In this modern age, the habits of distraction have become common and unfortunately socially acceptable. When was the last time you checked your e-mail, text messages, or voicemail? Are you sure nothing is pressing that requires your attention? Are you sure you didn’t miss anything? Well done if you overcame the compulsion to make sure. It has become a fear of losing connection to a source that is artificial and leaves the individual dissatisfied. In procrastination, we seem to be searching for something to fulfill. However, can’t quite hit the mark. What is this craving that is so often filled with flashy outlets meant to stimulate the mind in an unproductive manner? How can we understand it? The mark of an addiction is behavior that we surrender to, despite any detriment to our well-being or health. As children, many of us banded together late at night during sleep-overs and the like. What did we spend our time doing? What void was fulfilled through these activities? However, this isn’t necessarily or entirely about just staying up late. It is the positive associations with bad habits that have nurtured a culture of stagnation. What is this emptiness that must be filled through constant seeking of stimuli? And how can one discover happiness amidst such yearning in a society built around distraction.
Consider the media for a moment and how it is consumed. Why do you believe on this plane such forms of expression are so popular? They bridge the gap and are among the most, able to stimulate instincts that otherwise go unexpressed due to socially constructed blocks. These forms of media consumption become the only manners of understanding blocked expression. Unaddressed out of fear because of laws or communal norms. Tragically, since the individual is never able to break their bindings they are never able to discover fulfillment. This cultivates a very distinct addiction to an outlet that keeps one coming back while at the same time distracting them to the possibilities that lay beyond their own belief. Contentedness of vicarious experience through these means is a stagnative poison. I.E. One who doesn’t believe they could maintain the drive to work out enjoys action movies. One who doesn’t believe they could find the courage to reveal their feelings enjoys maverick protagonists. Being only further inspired through the currents of creation rather than choosing to become the creator. In a recent study on gaming addiction Netta Weinstein at Cardiff University, UK, and her colleagues utilized a nationally representative sample to determine addiction in 2316 Americans. However, as it was determined, not many suffered mental detriment. Further study illuminated that the excessive behavior that formed what was seen as addiction was due primarily to displacement of dissatisfying aspects of their lives. There was most commonly an area of the subjects life which they sought to replace. These same mechanisms facilitate addictions which manifest as stress-eating, drug use, alcohol abuse, and emotionally-based overcompensation. From this we are able to further understand that not only does everything have the capacity to become addicting, but the nature of addiction is distraction. Distraction from what? Why is this distraction being allowed? The answers are inner truth and fear of confrontation. Discover the truth within and be free from external habits that bind as well as restrict grander awareness of self. It is through this awareness that strength to address the crippling nature of society may be cultivated. Conquer yourself and none will conquer you.
Beyond media that is consumed is physical consumption of sustenance. To truly overcome the mind body and spirit must be balanced. Lest one aspect of the self weaken the whole as energy flows throughout the existence. It is no difficult task to find literature which gives validity to correlating a clearer mind, more productive life, and improved quality of perception to a healthy diet. Why then, are so many subjecting themselves to habits which stems their own potential? These readily available foods that contribute to malnutrition stagnate the mind and spirit in their consumption. Bringing the individual to a slower vibrational value in functionality. These habits are expressed when the mind seeks external comfort which more usually than not triggers the release of dopamine. A rather habit-forming chemical that grants the illusion of satisfaction when stimulated in such a manner. Humans have quite successfully designed consumption around a manipulation of psychological cues which coerce addiction for fiscal gain. Then again, this itself should be considered an aspect of nature. Therefore, overcoming it would be the job of the fittest.
"If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please." - Epictetus
Happiness is being free of pain. In embracing pain through discipline we are more apt to survive. This nurtures strength, which is a joy and the path to lasting happiness. Be it spiritual, mental, or physical. This strength is the endurance to exist throughout conflict. Training this strength without compromise or limitation places one before the doors of eternity. People seek joy through disingenuous means and hide from pain at all costs. What they lose sight of is that joy has no depth without pain. It is by seeking pain through self-confrontation that the strength requisite to grasp victory in all aspects of life is cultivated. This is where lasting joy comes from. Ponder, if you would, how much of pain can be categorized as fearful expectation? Why not choose lasting joy over short-term distraction? It is this short-term distraction which creates habits of escape as well as weakness rather than habits of strength. When the individual exists in harmony with themselves and strives to maintain this harmony the other aspects of life follow suit to equalize with the vibrational state of the individual’s nature. The core of their existential sphere. Harmonizing and managing this sphere is what it means to be spiritually mature. To value the expression of your nature over all which would facilitate inner-dissonance.
It has been generally documented that it takes twenty one days to form a habit. Much of the woe associated with making life-changes is the belief that there will be no end to pain. With a time-table this becomes easier to overcome along with the understanding that after this amount of time your bad-associations to good habits will be severely diminished if not transmuted into positive associations entirely. It is remarkable what an individual may adapt to become accustom to. Why not become accustom to perfecting yourself. Giving you more momentum in the process to push forward unto further refinement of your life. It will still be difficult, but without conflict there can be no victory. If you are consistent, you will only grow stronger. Failure is only true if you choose not to learn.
As all journeys begin and end, let us look within. Take a look at your ambitions and ask yourself if they are harmonious with your nature. If you are not sure of your nature, this is a good place to start as well. Regardless of the inner-exploration the point of this exercise is to remove all negative associations you have so you can enter a state of complete self-acceptance. From the aforementioned, we see the mechanisms at play which deter positive momentum. The blocks you may encounter should surely be documented. See this state as point A [Ambition] and the state you wish to reach as point B [Becoming]. Going from one state to the other with complete acceptance of yourself, honestly map all you must change and/or discover to become your ambition. Do take note, if one values the pursuit of truth over their own ambition. The path to attaining such will become clear. The evolution of that ambition will remain pure. This is the path.
Dedicated to Lord Hananjur and The Tower of Pain
“To embrace pain is to embody excellence.”
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