Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

April 10, 2017

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
Watch your words, they become actions;
Watch your actions, they become habits;
Watch your habits, they become character;
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
-Frank Outlaw

Our thoughts are far from harmless.  This is a truth that every addict must come to embrace.  A sex addict who consciously engages in fantasy about past acting out or future sexual possibilities reinforces their addictive thoughts.  A sex addict who brings sexual energy into daily interactions reinforces their addictive interactions.  A sex addict who objectifies people around them reinforces their addictive relationship patterns.  If we let addictive thoughts run wild or, worse yet, embrace and encourage them, they will continue to intertwine themselves with our actions, habits, and character.  Eventually, we will be defined by our addiction.

When have I not contained my addictive thoughts?  How have my addictive thoughts influenced my actions, habits, and character?  What gifts await me as I contain my thoughts and start the process of being defined by my recovery?