Battling Addiction: 5 Ways to Break the Cycle - Rachel Devine

Addiction takes on many forms, from food to work to drugs, nicotine, and so much more. Addiction can take a powerful hold physically, mentally, and emotionally. But no matter how hopeless it may seem, many paths exist to escape addiction’s grasp. It requires courage, honesty, and using every resource at your disposal. The challenges we face in life can be overwhelming. However, having an addiction in your life will bring more challenges. There are solutions to battling our vices and ways to find happiness in the obstacles.

The first step is honestly recognizing that you have an addiction that is challenging you. Whether it is a food addiction, nicotine, or perhaps alcoholism, these are all life-threatening vices. Whatever the addiction, the first step is admitting you are powerless and that your life has become unmanageable. This is the first step in any 12-step program. Coming to terms with the vice you have is key to breaking the addiction.

Your story

Look at your story when it comes to addiction. If you are trying to lose weight or get off sugar and your story goes like this, “I tried everything to lose weight and give up sugar and nothing is working," you might want to change that story to, “I am willing to do anything to get this weight off and stop eating sugar." You see the big difference, from a negative standpoint to a positive one. Make no mistake about it; your life will move in a positive direction if you feed it positive words. This will help transform your life.

Another example would be, “I can’t stop drinking; it’s in my genes and a generational curse.” This can be changed to say, “I have to look at avenues other people have taken to stop drinking and implement them in my life now.”

No matter how bleak your situation is, it’s better to have a positive viewpoint than a negative one. The positive one will propel you in the direction of healing.

12-step program

Once you admit you have a problem, the next step is to seek professional help or join a 12-step program. There are programs such as AA for alcoholism, NA for nicotine addictions, and OA for overeaters. There are online resources for any 12-step program you seek help with. 12-step programs have been helpful for millions of people. Therapy is also a great way to get help for addictions. Having a life coach in your corner can help as well.

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” John Pierpont Morgan

Remove Temptations

Cut ties with toxic relationships or environments that trigger substance use. Avoiding bars, parties, bakeries, or places frequented when engaging in addiction reduces temptation and reminds you how far you’ve come. Perhaps you want to engage with new friends in a 12-step program. Also, try to keep healthy food in your home; get rid of the alcohol or anything else that will tempt you to stay with the vice. This will make it a little easier.

Adopt healthy habits.

Recovery succeeds best when built on positive new routines like meditation, exercise, journaling, prayer, or music. Simple, healthy daily practices ground you. Channel cravings into these activities instead. Exercise helps activate endorphins, which help people feel good without substances or food. A great tool is to reach out and help someone else. When we help others with their addiction, we find it helps us to take our minds off our own issues, and doing so aides in recovery. Reaching out to help others is a staple in the 12-step world. Prayer is also a way to bring positive energy into your world and stay in faith.

Redirect Thoughts

When addiction cravings surface, immediately shift attention to something positive. Call a friend, play with a pet, work on a hobby, or go for a walk. Refocusing your mind is a skill developed over time. I went to Nicotine Anonymous years ago when I stopped smoking. I remember using a rubber band on my wrist. I would pull the rubber band and gently get a jolt that shifted my thoughts away from wanting to have a cigarette. However, I also incorporated exercise and the nicotine patch to help me with my own vices. The 12-step fellowship really helped me too.

In closing, battling addiction requires absolute commitment, courage to change, and consistent hard work. But it’s important to take that first step: admit there is a problem and seek help. Keep fighting the good fight. The path to recovery starts with ending the denial. You have the power to reclaim your life. The health benefits may add years to your life with your family.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. Courage to change the things we can. And the wisdom to know the difference.

 Substance abuse and mental health services.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack, and both are available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Or you can order an ebook on my website.

These books make great holiday gifts. Take advantage of a sitewide 10% promotion with the code SALE10.

Devine Intervention - The Inner Healing Center

Transform Your Life: A Comprehensive Guide to Living with Purpose - Rachel Devine

Life can be a mundane routine, from taking care of your family to going to work and then doing the same thing over and over again each day, with maybe a vacation in between. Life is not supposed to be a chore. Life is meant to be lived with purpose and meaning.

These are my best 10 steps on how to transform your life. I will show you how to break out of an unfulfilling routine and start living your life to the fullest with meaning, passion, and purpose. Personal transformation awaits you. At the end of this article is a link to, What’s my Purpose in Life Quiz!

1. Identify Areas for Growth

Reflect on all aspects of your life: career, relationships, health, personal growth, and spirituality. Make a list of areas calling for change. Assess which areas need focus first. Journal about your dreams and aspirations that may be sitting on the back burner, perhaps because of time constraints, self-doubt, or a lack of motivation. Just ask yourself, "What do I love doing?" Once you can determine what you love doing in life, your purpose should surface. Although a true purpose in your life has to help humanity in some way,

As psychologist Carl Jung stated, "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." Be diligent in your pursuit of purpose for your life.

2. Overcoming Obstacles

There can be obstacles of self-doubt, lack of confidence, or lack of motivation. Remember, we have one life, and you want to live it to the fullest. Try not to dwell on the self-doubt; rather, be proactive and just put total focus on your purpose. Perhaps you can join a class or get an expert opinion online to enhance your confidence and launch your purpose in life. I started out by joining a writers website online and getting critiques for my writing projects, and that gave me the motivation and confidence to move forward with my writing career. Perhaps these motivational quotes will help.

3. Set Inspiring Goals

Once you establish what you love doing, draft short and long-term goals aligned with your purpose. Make goals specific, measurable, and time-bound. Start with some short-term goals and work your way up from there.

Let your inner dreams guide your goal-setting. You want to celebrate life, not just be on the inside looking out.

4. Visualize a Positive Outcome

Adopt empowering beliefs to support your transformation. Create affirmations that will bring positive results. You can also visualize a positive outcome. See yourself fulfilling your established purpose in the near future. Resonate with the feelings of reaching your intended goals and realizing your purpose. This visualization is powerful before you fall asleep, since your subconscious mind will resonate with the feelings for 8 hours. Do this every night for the best results.

“An awakened imagination works with a purpose. It creates and conserves the desirable, and transforms or destroys the undesirable.” Neville Goddard

5. Make Lifestyle Improvements

Optimize your diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management. Set weekly schedules, ensuring you dedicate time for self-care. Don't neglect your physical needs.

As Roy T. Bennett wrote, "Focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses." "Apply your strengths to overcome your weaknesses."

Audit your daily habits. Cut out activities that waste time without meaning. Introduce new rituals like meditation, affirmations, reading, journaling, and early rising. These routines will feed your inner Spirit.

6. Relationships

Take inventory of who lifts you up and who brings you down. Phase out draining relationships. Devote more time to supportive, inspiring connections aligned with your growth. Try to meet new friends in a group or class that share your values and your purpose. It could be a dance class, a writing workshop, or perhaps an art class. Just joining a class of interest will direct your mindset in a positive direction.

7. Feed Your Mind

Read books, blogs, and podcasts from authors and leaders in line with your vision. Consume empowering, uplifting content daily. Learning is transformation fuel.

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions," said Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Seek new horizons.

8. Express Your Passions

Make more time for activities that inspire you: art, music, sports, writing, and volunteering. Follow calls that ignite your soul. Or get involved in a community cause. These are all ways to bring you closer to following your bliss. Let your passions flow.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. “And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." Steve Jobs

9. Connect to Spirit

Carve out time for reflection through prayer, nature walks, and meditation. Feed your spirit through mindfulness. Listen to inner wisdom for guidance. You want to connect to that Spirit within that gives us guidance and much wisdom on our journey through life. It is the quiet whisper within that speaks the loudest.

"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. "Whoever looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakens," said Carl Jung. Your purpose awaits within. It’s important to manifest your dreams.

10. Attitude of Gratitude

It’s important to be grateful for everything in your life. The law of attraction is clear, like attracts like. The more you are grateful for, the more goodness will come into your life. Gratitude is one of the most important aspects of transforming your life. I suggest you do a gratitude list of at least 5 things you are grateful for every day and read the list out loud. Let gratitude resonate in your world.

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” Meister Eckhart

In conclusion, you have the power within you to transform your life. These are some suggestions. However, ultimately, your success will come because of the decisions you make that will propel you to new heights of passion, purpose, and happiness. You also have the choice of staying in the routine life-style. Remember, the choice is always up to you. We live by the choices we make. By taking ownership of your growth and following these steps with commitment, you open the door to a transformed life of meaning.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack. Books to transform your life!

My new book, Discover the Power of the Secret Within - Create the Life of your Dreams will be available at the end of October, 2023!

Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center

What’s my Purpose in Life Quiz

Please leave a comment on what your purpose is in life. Or contact me with any questions you may have.