Avoid Making This Mistake.

It’s so easy to put things off. Especially things that are uncomfortable or things we believe may cause us short-term pain. Yet, if you were dying from a heart attack you certainly wouldn’t put off going to the emergency room and getting life-saving heart surgery. If you had just been […]

It’s so easy to put things off. Especially things that are uncomfortable or things we believe may cause us short-term pain. Yet, if you were dying from a heart attack you certainly wouldn’t put off going to the emergency room and getting life-saving heart surgery. If you had just been bitten by a poisonous snake you wouldn’t put off going to the hospital and getting a painful shot of snake anti-venom. Why? Because even though there is short-term pain involved, the long-term result so far outweighs the short-term pain that you would run to it immediately.

I remember having a hernia and knowing I would need hernia surgery. I was so excited about the hernia surgery. I knew it would hurt and there would be some pain and soreness through the recovery process, but I was so anxious to get rid of the hernia pain that a week or two of short-term pain seemed like a small price to pay in comparison to being able to get up play ball again, hold my young son and do things without pain.

And I was right it was a small price to pay!

Addiction is the same way, often we put off beginning our recovery journey because we are scared of the short-term pain of addiction withdrawal and the perceived suffering that we may go through. We live the old saying “there’s comfort in familiar pain.” Even though in our minds we know that there’s a better way of life, and it’s a small price to pay to get there, we still use the fear of the recovery process as an excuse to cling to the old way of life that is killing us and destroying us! Our addiction is still controlling us…and destroying us.

Don’t make this mistake. Don’t let addiction suck more life out of you, take away more years of your life, take away more time with your family, take away more of your joy, your peace, your happiness and the life God intended for you to have.

It’s a lie, it’s a trick and that is exactly what addiction does.. it lies to you. We need to address our addiction issues now. Yes, there may be some short-term discomfort, and even a little pain and suffering, but with medical detox programs, these are minimized to a great extent.

Of course, there are emotional and psychological issues that need to be worked through, and a new recovery lifestyle that needs to be learned and established. But, these things are a blessing. You had to take a test to get your driver’s license, but it was worth it. You have to go on some dates to win over a boyfriend or girlfriend, but it’s worth it. You have to exercise to keep fit, but it’s worth it. Why? Because the end result is worth the short-term sacrifice. This is the same truth about addiction recovery…don’t miss it!

To your Freedom,

Jack Alan Levine, Addiction Expert, Father, Author & Businessman