Fight Addiction by Becoming In-Tune with Your Body

As it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV), your body is God’s temple and his “spirit dwells within you.” Taking care of our bodies and cleansing them of addictive substances shows respect and gratitude for this gift from God.  However, the process isn’t easy. Breaking bad and dangerous habits, such as drinking too much alcohol, smoking and eating a diet laden with junk food, will force you to detox. It’s important to note that the early stages of detoxing may feel terrible. However, as your body starts to clear out toxins, you may find that you lose fat and gain muscle. You may also find that your joints feel better and your brain clears up. Here are some ways you can become more in tune with your body to help fight your addiction.

Self-Monitoring

To break a bad habit, you need to be aware of how many times a day you engage in it. For example, if you want to give up soda or junk food, keeping a diary to track how many times a week you treat yourself to this type of food will help you face how often you actually abuse your body. Even better, a notebook can keep you honest. You may avoid bad habits because you don’t want to write them down! At the same time, also write down how often you choose water to drink or pick up a piece of fruit. Acknowledge your wins and successes. Leaving bad habits behind isn’t just about punishment.

Cleaning the Slate

For some people, bad habits are tied to the clock. They have to have a candy bar at 3 p.m., or they have to have a glass of wine after work. Of course, it’s not a real requirement, but they’ve built that part of their day around a ritual that’s not healthy. Instead, consider trying a different activity at those crucial times. Make a cup of green tea at 3 p.m. and walk around the building with a friend instead of heading to the candy machine. Have a glass of sparkling water instead of wine. As you detox, focus on how each change makes you feel in a few hours or the next morning. Shedding toxins can leave you feeling odd. Even dehydration can cause you to struggle to accurately test your muscles’ response during a self-diagnosis. Instead of just going without, add something good.

Prayerful Meditation

One of the best ways to become in-tune with your body to fight addiction is to meditate. Meditating can help you be mindful of what’s going on in your mind and body so you can be aware of the triggers that make your body crave bad things. Instead of focusing on the guilt of your mistakes, focus on meditating on God and His word. Use the Bible to find verses that speak to you, ponder these verses while you meditate, and then pray to God to have Him teach you what He wants you to learn from them. As you meditate on scripture, God will help you to be successful with your newfound spiritual strength. Over time, you’ll be able to recognize the cravings or urges that you have and deal with them appropriately. Meditation also helps you to be aware of your freedom to choose and then allow you to consciously make the decision to not partake of the harmful substance.

Addiction is a disease that impacts your whole life, but you have the power to overcome it. While you’re focused on changing your diet and water intake, look for ways to support your emotional and spiritual life. Starting with these three ideas can help you to take the first steps you need to get back on the right path.

If you’re struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to get help. Sign up for our program today and change your life for the better!