At the Joy retreat that we do, I spoke with someone struggling with an addiction. He has recovered from it; he was so bitter that he was addicted to taking cocaine.

I told him to do an exercise of gratitude to be grateful to the addiction.

Of course, addiction is horrible. Maybe if you hadn’t had the addiction to take you through that tough time, you probably wouldn’t be alive, so thank it for helping you survive that terrible moment and then let it go.

The reason is that sometimes the energy at which we do a thing can determine the quality of a relationship. If you should stay angry and bitter about the addiction, you get locked in a space of bitterness and unforgiveness and that cycle can instinctively lead you back into that addiction.

But when you constantly, mindfully break that addiction into the light of your consciousness, you say something like this:

“I understand why I was addicted, but I know that addiction is not good for me. Therefore, I’m going to replace that addiction with something else that can help me without the damage.”

You will be doing this in a peaceful, mindful, conscious way, enables you replace the bad habit with a better habit.

Struggling, resisting, denying only repeats the cycle of the addiction again. You know it’s important to be grateful for the life that we’ve lived, a life of gratitude is a life of wasted moment.

Instead, look at your past, be grateful for bringing you here and keep it moving.

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Michael Isaac

Michael is a dynamic writer who is still exploring the nuances of life and being human. When I’m not writing, I’m out with friends or spending nice time alone watching movies or TV Shows.
Michael is available on Twitter and Instagram @TheMichaelFaya