Deprivation, Indulgence
and Addiction
Today's lesson and inspiration require that you dig deep into the wells of your memories to pull from them the old
causes and injuries that are keeping you from your goals. (Just writing that has made me sit
straighter.)
Here we go, stay with me because the
ride will be a bit bumpy but well worth the trip.
Everyone has
suffered a hardship; some more than others, but we all go through stuff. Whether
real or imagined the outcomes are real for those who endure.
Most of our
hardship results in a feeling of lack or deprivation. When there has been a
sense of deprivation there is also a need to make up for or compensate so we tend
to go in the other direction and overindulge. Overindulgence will often lead to
an addiction, but not always in the classical sense. A person addicted to
certain foods may be able to avoid them for long periods of time but then
return to that food with a vengeance.
The
deprivation may have been in the area of love and affection which can result in
an addiction towards attention seeking behaviors or even sex addiction. In some
cases, a person who is deprived of love will go in the opposite direction and
overindulge in seclusion, shutting themselves off from the potential of future
hurt. In cases like this a person will avoid even the kindest greeting, simply
because they are afraid to get too close which the believe will only result in more
loss.
The
addiction can be more obvious and harmful as is the case with drugs and
alcohol, but sometimes it can be as simple and seemingly harmless as shopping
for shoes.
What we avoid we crave and what we
crave we eventually overindulge in.
Today’s lesson is in two parts; the
first asks you to be honest with yourself about yourself and no one else. Avoid
trying to figure out the issues or problems of someone else until you have conquered
all of your own (I think you know that this will be a lifelong quest.)
Ask yourself
the following:
·
What
are my patterns? What do I return to? What do I crave and need?
·
Where
does this come from? When did it begin? What do I feel that I missed? What do I
yearn for?
The second part requires that you begin to seek a way out of your pattern
of deprivation, indulgence and addiction. While you cannot go back in time, you
can deal with your present condition.
·
Who
do you need to forgive? (Make sure you include yourself in your list.)
·
When
you crave something, you need something else; what is it that you really need?
·
Gradually
begin to replace your craving with the thing you need most.
I know that this is a big challenge and I know that you are up to it. I
also know that we are in this together.
Be you, be real be fulfilled.
Bertice Berry, PhD.
This is truly a life changing message. Thank you. -Dionne Langford-
ReplyDeleteThank you for this Great Reminder that there's so much, so close to be discovered/rediscovered that can add positiveness & a sense of "fulfillment" to our lives. I will definately make sure to make this Summer one filled with educational/recreational activities that draw out of me inspiration to work on & continue my journey. Also, while on my particular journey, it adds to the "Wisdom Water Well" reservoir within me/us that needs clear, stress free & healthy deposits and in turn our soul has a nice place for "refreshment" to help fight the sometimes hot and uncomfortable battles we must face in our individual "daily realities" & daily struggles. You provide a nice balance & encourage the interchange of "incoming & outgoing" internally & externally, the me, the spirit, the world I face and the daily need for power, wisdom, courage & love. Warm thanks, may others truly also be inspired as well. Warm Thanks again, Keep the Wellness Train Jouney going strong! Warmly, j o h n
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