"Addiction isn't about substance - you aren't addicted to the substance, you are addicted to the alteration of mood that the substance brings." -Susan Cheever

My definition of addiction = when “it” has more control over you, than you have over “it”.

Throughout this piece, I will use an example that many of you can relate to, which is an unwanted relationship with food. Please know that the analysis and strategies conveyed in this writing are designed to help you understand and transcend all kinds of addictions.

A holistic approach to addiction involves a great deal more than clinical analysis and suggestions. Your body displays the state of your spirit and mind; your why and how. Thus, if your spirit and mind are genuinely filled with positivity and light, then your body will likely represent positivity and light. Conversely, if your spirit and mind are weighed-down with unhealthy relationships, then your body will likely carry around physical manifestations of those unhealthy relationships.

In order to transcend any addiction, it is necessary to UNDERSTAND the nature of the addiction, deeply and diversely. Understanding works symbiotically with love, thus I suggest an approach of self-love, opposed to self-criticism.

Start by understanding the addiction on a more physical, even scientific, level. For example, cravings for chocolate (or excessive amounts of sugar) can usually be avoided if you have consumed adequate amounts of protein. Another “magic elixir” I discovered is apple cider vinegar, which helps to better regulate insulin levels, thus sugar cravings. Do your research and see what works best for your physical situation.

Then, try to understand the addiction on a more emotional level. This takes you to “The Land of Why”. The goal here is to determine the deeper reason as to WHY you possess a particular unhealthy relationship.

For example, try a game called “The Five Whys”, which I discovered by reading the book “Finding Your Own North Star” by Martha Beck (brilliant woman). This involves taking an issue you are trying to work through and drilling five layers deeper (or more, if you feel there may be more layers), to discover the root of the problem, by using the question of “why”:

Problem identification:
I carry too much belly fat.

Question 1: Why do you carry too much belly fat?
Response1: Because I eat too much chocolate.

Question 2: Why do you eat too much chocolate?
Response 2: Because chocolate makes me feel good.

Question 3: Why does chocolate make you feel good?
Response 3: Because it comforts me.

Question 4: Why does chocolate comfort you?
Response 4: Because it helps me blissfully escape my surroundings.

Question 5: Why do you want to blissfully escape your surroundings?
Response 5: Because I am unsatisfied with my surroundings.

Bingo! You have identified a circumstance that is contributing to your undesirable accumulation of belly fat. So, instead of diverting most of your energy to sit-ups and portion control, you may want to use that energy to change your surroundings, or at least, your perception of your surroundings.

Then, once you have uprooted the sources of your addiction and brought them into the forefront of your consciousness, you are ready for “The Land of How”. The goal here is to proactively formulate various strategies as to HOW you will transcend your unhealthy relationship. There are SO many tools you can use. These are a few of my favorite examples:

• Acknowledge yourself as being independent of the object you are craving. You can do this by visualizing a string connecting you to the object. Then visualize yourself cutting that string; breaking the connection the addiction has to you.
  
• Think intently on what a particular object actually is. Do this by relating to each of the ingredients and how they came to be. For a more inspiring example, you can picture a beautiful country scene with vineyards being showered by sunlight and rain, which manifested the organic grapes you are about to eat. This deeper awareness will likely inspire you to make healthier choices in all aspects of your life. Apply this to relationships you are addicted to by thinking intently on the person you are addicted to and what makes them who they are, on a more detailed level. 
  
• Think intently about the effect the object you are craving will have on your mental, physical and emotional state. For instance, visualize yourself after eating all those Oreos. Are you experiencing: Digestive upset? A headache and/or unclear thinking? Feelings of guilt or self-pity? Cravings for more unhealthy food? Blemishes and/or dull looking skin? Extra fat accumulating on your body? Now, are the Oreos still worth it? 
  
• Imagine your life, relative to the addiction, as a theatrical play that you get to direct. For example, if you are directing a play about your weekly food consumption, how many lines (how large of a role) would you assign to chocolate? To carrots? To fish? Etc. You have the power to make all of your plays a huge hit. 
  
• Reprogram your behavior by associating alternatives. Every time you think of chocolate, immediately shift your focus to thinking about watermelon, or sushi, or a healthy burrito, or meditating, or doing sit-ups, etc.

Along your journey, remember to forgive your moments of weakness, and not burden yourself with expectations. Despite a conscious effort, unwanted temptations might sometimes get the best of you and THAT’S O.K.! If you forgive your former moments of weakness, then you can better focus on being your best self, right NOW. Until you own a time travel machine, free yourself (through forgiveness) from a past you cannot change. Conversely, despite a conscious effort, you may not achieve every goal you set and THAT’S O.K. too! If you release yourself from expectations, then you can better focus on being your best self, right NOW. Until you own a crystal ball, free yourself (through abandoning expectations) from a future you cannot predict. Focus your valuable energy towards being your best self, right NOW.

These strategies are just a few options you can employ to transcend addictions and begin to build a thoroughly healthy self. Although I mainly chose to use examples related to food, you can use these tools to overcome various temptations that plague you, which may include your relationships with: drugs, intimacy, technology, shopping, sleep, fitness, people, violence, punishment, insecurities, anger…and the list goes on.

Our bodies and emotions try to tell us information of a deeper nature than we often realize.

The fact that you are even considering a more holistic approach to wellness indicates that you are courageous enough to consider the road less traveled. This is the road that is often more difficult in the beginning; as you mentally and emotionally strip yourself down. But in the long-run, this is the road that will empower you with authentic strength that can be summoned upon, every day of your life and inspire a feedback-loop of limitless possibilities for you and all you love.

The foundation of authentic strength is being grateful for what you have already accomplished and believing in yourself.

More interesting perspective on addiction:

DISCLAIMER: I am not a credentialed medical or research professional. Unless otherwise cited, information reflected through Maven Light is the result of personal experience, observations and research. Given your unique free-will and physiology, any adopted suggestions and information are done so at your own risk.