Advice to Overcome Vices
There are various definitions for what a “vice” is. For me and for the context of this article, I will define a vice as : a habit which you engage in which has undesirable negative effects on your life. Usually you feel a compulsion towards this habit, because it meets some need, or masks pain. It could be considered addiction, but generally I classify a vice as a more mild form of addiction.
In a tool shed a Vice is a strong metal device that’s primary purpose is to GRIP heavy objects and hold them in place. Metaphorically, this is often what vices to do us - they have a grip on us, and hold us back from being able to progress or escape into better lifestyle habits.
Some examples of Vices can be related to : Overeating, Junk Food, Drugs, Alcohol, Excessive amounts of : sex, pornography, video games, social media, etc.
Vices can also manifest in relationships such as : hanging around people who spread negativity, immorality, behaviors you don’t align with. Another vice can be over-giving, where your time, energy or love isn’t equally reciprocated, and other manifestations of Codependent relationships.
Vices can also be a lack of healthy behaviors such as exercise, holistic diet, rest, time in nature, etc.
Vices can also manifest on a mental level as disempowering thoughts of many different sorts like judgment of self or others, catastrophizing, black and white thinking, etc.
As for the scope of this article, I am focusing on habits and behaviors, which in most cases - I believe we have the power to shift, without a more serious intervention - as is the case for severe addictions. If you think you or someone you know does have a severe addiction - then I encourage you to seek out Medical intervention or a Mental Health Professional. Rehab centers and 12 step programs (for many types of addictions, not just drugs and alcohol) can sometimes be very effective for treating addiction, though they have their pros and cons, which I encourage you to spend a few hours researching.
With all that said, I think that many of the tips in this article can be helpful as a supplement to other protocols like rehab - for people that do have more severe addictions. I always encourage you to do your own research, and only pursue things which feel in alignment with your Body-Mind-Spirit.
For a quick back-story - I’ve been consciously on a journey of healing since I was 17 years old. At that age I was diagnosed with RND which is a form of Chronic Pain. I spent 3 weeks at an inpatient rehab facility which taught about the Mind-Body connection, and through this program, I was able to drastically decrease my pain levels.
Now I am 34 years old, and over the past 17 years, chronic pain has come back in many different manifestations. Although it has sucked in so many ways, it has pushed me onto a major quest to understand the human body, mind, and spirit - all of which I believe are aspects of one unified system.
I’ve honestly struggled with pretty much every single vice that listed at the beginning of this article. Thankfully I have made astronomical amounts of progress and feel so much more empowered than I did for much of my life - specifically around the areas of overeating, emotional eating, codependent relationships, and negative thinking.
In this article, I will share some specific recommendations of things which have helped me tremendously, as well as general frameworks to explore. If you are interested in these topics, and passionate about overcoming vices, I also encourage you to read my new book “State of Being” which goes much more in depth into many of these philosophies. It is on Amazon, but I also mail out signed copies quite often. Please message me on Social Media, or email me : KevinMayCoaching@gmail.com if you want to order a copy.
>>> Here are some of the essential puzzle pieces which have helped me to greatly reduce the power that vices like overeating used to have over me. They are in no specific order, but each one has worked wonders for me, and I encourage you to research and explore any or all of them which resonate with you :
1. Reading Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" and "Power of Now" taught me about the power of feeling "PRESENCE" in my body - which I have consistently practiced now for 15 years. - This is essentially filling up your body with divine energy, thus decreasing the sense of an "inner void" which you might try to fill with food or another vice.
His books are essentially a fusion of many spiritual traditions from all across the globe. He uses pretty universal terms and language, in attempt to avoid dogma, and cut straight to universally applicable insights.
2. Doing multiple Cleanses, Fasts, and eating a Low-Inflammatory and Nutrient Dense Diet over many years has been absolutely crucial for re-setting my palate, microbiome and overall BODY MIND SYSTEM. ( I go more into detail into these in my book “State of Being.”
3. Having "Rage Rituals" where I can safely express rage and anger with full passion. I've done hundreds of these sessions by myself, and honestly, every...single...one has been a profound shift, where I felt so much lighter afterwards. ( Given that I had basically ZERO outlet for anger for the first 22 years of my life, there was quite a backlog stored in my fascia and body. )
CLICK HERE FOR a quick video where I demonstrate an Anger Release Technique.
In conjunction with releasing stored anger, has been the journey of expressing sadness and grief. After years of inner work, I now have the ability to pinpoint when a wave of sadness is coming up for me, and when the time is right, I find a space where I can put on my "crying songs" and let the healing tears flow. No need to eat a bowl of ice cream anymore...
SADNESS RELEASE MUSIC PLAYLIST
