Chude Jideonwo

At the Joy retreat that we do, I said to somebody once – he was struggling with an addiction, and he has recovered and he was so bitter, so angry that he was addicted to taking cocaine. I said, “No, no need for anger,” I told him to do an exercise of gratitude to be grateful to the addiction. 

Of course, addiction is horrible, but you know, maybe if you hadn’t had that 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 it. 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 consciously, mindfully bring that addiction into the light of your consciousness, then you say, “I understand why this helped me, I understand how it helped me, 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.”

Doing [this] in a peaceful, mindful, conscious way, enables you replace the bad habit with a better habit. Struggling, resisting, denying only locks you in a cycle where you will repeat the behaviour again. 

You know. it’s important to be grateful for the life that we’ve lived, a life of ingratitude is a life of wasted moments, instead, look at your past and be grateful for bringing you here and keep it moving.