Addictions are not formed overnight. An addiction connotes a mental habit of becoming attached to something
on which you have become dependent. We commonly think of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, coffee etc. to be objects of addiction.
However, a habit can be as addictive; be it playing cards, sex, watching TV, gossiping, or anything else that you
cannot help but do. If for some reason you are unable to indulge in the habit or activity to which you are addicted, it leads
to tremendous discomfort, frustration, anger, or even unbearable physical pain (as in drug addiction).
Needless to
say, all addictions are undesirable. Addiction builds its fetters around you making you an inmate in your self-created prison.
If a simple thing like not having tea or coffee can spoil your day and make you unfit for efficient work, then whither enlightenment?
When you give in to addictions, you give up freedom.
Habits or addictions spring from
constant repetition of certain actions. These actions may have been repeatedly performed due to ignorance or under
the influence of wrong judgement. Sometimes simple actions too have a snowballing effect. Habits become ingrained in the mind
depending on how often they are repeated as well as the will of the person. A weak-willed person becomes a slave of habit
sooner than a strong-willed person.
In order to overcome an addiction or undesirable habit, we have to adopt a 'contrary'
approach. Here one needs to understand how an action that is opposite in nature to the pertinent habit will help. It may be
next to impossible to wipe out a habit and let a vacuum or void take its place. In the beginning, we should strive to replace
it with something positive.
For instance, if you smoke, it may a good idea to bite into a piece of clove or candy
or something harmless instead. True freedom will never entail replacing a greater evil by a lesser evil, and yet practically,
this may be very difficult to achieve except by a select few.
Let us also remember the basic facts about thoughts
that influence action. In fact all action springs from thoughts. That is the seed and the cause to the effect.
The
fact that every action is repeated is an indicator of the fact that the thought or thoughts behind it are repeated too. Thus
to revert an action we have to revert our thoughts. By reiterating a positive thought we move easily towards the corresponding
actions.
Thus, at a basic level we need to dive deep into the mind from where thoughts
emerge. We need to consciously imbue the mind with positive thoughts or affirmations. To overcome a particular habit
or addiction you need to formulate an appropriate affirmation which strengthens the corresponding positive qualities.
For
instance, if you want to give up smoking, think of the positive state you would be in, when you are free of this habit. Say
to yourself: "I am free. I am happy, healthy and poised. I can do whatever I want, whenever I wish, independently." If you
are given top frivolous gossiping and now feel it is time to shed this habit, affirm to yourself: "I am calm and filled with
s deep silence. I turn inward to discover joy and freedom. I radiate friendliness and love to all."
Repeat this regularly
following the rules of affirmation outlined in this section, until it melts into your subconscious, from where by penetrating
your superconscious it will automatically bounce back to start influencing your conscious physical and mental habits and thought
patterns.
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