First of all, it is important to remember that this series is not about identifying where we are “bad” or “weak” or “imperfect”. Judging ourselves as “addicts” is NOT going to help anyone to free themselves of their self-destructive behaviors …

What these posts ARE designed to do is to provide each of you with enough information to allow you to make informed choices as to how you are going to proceed with your everyday living.

And this is as true for the addiction to thinking as it is for any of the other addictions I have already discussed (or those that I will end up discussing). Indeed, we are all riding around in fleshly machines that are programmed to constantly think … That is what a sentient being does, and if you are able to read this post, then you qualify as sentient and you too are probably a “habitual thinker”.

And yet it is not our thoughts that are the problem. Rather, it is the way we intensely engage our thoughts that holds us down – it is our clinging to particular thoughts (as we analyze them and criticize them and organize them and plan with them) that continually refreshes our dissatisfaction with life. It is our and kneading those thoughts like dough between our ears that is keeping us trapped in a world of meaningless delusion.

In essence, most of you are aware that it is not your thinking itself that is the problem, but rather your vaccuous &/or negative thinking – your “stinky thinking” — that is keeping you from a Life of Joy.

What is not clear, of course, is just what we can do about it.

“Addictive thinking is the primary cause of suffering. If you are feeling down or troubled, one thing is certain: you are thinking about something. Thinking and suffering are inseparable.” ~ inspired by Richard Paterson

Some COMMON TRAPS & “Fake Solutions”*

TRAP #01: PSYCHOANALYSIS … Whether done by ourselves, our friends or “professionals”, the more we focus on how we were “damaged” in our past, the less likely we are to transcend those wounds in our present. The more we continue to analyze what was done TO us, the less likely we are to shift that focus and do FOR others. The more we try and remember how it felt to be ONE with our True Self within, the less likely we will ever do the deeds necessary to experience that very re-Union!

Harmony is not an internal feeling of calm; Harmony is the Peace that comes to us when our internal Caring is set in motion by external courageousness.

“Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t analyze or plan to do things. You simply must do things.” ~ inspired by Ray Bradbury

TRAP #02: MEDITATION … As long as we are using our minds to minimize our thinking, our minds and their thoughts will continue to rule our lives. As long as our goal is to find “inner peace” within ourselves, we will never be able to feel Peace FOR our surroundings. As long as we are striving to “become One” with the present moment, we will continue to wall ourselves off from that very Here&Now …

Oneness can only be truly known to the degree that Oneness is actively LIVED — to the degree that Oneness is experienced by intimately engaging with others.

“Thoughts are definitely there, and yet they have no beginning, no middle and no end … It’s like trying to see where water turns into steam … and steam cannot condense steam.” ~ inspired by Pema Chodron

TRAP #03: PRAYER … The more we pray for our own Salvation, the farther we move away from its entranceway. The more we ask for God to bless us with Peace, the more strife we call into our lives. The more we pray for God to be present in our lives, the greater the gap between ourselves and God’s Will becomes …

The only way to “walk with God” is to go forth in times of desire and give to others. The only way to “do God’s Will” is to go forth in times of fear and Be Kind Anyway.

Essentially, the only prayer God hears is the one you utter with your feet – the only prayer God answers is the one you utter with your open arms and an open Heart.

“Neither science nor religion can solve the ultimate mystery, and that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.” ~ inspired by Max Planck

In conclusion, as human beings, it is in our primitive nature to continually seek out what is “broken” or “wrong” or “unideal” and fix those things. And yet we are much much much more than our most primal natures.

As feeling, caring, conscious beings, we can choose differently – we can choose to see the greater Truth: the Truth that understands that there is nothing in our lives that needs analyzing; nothing that needs criticizing; nothing that need improving.

Being aware of our present moment is not enough …

Understanding our personal history is not enough …

Comprehending the nature of our True Self is not enough …

Even becoming seemingly one with “the Divine” is not enough.

We cannot get to real Happiness by “peeling away” the pains of our past … The only way to feel your True Self is to ACT accordingly.

We cannot be ONE with others by “going inside our [separate] self” … The only way to be ONE with those around us is to ACT accordingly.

We cannot fulfill God’s Will by satisfying our own … The only way to “know God” is to act accordingly.

Both at our beginning and in the end, Happiness, my Friends — just like LOVE & Contentment & Peace … is a verb.

“Let us do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season — without ever thinking of the grapes it has borne.” ~ inspired by Marcus Aurelius

*Please note that this post in no way denounces the benefits of counseling or meditation or prayer.

It IS beneficial to open up to another about our personal concerns (a la in psychoanalysis) — I am merely pointing out that the “awakening” that come in those sessions will not bear you the Fruit of real Joy until you go forth and LIVE IT with others.

It IS beneficial to regulalrly sit still and reawaken to a deeper Inner Calm (a la in meditation) — I am merely pointing out that the “inner peace” that comes in those sessions will not bear you the Fruit of real Joy until you go forth and LIVE IT with others.

And it IS beneficial to connect with our own Vision of the Divine (a la in prayer) — I am merely pointing out that the sense of “connection” that comes in those moments will not bear you the Fruit of real Joy until youi go forth and LIVE IT with others.

That is all …

Truly, that is ALL.