Hello there,
I've just been surfing the web, looking for help upon recognizing (not for the first time) that i'm addicted to pot and no longer want to be --and I've come across this site and message board. I've read many of the posts here and
want to Thank-you writers, so many of you, for showing me that this can be done, and is well worth doing. I'm looking forward to being able to say xxx days clean! I'm about to start a new phase of my life, and want to use it as a time to kick the habit. It's a good opportunity. I think this site will provide some ongoing support is my guess.
all the best,
~julie
Hi Julie,
Yes, it can be done. I had 6 months (almost) done and then I relapsed.
No excuses, no lies....I'm starin at an NA number on my computer. Or maybe AA because I have no desire to drink anymore, yet it was my drug of choice for years...anyways, welcome and there's lots of options when it comes to recovery......
and if you ever need to just talk, come back, there's always someone around. :-)
Diana
Yes, it can be done. I had 6 months (almost) done and then I relapsed.
No excuses, no lies....I'm starin at an NA number on my computer. Or maybe AA because I have no desire to drink anymore, yet it was my drug of choice for years...anyways, welcome and there's lots of options when it comes to recovery......
and if you ever need to just talk, come back, there's always someone around. :-)
Diana
Thanks Diana,
writing on here is a big leap for me. I'm pretty much a 40 year old recluse, for no good reason. According to friends and family --most of whom who would be shocked to know that i smoke everyday these days, all day if possible, or close to it, although perhaps not surprised-- i'm amazing. I don't seem to think so, I know better.
I hold myself back, by whatever means possible: marijuana, insecurities, fear, and lots of negative belittling input.
It's fascinating to watch your life unfold, and then hit a milestone like the age thing and suddenly realize, what the f*** have you been doing all this time?
Running around, lots of good work, but avoiding the true desires.
So, this is sounding like a lot of double speak to me, what about you?!!! lol.
The point is Marijuana just another tool to avoid getting at really living. At least that's my hope and what I'm going to keep telling myself as I do this. Granted I know I'll have to work on getting rid of more than just pot.
yeesh, writing on here is dangerous~! but a good way to learn how to open up to people.
thanks for the opportunity.
~julie
writing on here is a big leap for me. I'm pretty much a 40 year old recluse, for no good reason. According to friends and family --most of whom who would be shocked to know that i smoke everyday these days, all day if possible, or close to it, although perhaps not surprised-- i'm amazing. I don't seem to think so, I know better.
I hold myself back, by whatever means possible: marijuana, insecurities, fear, and lots of negative belittling input.
It's fascinating to watch your life unfold, and then hit a milestone like the age thing and suddenly realize, what the f*** have you been doing all this time?
Running around, lots of good work, but avoiding the true desires.
So, this is sounding like a lot of double speak to me, what about you?!!! lol.
The point is Marijuana just another tool to avoid getting at really living. At least that's my hope and what I'm going to keep telling myself as I do this. Granted I know I'll have to work on getting rid of more than just pot.
yeesh, writing on here is dangerous~! but a good way to learn how to open up to people.
thanks for the opportunity.
~julie
Hi Julie,
You reminded me of a book I bought once called "What's Holding You Back?" I lent it to a friend and never saw it again. LOL
I have opened up to people my whole life and scared some of them away, it's the chance you take.....when you are authentic, it's never dangerous only interesting. :-) This medium can be frustrating, then someone will say something that is so profound, how can you not write ? What I've noticed is that cliche "attitude is everything" is very powerful for me. The more I venture out into the world, clean and sober, the more i get back. Then I get stoned before bed. "They" say addiction is very selfish.....so is recovery, so read whatever you can about this thing, become an expert, take little steps, take big steps. Just do something, anything, different.
I am living proof that thought patterns can definitely be changed, but it takes practice. And new tools. I am going to choose to believe that when the time comes for me to make a certain phone call, then I'll do it. In the mean time, my energy is pure today, I have work to do and I will not be high when I do this work. People in the world are pretty freaked out right now. Intense and heavy blankets are being carried on shoulders. Everyone is so intense. have you noticed it ?
Obviously, your thought pattern has changed, because you are thinking "what next." So Julie, what are doing for Julie today?
Take care,
Diana
Hi Diana,
Thank-you! I'll look for the book you mentioned.
Great words, thoughts, ideas and support you offer --you sound amazing both by what you offer to others and what you're doing for yourself. And yes, I would agree, little steps --or big ones when/if you can.
Yesterday was my big leap of faith I suppose. It was my first official day without secretly smoking in order to get through my day. It was completely average and momentous at the same time. I started a new job, one that is just a day job (as opposed to my last job which was all consuming, and I was passionate about, but due to pot and lifestyle and numerous other blocks I couldn't do it any longer and needed to make a change) --so the change I have made is to start a new job, clear myself out and move on. And trust that I'm doing the right thing and good things will come because of that!
So as I say, I met some new people, read what I needed to for my job, worked away. and then went to a yoga class and sweated a ton in order to start clearing out my body. I'm working on making a regular habit of mediation as I'm certain that will help too... for a few minutes this morning I sat, so now it's to build it up further.
I also agree with you that we CAN change our thoughts, but there's a difference to actually internally being able to make a shift -- which fortunately is the place I'm (finally!) at right now -- versus just wanting to make that shift but not feeling it internally (where I've been many times before!). Someone else on this site, I think it was hardcharger (or somethin' like that) said that sometimes it's necessary to just pretend to be happy (along those lines) --which I've heard many times, " just start practicing, even if you don't feel it ..." the whole, be the person you want to be theme --which I also agree with, but man I know depression all to well and it can hold you back! Today, I'm not depressed though --rather hopeful-- and I'm just going to keep working on keeping the momentum going. Granted it is only day 2. There's bound to be hard moments ahead.
all the best to you. Glad that you're out there doing your thing.
it's crazy intense world we live in these days --people are just FREAKED out in so many ways. I see it all around me.
My favourite book of late --(which has nothing to do with anything, except it sounds like you get inspired by others words as much as i do) --is "Last Child in the Woods" --it speaks to what we've lost in our culture by not being connected to nature enough. I think it speaks to a lot of the reasons people cannot cope with the world or make good decisions for ourselves. So if you can, finds ways to connect with the natural world whenever you can, I know it helps me.
I'm all over the place with this note today --so I'll stop now!
take care Diana,
and all of you out there.
keep on keepin' on.
~julie
Thank-you! I'll look for the book you mentioned.
Great words, thoughts, ideas and support you offer --you sound amazing both by what you offer to others and what you're doing for yourself. And yes, I would agree, little steps --or big ones when/if you can.
Yesterday was my big leap of faith I suppose. It was my first official day without secretly smoking in order to get through my day. It was completely average and momentous at the same time. I started a new job, one that is just a day job (as opposed to my last job which was all consuming, and I was passionate about, but due to pot and lifestyle and numerous other blocks I couldn't do it any longer and needed to make a change) --so the change I have made is to start a new job, clear myself out and move on. And trust that I'm doing the right thing and good things will come because of that!
So as I say, I met some new people, read what I needed to for my job, worked away. and then went to a yoga class and sweated a ton in order to start clearing out my body. I'm working on making a regular habit of mediation as I'm certain that will help too... for a few minutes this morning I sat, so now it's to build it up further.
I also agree with you that we CAN change our thoughts, but there's a difference to actually internally being able to make a shift -- which fortunately is the place I'm (finally!) at right now -- versus just wanting to make that shift but not feeling it internally (where I've been many times before!). Someone else on this site, I think it was hardcharger (or somethin' like that) said that sometimes it's necessary to just pretend to be happy (along those lines) --which I've heard many times, " just start practicing, even if you don't feel it ..." the whole, be the person you want to be theme --which I also agree with, but man I know depression all to well and it can hold you back! Today, I'm not depressed though --rather hopeful-- and I'm just going to keep working on keeping the momentum going. Granted it is only day 2. There's bound to be hard moments ahead.
all the best to you. Glad that you're out there doing your thing.
it's crazy intense world we live in these days --people are just FREAKED out in so many ways. I see it all around me.
My favourite book of late --(which has nothing to do with anything, except it sounds like you get inspired by others words as much as i do) --is "Last Child in the Woods" --it speaks to what we've lost in our culture by not being connected to nature enough. I think it speaks to a lot of the reasons people cannot cope with the world or make good decisions for ourselves. So if you can, finds ways to connect with the natural world whenever you can, I know it helps me.
I'm all over the place with this note today --so I'll stop now!
take care Diana,
and all of you out there.
keep on keepin' on.
~julie
The planet is at war. The entire vibration of the planet shifts to one of trauma. We have all been affected or "infected" by the mental and emotional strain that is created as a result of the fear and violence of war. If I could, I'd ask the world....any increase in depression ? I say increase because everyone has a depression rating. Anything different ? Do you feel psychically different? Have your dream patterns changed ? Any change in anxiety, exhaustion, sleep patterns ? Any subtle shifts in your sense of optimism ? Have you had an increase in aches and pains ? Have you experienced unusual weight gain in this past year ? Are you changing any short or long term plans ? ie. "Let's just live for today," which, for you, would ordinarily be just too risky a way to live. Any increase in fear patterns ? Any increase in rage or anger, either personal or ethnic ? Any sensations that you can "feel" the trauma in the air and feel the change in the attitudes and energy fields of people ? Do people strike you as being just a bit more depressed or psychically intense or heavy ?
Peace. Love. Harmony. I Think about it. Alot.
I wrote down both those books. Thank you. I am interested in both. I imagine your group went exactly the way it needed to. I spent some time researching Shamanism again, it calls out to me more and more lately. Forgive me for such a long post. I just get so excited about certain topics.
********************************************************************************************
Preventing Soul Loss and Spiritual Intrusions
The shamanic view is that poor spiritual health is caused by soul loss, power loss, or spiritual intrusions. Poor spiritual health can, in turn, cause emotional, psychological, or physical challenges.
You can prevent soul loss for yourself by creating environments around you that are not traumatic to your soul, that nurture your soul. This means having people in your life at home, in your community relations, and at work, who are kind and supportive. The people in your life should also have good personal boundaries, which means that they will not try to solve your problems for you or invade your space, yet they can be intimate with you. In other words, people who will not try to make up for their lacks by stealing your soul or giving their soul to you.
Soulful environments are also aesthetically pleasing, naturally paced, and physically healthy.
You can prevent creating soul loss for others by not traumatizing them and not stealing their souls. You can prevent yourself from soul thieving by monitoring and controlling your inner intentions when you are around others. If you find yourself saying "I wish I had his . . . (an essential quality like joie de vivre or self-confidence)" then change that intention to something like "I sure like his . . . (essential quality) and I'm glad he has it so I can enjoy it by being with him. I can learn or create that for myself if I want to." If you find yourself excessively honouring or admiring others, or excessively helping others with things they could or should do for themselves, you may have a desire to give your soul to them. Again, monitor your inner intention and change it if needed.
The best ways to protect yourself from picking up spiritual intrusions are:
to stay well-connected with your power animals by honouring them and using their strengths that are within you to be full of your own radiant soul by receiving soul retrieval healing, if needed, and nurturing your soul.
To prevent yourself from creating spiritual intrusions or energy blocks within your body, do not stew on your emotions and do not suppress them. Allow them to flow through you as children do--laughing one moment, crying the next, and recovering quickly. Address, or let go, of situations that are creating the emotions.
If this sounds like an unattainable ideal, it is because much of modern western culture is traumatic for the soul (e.g., fast pace, constant noise) But we can create environments and communities for ourselves that nurture soul, even if just by small steps. And as we do, we contribute to creating a more healthy, soulful world.
-Laureen Rama (with permission)
Julie,
Starting over with a new job is very courageous. Paying attention internally to your needs. Necessity. Yes it was a huge leap of faith when you made the decision to not toke yesterday. Everyday counts. Every moment clean counts.
Love and light,
Diana
Peace. Love. Harmony. I Think about it. Alot.
I wrote down both those books. Thank you. I am interested in both. I imagine your group went exactly the way it needed to. I spent some time researching Shamanism again, it calls out to me more and more lately. Forgive me for such a long post. I just get so excited about certain topics.
********************************************************************************************
Preventing Soul Loss and Spiritual Intrusions
The shamanic view is that poor spiritual health is caused by soul loss, power loss, or spiritual intrusions. Poor spiritual health can, in turn, cause emotional, psychological, or physical challenges.
You can prevent soul loss for yourself by creating environments around you that are not traumatic to your soul, that nurture your soul. This means having people in your life at home, in your community relations, and at work, who are kind and supportive. The people in your life should also have good personal boundaries, which means that they will not try to solve your problems for you or invade your space, yet they can be intimate with you. In other words, people who will not try to make up for their lacks by stealing your soul or giving their soul to you.
Soulful environments are also aesthetically pleasing, naturally paced, and physically healthy.
You can prevent creating soul loss for others by not traumatizing them and not stealing their souls. You can prevent yourself from soul thieving by monitoring and controlling your inner intentions when you are around others. If you find yourself saying "I wish I had his . . . (an essential quality like joie de vivre or self-confidence)" then change that intention to something like "I sure like his . . . (essential quality) and I'm glad he has it so I can enjoy it by being with him. I can learn or create that for myself if I want to." If you find yourself excessively honouring or admiring others, or excessively helping others with things they could or should do for themselves, you may have a desire to give your soul to them. Again, monitor your inner intention and change it if needed.
The best ways to protect yourself from picking up spiritual intrusions are:
to stay well-connected with your power animals by honouring them and using their strengths that are within you to be full of your own radiant soul by receiving soul retrieval healing, if needed, and nurturing your soul.
To prevent yourself from creating spiritual intrusions or energy blocks within your body, do not stew on your emotions and do not suppress them. Allow them to flow through you as children do--laughing one moment, crying the next, and recovering quickly. Address, or let go, of situations that are creating the emotions.
If this sounds like an unattainable ideal, it is because much of modern western culture is traumatic for the soul (e.g., fast pace, constant noise) But we can create environments and communities for ourselves that nurture soul, even if just by small steps. And as we do, we contribute to creating a more healthy, soulful world.
-Laureen Rama (with permission)
Julie,
Starting over with a new job is very courageous. Paying attention internally to your needs. Necessity. Yes it was a huge leap of faith when you made the decision to not toke yesterday. Everyday counts. Every moment clean counts.
Love and light,
Diana
