Recovery Roots

19/05/2025

Why addiction is NOT a disease, let's talk about it..
Mrac Lewis lecture - https://youtu.be/aOSD9rTVuWc?si=LTeW8V-euh7j-X2W

15/05/2024

Spiritual seeking is like trying to find the space in a room. We rush around trying to find it and when it is found it is realised it was the loudest noise in the room, singing at you and that it was always there. The futility of our seeking is seen as quietly amusing.

22/02/2024

The Self is the Void: The self is the thing inside us all that says “I am”, “I exist”, “I am an addict” etc. It is separate because we are led to believe that there is a thing called ‘me’ with a real story and there is an external world that is happening to ‘me’, which is separate from the external. Whether you are in recovery or still using substances, the separate self or ego is always in pursuit of happiness, the separate self always wants to feel whole. We may overcome addiction and relapse or perhaps we indulge in another addiction, swap one for another. It might be that we get free from one addiction and then start to overeat, judge others, excessively shop, be in constant pursuit of knowledge and power, seek happiness from relationships, or possibly all of the above, but why? Because the separate self needs to be fed, we are always looking for fulfillment, always seeking answers and happiness in the external world, which inevitably leads to dissatisfaction, then we are off looking for the next thing to fill that void. What if we put all of that effort into the pursuit of knowing the essence of our true being (the nature of self), the unknowable. What if you see through the story of yourself and see it for what it actually is, a self-constructed story in the mind, a story that holds you back, like a weight around your neck that makes you feel self-conscious, and perhaps even stops you from actually living. If we could stop filling a void that isn’t real, then maybe we may know what true freedom really feels like.

10/01/2024

09/01/2024

Day 1 again!? Sound like you? Day 1 does not make you a failure. It just means you failed to notice triggers in yourself and as a result were unable to act to prevent relapse. Start making day 1 a day of reflection, self-learning, and implementing a plan to do something differently. Make day 1 a day of positive change and a day to be kind to yourself. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of berating yourself and using that as an excuse to keep drinking or using. Recovery is a lifelong learning curve, continue to learn and grow, and start by being aware of your triggers to using substances.

08/01/2024

“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is.” - Eckhart Tolle

08/01/2024

How does one free themselves from the ego? By recognising that it is a construct of the mind. We are not our thoughts, feelings, or experiences. We are that which is aware. We are pure being. Self-inquiry is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal. In the empty space between thoughts and sensations, that is where the magic happens, the absence of self. Take some time to ask yourself what is the 'I' you are so familiar with? Where is it? How does it serve you? Does it serve you or does it hold you back? You may start to see that it can't be located within the confines of the body. What does this mean? It means we are the shared being of everyone and everything, unconditional love.