Thought addiction - I’m not real comfortable with the word “addiction” even though I totally relate to the definition of addiction and definitely am addicted to a few different things. The definition of an addiction is to do something over and over again - even when it’s harmful to me - and expect a different result.

There’s obviously nothing wrong with thought and the goal of meditation isn’t to stop thought. However, it’s with our own thoughts that we can do a lot of damage to ourselves through worry, self-doubt, and self-judgment. These are the destructive thought patterns I return to over and over again expecting a different result.

What, for example, does worry do for me other than making me more miserable than I already am? And yet, I worry and somewhere back deep in my mind I believe it will make a difference.

One of the benefits of meditation is it allows me to take a temporary break from thought and judgment as I become the detached observer of my thoughts and simply watch them come and go. It’s not escapism. After a bit of detached observing, clarity, peace, and sometimes insight surfaces that can change the whole trajectory of my day and possibly my life.

One of the things I am finally getting a bit of a handle on is that my addictive thoughts and urges are going to surface like a wave, and if I wait long enough they will disappear into the ocean again like a wave. Just, wait!

I find that isolation is a killer too when it comes to addictive thinking. I know it’s hard, but perhaps the best thing we can do if we’re isolated and stuck in an addictive thought rut is to connect with someone; call a friend, play with your kids, or go sit in a coffee shop and start a conversation with a stranger.

(Rod) May you be free.