One of the major challenges in self-help is that after overcoming dangerous addictions, we often find ourselves without a clear goal for our spiritual or intellectual development. Without a specific goal, how can we make meaningful progress? Simply getting sober from an addiction doesn’t guarantee mental wellness. While overcoming an addiction is a significant step forward, it’s easy to remain stuck in other addictive behavior patterns—whether physical or mental. This is why it’s common for people to replace one addiction with another, like smoking, overeating, or obsessing over sex or money. When these don’t fulfill the need, people might turn to less obvious addictions like negative thinking, excessive worry, OCD-like behavior, or even exercise. But at the root of all these addictions is a desire to distract ourselves from our deepest worries.
To break free from bad habits, it’s crucial to engage the mind through positive sensory inputs. One practical method is to write or draw positive affirmations like “I am happy” and display them prominently where you’ll see them every day. This simple act of repetition can gradually reprogram the mind, overcoming the skepticism that often prevents us from embracing such techniques. This process is similar to how branding works in advertising—subtly influencing our decisions through repeated exposure to certain messages or images.
Just as we unconsciously choose products based on past associations or emotional responses, our preferences and aversions are shaped by our experiences, hormones, and genetic makeup. Understanding these connections can help us identify the triggers behind our choices, whether in consumer goods or lifestyle habits. For instance, you might like a particular color because it reminds you of a happy time in your childhood, or dislike it because of a negative experience.
To promote mental wellness, we must actively prompt our minds toward positivity, relaxation, and goal-setting. The superconscious mind—our relaxed, observing self—can guide us in this process, even if we don’t fully understand its nature. Whether it’s a form of consciousness linked to a higher power or simply a network of neurons, what matters is that we learn to program it effectively.
Daily exposure to positive messages can reinforce our commitment to self-improvement. While we can’t always change our external circumstances, we can change how we react to them. This applies even in the face of physical pain, loss, or anxiety. The first step is to brainwash ourselves into a willingness to continue doing the work without falling off the path. Just as physical fitness requires ongoing effort, so does mental wellness. Even the most enlightened individuals need to maintain their practices until the end of their lives, not because they are disturbed, but because meditation and mindfulness provide strength and inspiration.
For those beginning a wellness journey, I recommend surrounding yourself with reminders of your goals. This could be as simple as placing postcards of beautiful, peaceful places around your home, or taking a daily multivitamin as a symbol of your commitment to health. These rituals are less about the material objects and more about the mindset they reinforce.
Finally, if you’re serious about this journey, consider making dramatic changes, like removing all processed foods from your kitchen. This act of clearing out the old to make way for the new can be a powerful step in creating the life you want.