Stress and Illness    |    Creativity and Health

Where we find ourselves in the grip of an addiction or addictive compulsion, we find that we have no real control.

With the experience of being addicted, it's as if we're taken over by a "will" not truly our own - one that can "drive us to distraction".

Recovery from addiction depends on our recovery of our own, true - creative - will and self. This, in turn, means that we actively value - and cultivate - deeply satisfying joy and love over superficial, short-lived pleasure.

Take the case of addiction to gambling. Here, what pleasure this offers is notoriously short-lived, and becomes less and less satisfying, even as the habit threatens a person's well-being and health, and even their relationships and perhaps career.

Recovery from addiction depends first of all on our being honest - about the problem we have and the challenge we need to face. That, in turn, takes courage to get over the shame (or, if we're too proud to admit the reality, pride).

We need to see ourselves - as in our real self - as not trapped by compulsive habits and wants, but as creative human beings. We need to see our own, true - creative - will and self not as givens we can afford to take for granted, but as treasures to be kept safe from stress forces like compulsive desire .

Staying creative and truly satisfied comes from creative states of mind like joy and love - states of mind that permit (as well as invite) our active, personal contribution.

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