Embracing the 'Moment Of Truth'
What if I just resisted the pull for a little bit, things could turn out very differently
I have struggled with a few addictions in my life. Thankfully most of these i have looked directly in the eye and defeated. When you have overcome them you (hopefully) learn a little about how the human mind and body works.
I was having a conversation yesterday with someone about 'The Pull’, that feeling you get at a very primal and deep level (before the mind and thoughts) that wants you to do something you know you shouldn’t. It might be drinking, being pulled towards having that first drink of the day. It might be porn, scratching a sexual itch. It might be food, even when the stomach is full and no more eating is required.
The Pull happens out of nowhere and can be triggered by any number of things. And when it happens you feel like there is nothing that can stop this train.
It is inevitable, isn’t it? Well... no.
There is a very small moment, let's call it the moment of truth (MOT) where we can change this course. The train does not have to leave the station.
Make no mistake it is a very, very short window of time, often just a split second. But it can be done, with awareness.
The MOT sits between the spark (the initial trigger or pull) and the action (putting something into motion). If you are already at the action end of the line then yes, the train has left the station and we will have to try again next time, however, if we are still within this timeframe another outcome can be achieved.
The MOT is where reasoning and reality come into play, this is called our thinking mind.
We often bypass this very quickly towards the action and wonder what happened🤷♂️. Without even knowing it there is a Vodka in my hand, oops i drank it! And within a blink of an eye i am back in the addiction..
But...
if we were to linger a little in that moment of reasoning and reality (let’s call this mindfulness), that Moment of Truth, we might just avoid the pull and in turn falling back into the vice again. All we need is time.
I will be discussing methods of being in this Moment of Truth in future posts but I wanted to raise this idea as a means provoking thought. Ask yourself “What if I just resisted the pull for a little bit, things could turn out very differently”.
/ Cory /