Just some thoughts on addiction and indulgence. This early afternoon, and I hope you’re doing well if you find yourself reading this, I want to lift these questions to your attention. Do your addictive habits bring you pleasure and does indulging in them (drugs, alcohol, gambling, hoes lol), have ultimate meaning? You might be tempted to answer yes to both, or at least one–how is it not pleasurable? Clearly we derive pleasure from our dive and bask. I want to temper those affirmations with the opposite, namely, no.
Here is why: On the first account, there is pleasure gained, in a now-in-that-moment-yet-later-elusive-sense. The pleasure is temporary; the maximum net happiness brings displeasure, in this way: when you are broke purchasing your hearts desires on credit give you access the things you want, however, the indebtedness that comes from having to pay this back with interest is of greater value (it costs more to pay it back than the things are worth). When we adhere to our addiction, we are taking a loan out on happiness. We will pay this back in full plus interest willingly or unwillingly. In addition to those immediate consequences: financial and physically, there are psychological and spiritual ramifications, just as with credit.
One the other account, the meaning behind or before taking that toke, imbibing that hit, churning that slot, etc (you know your shadow side and what happens when you step into it.) is some gratification. You’re seeking some release, alleviation, or heightening, some way to overcome a hurdle or mask a perceived deficiency. Then we must make a distinction between the means and the ends. The ends is release, alleviation, a height; the means is the method we use to achieve those ends.
We can immerse ourselves in the Good without stepping forward with the bad as a crutch or cheat and there is limitless potential for growth. An ancient Orthodox Christian belief (theosis), accounts that, as you live there is a conferral of grace from God that draws you into him and in this union you become more as he is. As God is perfect, there is no limitation to this growth into God. Similar ideas are held in other faiths and systems of beliefs. This is key however, the ends that you desire are achievable without shortcuts or loans; these things to the contrary hinder your growth. We are our own measure we can only grow out of ourselves into another or into a space with more grandeur, just as the inside of a house cannot be larger than it’s outside, so too, we are limited in ourselves and grow out into something higher than us (2 Peter 1:3).
ה קול (Voice) 