Overcoming Addictions By Positive Thinking Powers Of Mind &
Yoga
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 & take the help of Yoga & Pranayama.
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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