Addiction, Neuroplasticity and Mindfulness

(Post share from the IRATAD Blog)

I recently read a book by Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald (2010), Pictures of the Mind: what the new neuroscience tells us about who we are. This book explains how new technology is contributing to groundbreaking discoveries related to how the brain works and its influence on our behavior. . . .

I find it hopeful to know that we have the ability to change and heal within us because of neuroplasticity. Not only can we retrain our brains to heal and recover from addictions, but the author states researchers have identified neural pathways for spiritually significant mind states like empathy, compassion, and forgiveness . . .

Empathy, compassion, and forgiveness toward the self and other people are important skills to cultivate during the journey of recovery from addiction. Often recovery may feel like being on an emotional rollercoaster, making it more difficult to develop prosocial skills. It is helpful to remember that we are not our emotions. Emotions are fleeting lasting only a matter of seconds; it is our moods that are more pervasive. Being aware of the fleeting nature of emotions will make it easier to let them go and not identify with them.

Resolutions and Addiction

(Post share from the IRATAD Blog)

Addiction is about not being able to maintain boundaries, follow though on commitments and being able to self-soothe in a healthy way. When we are unable to say no and follow through on the no......(such as over-commiting ourselves to things), when we are unwilling to sacrifice an extra hour of sleep on a cold morning to go to the gym, or when we say "just one more time" or I will start this next week, we are engaging in a dangerous addictive cycle. We become stuck in the same behaviors to which Sisyphus was condemned by the ancient Greek Gods. His punishment for crimes against the Gods, was to eternally roll a large boulder up a hill and upon reaching the summit of the hill with great exertion, the boulder would roll to the bottom of the hill. This was considered by all to be not only backbreaking work, but the added frustration of the fruitlessness of the effort in the end.

Tiny Habits Better Than Focusing on Big Changes

BJ Fogg, an instructor at Stanford, shares the idea that you can change by focusing on making super tiny changes instead of big ones, and then celebrating.

[av_video src='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKUJxjn-R8' format='16-9' width='16' height='9' av_uid='av-al7ko']

Please share your thoughts about tiny habits in the reply area below.

Willpower and Change

(Post share from the IRATAD Blog)

Many times individuals who struggle with addiction have attempted to quit many times and have spent much of their energy criticizing themselves for not being "strong enough" or "disciplined enough". This is a very unhealthy loop and can lead to hopelessness, despair, and shame. I recently read the book entitled "The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor. Shawn Achor is a positive psychologist and his goal in life is to help people learn to be more positive and happy and in turn become more productive in their lives. One of the priciples he discusses is willpower and why in the face of great desire to change it is not enough to actually help us change.