A Few Things That Helped Me, FYI

I am at day 51, my second longest streak.

I wanted to talk about a few things that helped me.

Some things may work, others not. Take what works.

1. There is always a day or set of days that the streak

seems impossible.

Try to remember it only "seems" impossible.

But is it really? No.

The enemy to a man's streak is his own thinking.

On this streak, I reached that day in the first week.

It was about day 3 or 4.

I said, forget this, I can't do it, I'll never do it,

I'm a loser, I'm lonely, I hate everyone and everything.

But then I realized the old AA mantra "One day at a time."

So I made a deal with myself, which was to just avoid PMO TODAY.

Today and today only.

Maybe I relapse tomorrow, maybe not.

But I forced myself to make it when I thought I couldn't.

2. The more you fight the urge, the more the urge gets weaker.

That point where I felt I would relapse happened because of

the lack of dopamine.

The brain loses all perspective when it doesn't have it's

unearned candy reward.

But I knew my thinking was jacked up, so I pushed through.

The next day was only 10% as hard, if even that much.

Every day after that felt like coasting.

Just expect that some days will seem impossible,

and then the next day will be a breeze.

3. Sexual urges, for PMO of any form, only last as long as they are fed.

It is a strange thing, but a turn on only exists for a limited window of time.

Turn ons are like a fire, they die without fuel. They have no inner inertia.

If you want proof, the next time you get the urge,

force yourself to abandon it.

You can go for a walk, lift weights, or clean up the garage.

(You were supposed to clean up the garage last week anyway, numbskull!)

Now that you have got the garage clean, ask yourself,

where did that urge go?

That particular urge is water under the bridge, long gone.

You can start another one, but I suggest letting the sleeping pit bull lie.

4. Invest in your recovery as if your life depends on it.

When an addict, be they an alcoholic, cigarette smoker, or on drugs,

spends time on their recovery, it's the best investment possible.

In AA, they say that without recovery, an alcoholic has nothing.

It's the same with PMO addiction.

PMO is just as destructive as any drug, legal or illegal.

This investment is like buying an insurance policy on life success.

Then, in a longer streaks, guys make more money,

they lose weight, build a better physique,

get more creative in their art/hobby,

and every decision they make all day is better.

Feed your recovery, they say in AA, with the same effort

that you made to take your drug of choice, or better yet,

MORE effort.

I hope that helps!

If you want more of me, stop by and read my journal,

or create your own, and let me know, so I can comment.

Be blessed!

 

She told me to tell you hi by the way. JK

Nice job on 16 days, keep going.

 

Thanks Matt! I think you are creeping up right after me, nice going brother!

 

Congrats, yourself, warrior man! Piecing together over a fortnite is hard, stay on it!

 

They stopped holding the meetings in town when covid-19 took over.

I might try a zoom meeting at some point.

How about you?

 

Sounds like a good template to me.

 

I work about 2 hours a day on music and podcasting, plus I work out a lot.

There's never enough hours in the day, but I get a lot done.

How about you?