First six months

It's amazing to me that I've already gone six months with no PMO at all! I give all credit to Christ who strengthens me, like not just in some touchy feely way, but seriously, I simply ask him day by day to lend me the strength and peace to remain pure in body and mind, trusting him to actually do it, and it happens.

I of course have to hold to the habits of refusing to look or think in lust, but even the temptations that do show up simply don't have the power over me they used to.

A little life update, I finally moved out, sharing a house now with tow great guys I met in the past year. My social confidence is way better: I used to have horrible social anxiety both during an event, where I'd often feel horrible and desperate and helpless to talk to someone whenever my one or two main friends were gone. Now, I both have a better time talking with people, and even feel comfortable when there's a lul and I'm standing alone for a bit talking to no one. I feel like I can freely and confidently navigate a social environment now, not even getting bogged down by some awkward situation.

Despite several plausible options, there's currently only one woman I'm planning to ask put soon. The more ai think about it, it seems to be at the point I would be temporarily hurt by a "no" from her, but would still be freed up more to write my sci-fi short story etc., so that I'm almost ready to accept and adapt to either a yes or a no as a net benefit.

I'd much rather come on here with a big success story about how I've already gotten a girlfriend and know my 10 year plan or something, but I just passed the six month mark and figured it's time for an update regardless. To close, I'd say my main benefit is simply the lack of the burden of sexual sin that causes slavery and guilt instead of fulfilling its promise. By God's grace I can honestly say I don't plan on ever going back to PMO or porn again. I'm not trying to get a "bug number" of days anymore: I'm trusting Christ to give me a qualitative change that has no need to up count days. That's about it for now,
Hope this encouraging to someone,
Thanks!

 

Thanks! I still have urges, like at the theme park last weekend there were beautiful girls all over the place, and I had the urge to stare and lust after them. But looking away became such a habit now that it didn't feel like a drain on my will power. Instead it was like I had enough will power on tap to look away real quick, then refocus on other stuff.

My own primary method to overcome urges is to always pull away from any thought or sight or other media that makes me start to lust (or to move towards relapsing). Whenever I start to fail at that (less and less common) I ask God for forgiveness and to help me repent. When there's a stronger urge that's more persistent, I pray for the strength to overcome it so that I'll continue to manifest his will for my life (not praying merely to meet my own desires like getting over PIED or getting "super-powers" or something).

I also read my Bible daily and go to Bible study and church most weeks. And the last couple months I also started finishing showers cold, which seems to build a little shock endurance. And I've been able to stay out of the house or else working on some project at home most days, that helps. I haven't played any video games for at least 4 months (save for about an hour of Halo 4 when I was house sitting back in May). I think all of that helps a lot.

 

This is the first time I've ever reached 6 months. Before thus, I've gone at least 90 a few times. But each of those times I was feeling desperate to go back. This time, while I still have urges, I don't feel any need to go back like before.

 

Yeah, it might take you a while yet to overcome, but asking simply to want to want to be free from it is a good starting point. You might even need to start by requesting to want to want to want to be free.