Reader,

Using marijuana...

Exploring social media...

Exercising...

Engaging in conversations, in-person or online..

Meditating...

Traveling and taking vacations...

None of these activities is inherently good or bad.

The real question is: how are you using them?

Here's an empowering framework for answering that question:

As you reflect on a given activity, explore whether you're using that activity as medicine, medication, or a drug.

When you're using an activity as medicine, you're learning, healing, and growing as a person. You're gaining inspiring insights and ideas. You're learning from your past mistakes. You're feeling a greater sense of connection and compassion. And you're feeling empowered to make deep and lasting changes in your life.

In other words: you're using the activity to heal your past, craft your future, and embrace your present moment.

For example, if you're using marijuana as medicine, you're utilizing marijuana's influence to help you learn more about yourself so you can break free from limiting habits and live with more authenticity, freedom, and joy. You're exploring deep questions, reflecting on past mistakes, and envisioning a future that excites and inspires you. You emerge from the marijuana session feeling eager to live your life in a fresh and creative way.

When you're using an activity as medication, you're managing symptoms and coping with difficulty. You're experiencing temporary relief and calmness. You're getting a much-deserved break from stress and worry. You're keeping your worst symptoms at bay. And you're feeling like life is more manageable and tolerable, rather than an endless slog or chore.

In other words: you're using the activity to recover from stress and get through a difficult period in your life.

For example, if you're using social media as a medication, you're scrolling through your feed and looking for content that gives you a relief, a pick-me-up, a laugh, something new to try. You're giving your mind and body a break from the difficulties of life so you can unwind, recharge, and emerge feeling steadier and more at peace.

When you're using an activity as a drug, you're avoiding life and escaping reality. You're feeling numb, distant, and vacant. Or you feel extraordinary bliss that you know isn't authentic or sustainable. You're intoxicated and unavailable to show up fully for yourself or your loved ones. And you're disconnected and out-of-touch with real life and this given moment.

In other words: you're using the activity to check out and get away from your life for a while.

For example, if you're using conversation as a drug, you're barely noticing what you and the other person is saying. You're voicing thoughts without considering their honesty, accuracy, or impact. You're saying things you don't really mean or care about. You're using the conversation to mindlessly vent or dump. You feel no real sense of connection to your own words or to the person you're speaking with. You emerge from the conversation feeling numb and hollow.

When using the medicine-medication-drug framework, the goal isn't to get high on yourself for using activities as medicine, or to get down on yourself for using activities as medications or drugs.

(That's just more self-medicating and self-drugging!)

Rather, the goals are:

(1) to get clearer about how and why you're engaging in the activity

(2) recognize self-medicating and self-drugging as a cry for more compassion, kindness, and insight

(3) gradually and strategically shift your habit into a healthier state

As a spiritual healer and guide, I can help you accomplish those goals during our weekly one-on-one sessions.

That way, instead of staying stuck in addictive cycles and destructive habits that drain your energy and poison your relationships, you can break free into healthier, more rejuvenating, and more empowering practices that strengthen your relationships and inspire wise and creative action that feel deeply right to you.

Take your first step toward self-empowerment today: schedule your free consultation with me.

Let's discuss how you can get unstuck and onto your path of flourishing.

Love,

Joe

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