The term addict is just a label.
It is never who you are and you can always move on.
You are not your addiction,
You are whole and complete.
Welcome to this series of Reflection Tracks.
In this series I'll talk about habits and addictions in a different way,
To create space for insight and reflection for you,
So that you can see something new from within.
Believe me,
I understand how debilitating habits and addictions can be and I want you to know that there is a way through,
Because a quiet mind is your default state and your habits are an innocent way of helping you,
That you can let go of.
So make yourself a little more comfortable,
Leave everything behind,
Let go of expectations,
Let go of judgment.
There's nowhere to go,
Nowhere you need to be.
Allow yourself the gift of these few moments.
If you feel comfortable to do so,
Close your eyes or lower your gaze.
Let your breathing fall into a deep rhythmic pattern.
There's nothing to attend to,
Nothing to do,
Nowhere to be.
I invite you to listen to today's quote again.
The term addict is just a label.
It is never who you are and you can always move on.
You are not your addiction,
You are whole and complete.
What does this quote mean to you?
How does it resonate within your heart and mind?
Let the words flow through your consciousness.
Allow your thoughts and feelings to come to the surface.
Do you feel a sense of calm,
Longing or tension?
Allow yourself to fully experience all your feelings,
Without judgment or interference.
Merely acknowledging how we feel can be the first step towards inner peace.
Think about where that quote holds true in your life.
Can you see that you're not your addiction?
Think of all the other parts of you,
Friend,
Parent,
Lover,
Listener,
Worker,
Business person.
Reflect on instances where your addiction is just a label,
Bringing them to your awareness.
Now consider any resistance you might have towards the idea.
Are there any thoughts or habits that make it challenging for you to find inner tranquility?
Acknowledge these barriers without criticism,
Simply observe them.
It's normal to encounter resistance and recognising it as a powerful step towards seeing something different.
If it pleases you,
Take some time to journal your thoughts.
It's also valid to just relax and listen to the music.
Our aim is towards a quieter mind.
I'll give you a few moments to do this.
I'll share a story with you that highlights this quote.
For some time I've worked with people in prison and I worked with someone who was a heroin addict.
He would get really angry and scary when he got annoyed or insecure.
He would demand things of people.
After our groups he started to find some inner peace.
He started to settle down.
He started to have a cleaner lifestyle.
He stopped taking heroin.
He stopped taking drugs of all sorts and he started to be helpful.
One day he had a moment and he did something naughty and he got found out and he got shipped to a different prison.
When this happens they take you without any notice and your clothes and your belongings follow.
Now this fella had a bit of an addiction to designer clothes.
He loved his designer clothes.
He even had a laugh about how he would hang his Louis Vuitton pants on the bars of his cell,
The dirty stinky prison.
A couple of weeks passed and he didn't receive his clothes and he ranted and raved and caused a big fuss.
And all of a sudden one day he woke up and he was reading a book I'd given him and he suddenly realized that all the labels he'd put on himself in his life,
The label of addict,
The label of violent,
The label of criminal,
They all meant nothing because inside he was a peaceful person and he wanted to make a difference in the world.
And as he lay there in the morning sun contemplating this new soul,
He laughed out loud and he realized that all the labels he was addicted to in his clothing were just that.
That a pair of pants is a pair of pants.
That a shirt is just a shirt.
And that when labels don't define you,
You can find inner peace.
Does this story help you see in the quote in a different light for yourself?
I'll give you some more time to sit with your reflections.
Please don't worry if you can't see anything new right now.
You've already opened your mind to new possibilities and insight will follow in time.
If you feel called to go deeper into this practice,
Consider exploring the playlist in my profile called Addictions and my course on Overcoming Habits and Addictions.
This course provides a deeper look at the nature of addiction and how you can create sustainable recovery and clarity.
As we conclude this reflection,
Remember that the term addict is just a label.
It is never who you are and you can always move on.
You are not your addiction.
You are whole and complete.
Allow yourself to find the grace and patience needed for this journey.
Lots of love.
