In this fantastic Healthygirl.ca article, “A Nation of Addicts,” Natalia suggests that the cause and cure for addiction is consciousness. And she’s not the only one. Many people today believe that we use our addictions to silence our bodies and emotions.

Spiritual leaders like Eckhart Tolle teach us the benefits of mastering the art of creating peace and how to activate the power of Now. For quick reference, straight from the Live Lighter vaults, here are 27 tips to bring you into the present moment so you can break the cycle of addiction:

1. Drink water.
2. Breathe! Most of us breathe from the tops of our lungs. Try filling up your lower lungs with longer inhales/exhales.
3. Run up and down a few stairs.
4. Get on the floor and do some core exercises.
5. Ask yourself: “Right now, do I really want this insert addiction here?”
6. Call a buddy who’s overcome the same addiction or who’s also trying to raise their consciousness level.
7. Yoga.
8. Stretch.
9. Make some tea.
10. Ask yourself: “Why am I better off without insert addiction here?”
11. Do some dishes.
12. Organize papers.
13. Brush your teeth. Read the rest of this entry

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Editor’s Note: This guest post was contributed by Nicole White, who writes about masters in health care.

I live alone, so it’s easy to set my schedule according to my pace and moods. I am used to my routine – the early morning jog, the cooking, cleaning and household work after that, then settling down to work, eating lunch, and then on to my regular tennis game with a group of friends, after which it is back to work, dinner and sleep. I pretty much live and breathe this schedule for five days of the week, so when I have guests, expected or unexpected, it sort of irritates me to make the enforced change.

I recently had my sister’s children over for a fortnight while she and her husband were taking a much-needed break and trying to work on their marriage. While I love them very much and am very attached to them, they’ve never stayed over for more than a day or two, usually accompanied by my sister. So you can imagine the chaos and confusion that coexisted with me and the kids during these two weeks.

Suffice it to say that my carefully planned schedule was shot to hell – no morning jogs, more time in the kitchen, less time for work, and more time involved in making sure the kids did not fight, throw tantrums or break stuff around the house and hurt themselves. The first few days were the worst; not having been around kids a lot, I was unprepared for the effort that it would take to look after two children full time. I found myself getting irritated, with the kids at first and then at myself for feeling this irrational frustration.

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No one knows better than Mother Nature. Her ability to heal and maintain balance is bar none. So it makes perfect sense that holistic nutritionist (and Live Lighter reader), Neda, suggests it’s healthier to listen to our bodies to tell us when we are hungry rather than a clock. (See her comment for some healthy eating tips)

That got me thinking, though, when can’t we trust our bodies? Having been unbalanced for many years, then gradually achieving close to balance, and then slipping into imbalance again 7 months ago, I can say from experience that in an imbalanced state, our connection with Nature becomes fuzzy.

Addictions (to either substances, emotions or behaviour) are a sign of an imbalance. They provide us comfort on an emotional level, even when they become harmful from a logical perspective. They also exasperate the imbalance by further interfering with clear communication between our thinking minds and Nature.

For instance, many turn to food to handle emotional troubles.  Eating becomes a response to stress which can become a habit. At this point, all cravings feel like a general and growing discomfort. Thirst and hunger can be misinterpreted for the craving for our addictions (or emotional fulfillment).

The same goes for many smokers when they stop smoking; they tend to replace food for nicotine because the cravings feel the same and the hand/mouth actions are comforting. Many do not recognize that their actions are a conditioned response to stress. And even when we become aware of this insight, it’s still difficult to stop because of the disconnection with Nature (as we found out at the end of Wednesday’s post, The Science of Change).

So, please share your thoughts and experiences, Readers, when can’t we trust our bodies?

Most of us are high almost all day. Whether it’s sugar, caffeine or food in general, all of these substances create a positive altered state of consciousness. Basically, we have a “normal waking state” that can be measured physiologically, as in heart-rate, brain waves and brain chemistry. `Getting high’ can be boiled down to changing your physiology so that you experience a different state of awareness, usually heightened.

Consider an interesting idea: we’re supposed to get high on a regular basis. Just think, based on this definition, eating gets you high. But there’s a cost associated. When we eat, we create change in the body as it responds to that food. This change stresses the body and slightly damages it. That’s how we age – wear and tear is the result of using our bodies and, well, living.

While this may come as bad news for some, it also means that we have a certain level of control in aging. We can prolong our lives by choosing less damaging alternatives! In addition, because our bodies are smart organisms, we naturally create a resistance after first exposure. We need more of the same thing to get the same effect. Here lies the rub of addiction. Enter: balance and variety!

To help you fulfill your natural instincts to alter your state of mind, here is a list of 20 ways to naturally get high: Read the rest of this entry

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How would you like to make it easy to stop smoking? I mean easy in the way that you’re ecstatic about not smoking and you celebrate a smoke-free existence. In this scenario, you barely feel the withdrawal symptoms and even in the midst of a highly stressful situation, a cigarette is merely a fleeting thought rather than an all-consuming craving.

Saying no to any addiction is tough. But it CAN be made easy. Some people simplify the whole matter: make a firm decision, overcome the physical withdrawals and just do it. For others, it might be a little harder. Many addictions get us on emotional, mental and habitual levels, too. Some believe our spirituality is also affected; one theory even speculates that our addictions are our attempts to fill a spiritual void.

For those who feel the complexities of their addictions, you can make it a little easier with the right preparation and combination of stop smoking tricks (right for you, that is). While there are tons of really good stop smoking tips out there and you may have to try all of them to find what works for you, the following are 7 of the most essential tips that will make it easy for anyone to stop smoking:

1. Find your reasons. If it’s only one trick that you use out of this list, let it be this one. You have to find your motivating force in overcoming your nicotine addiction. It must resonate with you and get you on an emotional level. Some people may use a strong negative emotion, like fear as in: “I don’t want to suffer like Aunt Rose did of lung cancer.” I prefer to use positive emotions, as in: “I appreciate my life and I want to treat it and myself with love and respect.” Read the rest of this entry

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No, ear seeds are not for growing flowers or vegetables out of your head, though they are real seeds from the Vaccaria plant. These tiny black beads, which I now have taped on different points along both my outer ears, are used in ear acupuncture or auricular therapy.

Apparently, different ear maps exist. As in the hands, feet and head, some believe that different areas of the ear correspond with different parts of the body. These acupuncture points along the ear help regulate the body’s internal organs, structures and functions. This treatment is used for many conditions, such as pain, mood disorders, obesity and addiction.

If you’ll remember back in August, after being 11 months smoke-free, I played Russian roulette with a cigarette – and lost. In last week’s post, “What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?” I mentioned my interest in trying acupuncture. So on Saturday I saw my Naturopathic Doc and we started the Clinic’s smoking cessation protocol.

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As I continue to pursue a nicotine free existence and fight other addictions as substitutes, a Metro article, “Teen Net addictions growing” catches my attention. Apparently, in some cases these kids get so involved with online games or surfing the Net that they stay up all night, skip school and withdraw from real-life friends.

So far, says the article, research indicates those most prone to Internet addiction “lack social skills, tend to isolate themselves, and internalize emotional stress.” Addiction specialists say this obsessive Internet behaviour threatens health and, also like other addictions, “is a sign of underlying problems and often goes hand-in-hand with mental health issues such as depression.”

But really, don’t we all have unresolved issues? And don’t we all have bad days where we couldn’t see the bright side if it whacked us in the forehead? I think we all battle with some level of addiction most of the time. If it’s not a substance (like drugs, alcohol and sugar), it’s a process (like sex, work and gambling).

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For those of you who don’t know, the X-Files and Californication actor David Duchovny recently checked himself in rehab for sexual addiction. In Tuesday’s Metro article, “Tackling `addiction’ ” journalist Josey Vogel isn’t convinced those obsessed with sex are addicts.

Based on my recent research into addiction and my own personal battles , I wholeheartedly disagree.

According to the Health A to Z website, they define addiction as, “a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance.” Furthermore, they separate addiction into two categories: substance addiction and process addiction.

Substance addiction includes the abuse of chemical substances like alcohol and drugs, such as nicotine, marijuana and sedatives. Process addiction includes obsessive behaviour like gambling, spending, shopping, eating and sex.

Vogel disagrees that excessive people can be called addicts. She argues that behaviours like sex are a natural way to enjoy a full life. Sh e suggests that sex is, “just one of many appetite-related activities we have to learn to enjoy in a moderate and healthy way.”

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This post is ahead of schedule to make the deadline for ProBlogger’s Killer Title Contest !

When you’re wavering on the precipice of change , decision is power. But unfortunately, it’s sometimes just not enough. You have to be absolutely convinced that these changes will make your life better, or for some people, that the immediate or future pain is not worth continuing your old ways.

If you prefer to focus on the positive benefits when conquering bad habits and addictions , I believe that the cure to indecision is your vision. Your vision is your life in the future. Whatever you can imagine, whatever you want – don’t let your current reality dictate your future!

But a vision of your future is often too daunting and can lead to procrastination. It’s easy to throw up roadblocks for yourself when you’re confused as to where to start and how to get there. The experts suggest chunking it up into manageable pieces. By setting smaller, more immediately attainable goals, you’ve given yourself a break and some breathing room. And the ability to work towards your vision one step at a time.

The Mother Lode Goal

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Do you struggle with indecision? I did for a long time and at one point, indecisiveness nearly ruled my life. It’s an uncomfortable place to be, being unsure of yourself. From little decisions like what to wear and eat, to how you spend your time, even up to the biggies , like ending a bad relationship or quitting a job. But for the most part over the last year and a half, except on low energy days, I’ve been living my life full of confidence.

Why? Well, we’ll get to that in a bit since that’s the focus of this post. But first, I need to confess that doubt has wriggled itself into my mind. The last ten days have been… challenging. I’ve been slipping back into my old habits and addictions : drinking, overeating, using credit, I’ve even smoked several cigarettes! I’m especially upset about this one, considering it would have been a year next month, the longest out of the four times I’ve kicked the cancer sticks…

I’ve justified my behaviour; you know, with `it’s summer and it’s time to relax a bit, loosen up and have some fun’. And I still believe that it’s ok to occasionally indulge in substances that are known to have some health benefits for some people , like coffee, natural sugar, alcohol (especially the anti-oxidant rich dark beers and red wines), and even marijuana.

When past-times start to rule you

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