give it a shot

nice to meet you, good luck. Remember that the twenties are the most difficult.

 

I'm with you man. I did the same thing. I would browse sites online and try to stop by myself. So far, and I know it's not much, I have done better than I ever have. I think the main reason is that no matter what I post daily and try to read some other posts as well.

I truly hope that you can make it

 

Hi, all the best to you. Have you been over to the main forums? There's lots of perspectives in there. Get stuck in and help and be helped just by making an honest contribution

 

Welcome aboard! Best hopes!

 

Hey, just curious, what is your vision for a new and improved relationship to sexual energy? I actually wrote mine out (a top 10 list of things I am looking forward to) and when the craving arises, I either check in here with an accountability partner or re-read that list. I'm also thinking about starting a practice like journaling to my craving, letting it know that I acknowledge its presence and that I can be responsive, rather than reactive, to it through curiosity, rather than the lens of fear. Also, I just want to send out some compassion to you man, not to be confused with excuses or rationalization. Like life in general, this is a practice, and this is just the healing process happening to you. Much support and remember to enjoy the journey! It's a great opportunity to learn more about yourself without judgment while also moving forward to an awesome experience.

 

Thanks for wanting to know more In the language of "recovery,"I feel sometimes we spend a lot of time focused on what we're quitting from and don't place the same thinking on what we want to gain/be. It's like going through the process with the prevailing thought of "I want to quit PMO" versus the thought(s) "I want to be the kind of person who engages in mindful consumption of images that promote my overall well-being, of which sexuality is a part. I want to be the kind of person who can meaningfully contribute to and receive joy from authentic sexual experiences. I want to see this process as the gradual awakening to seeing sexual energy as it is, rather than how it is packaged and distorted. I choose to go through this process with the goal of cultivating curiosity and self- compassion, rather than self-judgment that sets me up to fail." The former statement ("I quit X...) for me tends to look backwards and so the story of who I was is still active, whereas the latter statement is about looking more to where we want to be and, in my opinion, makes it more inviting. Another way to put it is like focusing on freedom "from" versus freedom "towards." In this case, the question is about what kind of sexual being do you envision at the end goal of this liberating experience and how is it a part of your general vision for your life? How could you make a vision for the being you want to be that is so powerful that it is worth saying no to when the urge arises? And how can you respond with compassion and curiosity when the craving does arise to go against the vision you have for yourself?