a little over active at protecting us. In the new energy we can bring them all into balance, working together harmoniously to create amazing things. When all parts of us work in balance we create magic and we do it magicly. No drug, ailment or excuse can compete with that.
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