When most people hear the word addiction, they think only of dependence on a substance, such as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. And for a good reason: According to a recent United Nations report, an estimated 35 million people worldwide suffer from drug disorders, while 240 million people worldwide are dependent on alcohol, and more than a billion people smoke. That’s a lot of addiction.
But here is a truth we often forget—addiction comes in many shapes and forms. We can just as easily be addicted to power, fame, sex, or money. We can be addicted to our cell phones or social media, food, shopping, or work. Many in the world are addicted to drama, conflict, gossip, anger, and even fear. Our addictions are anything we believe we need in order to feel alive and whole. And they all have one thing in common: they can take over and control our life—robbing us of joy and freedom—while firmly keeping our Souls planted on the ground, unable to fly into the heart of the Universe where they belong.
If we aim to free ourselves of the earthly illusions of this planet, we must free ourselves from all our addictions. Fortunately, I have found the easiest way to do this is through the path of Ho’oponopono, the ancient art of problem-solving. I would be honored to show you this path in this month’s Q & A.:
Like all great journeys, we will begin with self-responsibility, honesty, and acceptance. When we accept that we have an addiction, we acknowledge that a part of ourselves is out of control. And once an addiction has been recognized, it cannot be ignored, and, more beautifully, it cannot be released without changing our life.
Through Ho’oponopono, we will learn how everything in our life is a memory, a program playing in our memory bank (our subconscious mind) that shows up in our lives to allow us to let go and set ourselves free. Life consists of replayed memories that play 24 hours a day. They keep choosing for us unless we choose to stop them.
I hope you will also realize that the memories playing inside you attract everything in your life, including all the things you crave. If you let me, I will show you how to use Ho’oponopono like the delete key on your computer’s keyboard. Together, we will learn to let go of (erase) the old tapes that no longer serve us.
The wonderful thing about Ho’oponopono is that it will not only help you let go of your addictions but everything that is not you. It is at this moment you will be able to find out who you really are and fall in love with yourself. It is at this moment you will no longer have any needs or wants. You will know that you already have everything you need.
You are perfect as you are.
Mabel Katz
