As we understand from our daily experiences of setbacks, our struggles are not just external but deeply rooted within our own psychological make-up. The diversity in personalities and character flaws indicates that the tools needed to achieve freedom from addiction—a sign of emotional and psychological disruption—must be equally varied.
This disruption often originates in our early childhood, a period when we were incredibly vulnerable to outside influences. To achieve complete liberation from these deep-seated issues, it's insufficient to merely change current behavior patterns. We must venture back, delve into our subconscious mind, and carve out a path for true healing.
Healing may involve expressing unresolved anger, managing bouts of rage, or releasing tears for past pains. It could require us to confront traumatic experiences and reframe them within our current perspective. Sometimes, it means navigating through the energies that fuel our depressions. Understandably, this journey is lengthy and fraught with challenges.
There’s a debate on the sequence of addressing these deep issues. Some argue that we must resolve these underlying problems before we can fully stop our addictive behaviors. Others contend that we must first halt the harmful behaviors, employing self-help tactics to gain the strength needed to face these deeper issues. Personally, I advocate for stopping negative behavior patterns first, primarily because these behaviors pose immediate risks to our health.
It’s clear that these negative behavior patterns profoundly impact our emotional state. I hold a firm belief that the physical actions we take can lead our mental processes: if I stop negative behaviors, then, with time, the negativity in my mind will also diminish. By establishing positive behaviors, I nurture positivity in my mental landscape, reinforcing the recovery tools discussed earlier, such as meditation, reading, and creative pursuits, which guide us toward a healthier state of mind.