Copyright © 2011 Prism Light Press
Smashwords Edition
All Rights Reserved.
Published by
Prism Light Press
PO Box 625, Tallahassee, FL 32302
www.prismlightpress.com
Manufactured in the United States of America.
ISBN 978-0-9830357-7-0
PRISM
LIGHT
PRESS
Contents
Introduction
Chapter
One: The Spiritual Meaning of Addiction
The
Blame and Guilt Game
Chapter
Two: First Tool - Ask Spirit for Help, Listen for the Answer
Prayer and Meditation
Chapter
Three: Second Tool - Change Your Self-Image
Visualization and Being Impeccable with Your Word
Chapter
Four: Third Tool - Get a Little Help From Your Friends
Finding the Right Church, 12-Step Program or Spiritual Community
Chapter Five:
Fourth Tool - Change Your Mental Diet
What are
You Reading, Watching and Listening to?
Chapter
Six: Fifth Tool - Express Your Divinity
Using
the Arts for Emotional Healing
Chapter
Seven: Sixth Tool - Forgiving Yourself and Others
Forgiveness of Self, Forgiveness of Others, There is Nothing to
Forgive
Chapter
Eight: Seventh Tool - Exercise & Nutrition
Taking Care of Your Body & Soul
Chapter
Nine: Putting All the Tools Together - Opening Yourself to Total
Transformation
Living in the Now, Experiencing
the Presence
Chapter
Ten: How to Help the Addict You Love
Holding
the “High Watch” for Your Loved Ones as They Battle
Addiction
Chapter
Eleven: My story by John Grooms
For those who love us anyway
Introduction
Our bodies are the living vehicles for Spirit. They are the good and faithful servants of our souls. If we saw someone abusing a horse, we would call the police and have it stopped. However, we see people abusing their bodies on a daily basis and we feel powerless to do anything. But no one can make another person conquer his or her addiction.
So how does someone give up an addiction? It seems impossible. When I was a young woman, the idea of a day without drugs was a dark prospect indeed. I lived for heroin, methadone, cocaine, whatever was available. I was not living for myself, and I certainly wasn’t on track to a purposeful, meaningful life. You may say, “Well, I’m not into anything like that. I smoke cigarettes, and that isn’t nearly as bad.” But there is no doubt that cigarette smoking is dangerous and causes serious and often fatal diseases. Nicotine addiction is so insidious that I have seen cigarette smokers become socially isolated because they can’t give up their habits to ease someone else’s discomfort. Food addicts and people with eating disorders usually know that their addiction can be deadly and at the very least can destroy their self-esteem. And then there are sex addicts who endanger their relationships, put themselves at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and slowly erode their reputations through their addictive behaviors.
All of these substances and behaviors actually have a useful place in the pantheon of human experience. Drugs help ease pain in times of physical trauma, a glass of wine is a wonderful way to relax after a hard day of work, and tobacco is a part of the spiritual tradition of many Native American tribes. We have to eat, and life without sex would be less than fulfilling for most of us and would eventually lead to the end of the human race.
However, addicts—whether they are addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, the Internet or sex—are not in control of their lives. We all have a unique talent, a unique purpose in this life. But the addict’s purpose in life becomes perverted by addiction. It may be that the addiction is part of her spiritual journey but if that is the case, then its purpose is to lead her to a more healthy life and the sooner, the better.