Past events are in the past.
What in tar-nation Can You do About Them??
Many of us tend to live in the past. Thinking about what caused their present condition, whatever that may be. These same people continually, and compulsively, trying to find the cause of something or why someone or some thing is interfering with their life.
Most people understand that a little nostalgia (feel good memories) may be fine, but too much is often seen as a signal that there is a problem. And there are those that have been abused, either physically or mentally, who, for reasons of their own, what to hold fast to the notion that the position that they are in today, is directly the result of that trauma. Baring any physical trauma, such as a car accident, or falling off of a cliff, or some such thing, I am talking about the kind of trauma that is emotionally felt as an emotionally and painful experience. This kind of trauma once experienced is also in the past.
For example, you may have had the experience of strongly reacting to a difficult circumstance – such as a relationship breakup, or the way a coworker treats you and you can t figure out why. In some instances, there are childhood traumas that are activating and fueling your current reaction. These symptoms often follow the individual into adulthood, creating potentially and significant emotional, behavioral, and relationship problems.
For example, if a parent is verbally or physically abusive to their child, he or she may develop the belief that I m not safe. If a parent ignores their child, he or she may conclude, I m not lovable. These are powerful beliefs and these beliefs are often the underlying sources of anxiety, depression, and many other symptoms. Again, the key to understanding is: no matter how traumatic the events may seem to have been, they are in the past and the individual cannot undue or alter that experience.
Speaking for everyone; We cannot change one thing about the past. We can only change what is happening to us in the present. This process requires that we change some of our own beliefs. Not all of them, but surely we must change those of a compulsive and repetitive nature. This includes all behaviors , such as addictive and compulsive behavior with alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, and relationships. Am I being to presumptive?
THE FINAL SOLUTION
The final solution requires the following:
Things do not change: we do – Henry David Thoreau
If you want deeply rooted change,
you need to apply deep rooted methods.
– J. Goldstein
Changing one s beliefs does not magically come about, you have to work at setting your spiritual life in order. WOW, you mean that I can just wish the changes into existence, and that would be enough?
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KNOW GOD?
Let me ask, how important is it to know God? We cannot ignore this vital question. It is a question that demands an answer!
John has that answer
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. As used here, eternal life is knowing God! John implies an intimate relationship with God that matures over a lifetime. Each party knows each other well.
It also requires that we are always on the path of obedience? This intimacy takes time to develop. Especially considering the issues that addictive behavior generates. There are those of us who have spent frustrating time trying to serve two gods. In 1 John 2:15, John explains, that we should not love the things of this world (objects, things and behaviors) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Now that this is clear in our mind, we may assume that change comes about in an orderly fashion; first God, then everything will fall into place.
Of course this is difficult to understand because compulsive behavior demands immediate fulfillment. The Addictive Mental Process (AMP) is ongoing and relentless. It drives us through varied pleasurable events. No matter what that event is, the result is always the same that of achieving complete satisfaction. Can t be done, no matter how hare we try.
One more thing, a Biblical explanation of addiction might be; – addictions can be considered as bondage to the rule of a substance, activity, or state of mind, which then becomes the center of the individual s life. This process will defend itself from realizing the truth so that even the bad consequences do not bring about repentance. This leads to further estrangement from God.
ONWARD, HO
If change is to come about in an orderly manner the cells of your body must heal properly. Remember, put God first, then you can be of assistants. Cell damage should have proper nutrition. For healing, God gave us the plants and herbs of the field for food. This form of assistance is not taking over, but simply utilizing what has been provided.
Unfortunately, we have been programmed having grown up in a society that expects instant results. When taking natural products you must be patient. After all you didn t get to where you are today, overnight. Using food products, such as herbs provides you with exact portions of their ingredients for balanced repair of the cells. Medicine does not provide this masterful combination of just the right elements. NOTE: certain vitamins, such as the B vitamins, work better when they include all the B s in a complex mixture. Medical doctors when issuing prescriptions, do not provide this work-together principle.
COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE
Complementary methods and alternative approaches heal naturally, and for: trauma, both physical and mental occurring in the past as the individual’s coping mechanisms, which is generally the source of their difficulties, meaning that it is not what has happened to a person in the past, but how the person perceives and deals with what has happened that is important.
You must also consider genetics, disease, internal energy imbalance, accidents, or life experience as a source of the individual s problem. This will affect what treatment options that you will apply.
In this regard, God has specific things of teaching and authority that He has prepared for us John 14:2. Because these positions come with great power, we must have a heart that is ready and willing to forgive and forget past mistakes. Throughout life we will make many mistakes. We will need to develop a nature that is willing to encourage and forgive.
MY PAST EXPERIENCES
Having been in the healing profession for forty plus years, and having seen and treated thousands of people, with a variety of physical and emotional complaints. I think that the number one problem is not because a trauma had occurred, but that the individual could not forgive a past, grievance, or for that matter a continuing trauma. Forgiveness is one of the chief characteristics we must have if we are to become children of God. Notice, I did not say forget. This is because, past events cannot be changed or altered .
In this world it is easy to see that a major cause of conflict and trauma is an unwillingness to extend forgiveness. At home the lack of forgiveness causes family problems to arise over and over until divorce or violence erupts. We can, however, learn from past events. We can learn to forgive past events through contemplative prayer.
Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10
This form of meditation, recently known as ‘Centering Prayer’, can be traced from the earliest centuries of Christianity. The Centering Prayer centers one on God.
Centering prayer is a remarkably simple method that opens one to God s gift of contemplative prayer. Its practice expands one s receptivity to the presence and activity of God in one s life. It is a distillation of the practice of monastic spirituality into two relatively short periods of prayer each day.
Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God s presence and action within.
Sitting comfortably with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently and introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God s presence and action within.
When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word.
At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
I can not emphasize this enough. Because of the repetitive nature of our addictions we often do not have time for anything else. However if you are sincere about wanting to straighten out your life you must develop prayer that puts God in your life. Ephesians 4:22-24. So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to -the old self, the past which was destroying your self by practicing deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new. You must put on the new self which is being created in God s likeness.
Nothing is more beautiful than the uniqueness
that God has created.
You don’t have to create the beauty
– you’ve got the beauty.
You don’t have to create the freedom
– you’ve got it.
You don’t have to create the image of God in you
– you have it.
You don’t have to win over God s love
– you have more than you know what to do with.
Thomas Keating, ‘Centering Prayer,’
Heartfulness: Transformation in Christ
SUMMERY
The past events in our life are just that. We can not undue what has happened no matter hard we try. We can not change anything that has already happened. However, we can learn from our activities and our past behaviors. We can see that our past life is in a melt-down state.
This melt-down state closely resembles Step one through three of the 12 Steps. Step one read Romans 7:18. Step two read Philippians 2:13. And Step three read Romans 12:1.
KNOWING GOD can be a wonderful experience. Principal One is that God loves you and offers you a wonderful plan for your life. This plan is so much better than how you have been living..
Second principal on the road to knowing God is to know that our past behaviors have separated us from an intimate relationship with Him.
Deep down, our attitude may be one of active rebellion or passive indifference toward God and his ways, but it’s all evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
The result of sin in our lives is death; a spiritual separation from God. Although we may try to get close to God through our own effort, we inevitably fail.
The Third Principal is knowing that Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father s only provision for the mistakes and behavior we have made in our past.
Just knowing what Jesus has done for us and what he is offering us is not enough. To have a right relationship with God, we need to welcome him into our life.
The Forth Principal is accepting Christ in our life by following in His footsteps. And here is Jesus’ invitation. He said, “I’m standing at the door and I’m knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” Revelation 3:20-21.
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
I think of the word complimentary as one method helping another method. There are herbs available to help heal damaged tissue. For instants, compulsive use of alcohol will result in damage to the brain, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, kidneys, and every other organ and tissue system are infiltrated by alcohol within minutes after it passes into the blood stream. The strength of the drink will have a significant effect on absorption rates, with higher concentrations of alcohol resulting in more rapid absorption. Pure alcohol is generally absorbed faster than diluted alcohols, which are, in turn, absorbed faster than wine or beer.
But you knew all of this? Didn’t we? A note SUGAR in high proportion is present in all compulsive behavior. For instance, Tobacco is cured with sugar. Alcohol is sugar waiting to happen.
Kudzu, for instance, contains isoflavones that have weak estrogenic activity one of kudzu’s traditional uses is for menopausal hot flashes. Kudzu has also been found to interact with the drug methotrexate.
THERE YOU HAVE IT
As simple as it may seem, we who are compulsive and who do not always make good choices, have lots of work ahead of us. If there any questions, I will be glad to answer them as time will allow. You can reach me at jaquila@sbcglobal.net.