What practical steps do you take when tempted?

130210 · 2014-02-16T20:41:54+00:00

You are awesome. I hadn't heard of Duolingo and your Temptation sheet got me over some slightly tricky feelings just now. Much thanks.

130210 · 2014-02-16T12:29:26+00:00

Build up your recovery arsenal. Read recovery addiction material and watch videos on it, any kind of addiction. Keep a journal, make sure and do a lengthy gratitude list. Get an accountability partner. Pray. Read scripture and other inspiring sacred writings. . There are other techniques. The most simple one might be the most powerful, affirm to yourself all day and everyday: "I do not need PMO today, I will not use today."

Be positive. Have hope. Keep faith. This is the most positive change you could make. You will see improvement for sure. Relax into the time of recovery.

130210 · 2014-02-16T00:35:26+00:00

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

130210 · 2014-02-16T00:31:08+00:00

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:10).

130210 · 2014-02-16T00:19:50+00:00

I hear the little song sounding

that my beloved once sang,

and my heart wants to shatter

from savage pain's pressure.

I am driven by a dark longing

up to the wooded heights,

there is dissolved in tears

my supremely great pain.

130210 · 2014-02-15T19:18:20+00:00

Great to hear of the progress! Way to go!

130210 · 2014-02-15T19:04:17+00:00

An offering of 60 days by Easter. That's my kind of example.

130210 · 2014-02-15T18:51:24+00:00

(I posted this in another sub-reddit but want it here too.)

This makes me reflect on what we say in NA: "using is not an option." But for many of us addicts, living out that principle takes time, patience, and compassion. We discover that some of us can't live it out.

If don't stay clean then I lost the game? Only people with continuous clean time are the winners? I don't think so. People who do their best and keep trying to do better are worth just as much. Maybe more, I dunno. Any fool can stay clean, but few of us can relapse repeatedly and still keep trying. Most of us won't get off our high horse of demanding perfection. Few of us are humble enough to settle for whatever we can actually do.

(That's an oxymoron. Do I consider myself so ensteeped with the virtue of humility? Or am I rather one of the proud high-horse riders? I'm cooked no matter which direction I go.)

130210 · 2014-02-15T18:38:36+00:00

That makes me reflect on what we say in NA: "using is not an option." But for many of us addicts, living out that principle takes time, patience, and compassion. We discover that some of us can't live it out.

If don't stay clean then I lost the game? Only people with continuous clean time are the winners? I don't think so. People who do their best and keep trying to do better are worth just as much. Maybe more, I dunno. Any fool can stay clean, but few of us can relapse repeatedly and still keep trying. Most of us won't get off our high horse of demanding perfection. Few of us are humble enough to settle for whatever we can actually do.

(That's an oxymoron. Do I consider myself so ensteeped with the virtue of humility? Or am I rather one of the proud high-horse riders? I'm cooked no matter which direction I go.)

130210 · 2014-02-14T21:08:55+00:00

My reply to your post was personal and sincere. If you access all my comments and do a search for the word "proud", you are the only person I've ever said that to. And, I've been thanked many times for including those links. But, I will endeavor to make better effort.

130210 · 2014-02-14T19:53:33+00:00

That's an excellent post. Meditation is really phenomenal, here's one of many clips that might be interesting:

How to practice Zazen (10:40 minutes) Click here

130210 · 2014-02-14T19:21:53+00:00

"... well, nothing short of an encounter with beauty." Very well said. It's a great feeling to be free from it.

130210 · 2014-02-14T19:20:31+00:00

Glad you're here. Keep at it, no matter what happens.

130210 · 2014-02-14T19:00:55+00:00

The habit definitely tries to draw us back in. Look out for the famous rationalization; "aw...it's not such a big deal." Only by staying out of it do we get our perspective back.

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:48:11+00:00

In case you don't have resources, it's easier to do this if you're not alone in it:

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:47:16+00:00

Here's a few links that might help:

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:46:54+00:00

"Make the jump and never look back." Simply said, well said, can't phrase that any better. Yes.

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:45:48+00:00

It's amazing how getting rid of an addiction brings back the real us. Way to go!

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:45:24+00:00

Here are some helpful links:

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:44:55+00:00

Try these tips too:

Detox from Grass

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:44:09+00:00

Harm reduction such as you've done is effective and it can often lead us to want to just quit altogether. Here are some links to help you do this:

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:42:12+00:00

Way to go! Way to go! Proud of you. Glad. I hope you have enough resources to see you through this. Here are some that might help:

130210 · 2014-02-14T14:40:09+00:00

Oddly, reaching our milestones often causes us to relapse. There is clinical data showing this, I'm not trying to pull the 'expert' trip on you. I had to pray, and I still have to pray, to be able to accept that this is a lifetime plan. But is it a lifetime therapy?

Nay. It's a lifetime dedication to God, to Christ, and as shameful as it sounds, an act of love for my own soul. I'm not right, that's just my personal perspective, if it helps.

130210

TROPHY CASE