Addiction as the Hunger for Presence

Addiction is like desperately trying to stuff the deep hole in our soul with thing after thing but never quite feeling satiated. We seek that thing outside ourselves that can fill this hole, but we are really only left hungering for more. We can get so trapped in the spell of this chase that we barely recognize what it is that we are truly wanting.

Without realizing it, what we are most often missing is to feel at home in our own selves; it's a hunger for our own presence.

In one way or another, we all get caught in the cycle of addiction. We easily lose ourselves chasing the perfect fix - whether it be substances, material possessions, food, sex, perfectionism, achievements, the approval of others - whatever it is that satisfy our cravings and give us a momentary sense of relief.

Breaking this cycle is one of the hardest and most badass things we can do. Instead of hating and shaming ourselves for the addictive behavior (which only adds fuel to the fire), we can bring compassionate curiosity to investigate what’s going on beneath the surface of our desires.

Consider, underneath your current fixation; that thing you are craving, chasing, clinging to, obsessing over...

Under that fix you are so desperately seeking.

…what are you really wanting?

What do you hope to experience when you get that fix?

And what is it actually like when you get it?

Can you connect to what your deeper longings are for? Could it be a desire for peace, wholeness, love, connection, aliveness?

What else might bring you closer towards these deeper needs?

Note: breaking the addiction cycle can be complex and brutally challenging. It is not something we can do alone. Connection and community is essential for recovery work. Reach out to friends/ family, or find a therapist/ support group if this is something you are struggling with.