Positive And Constructive Addiction

Addiction isn't necessarily a bad thing, it simply depends on what we're addicted to:

1. Negative And Destructive Addiction:
• If we're addicted to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, food, sex, gambling, etc., it will likely ruin our lives and potentially ruin the lives of those around us.
2. Positive And Constructive Addiction:
• If we're addicted to the quality of bestowal, where we seek to benefit others instead of ourselves, we'll become addicted to each other. This will increase the connection between us and keep us united in mutual bestowal.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Positive Meaning Of Whitney Houston's Life

Whitney Houston [1] was a famous American singer, best known for her love songs. She struggled with addiction and died in 2012 at age 48.

While some may think her life was a tragedy, her entire life means something positive:

• Her Name: Whitney has the word TEN in it, and 10 symbolizes wholeness in the quality of bestowal.
• She Was A Singer: Singing is connected with the quality of bestowal. Meaning we won't be immersed in personal selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves), we'll be connected with each other in mutual bestowal (seeking to benefit others).
• She Often Sang About Love: Love is when we seek to benefit others instead of ourselves, when we're connected with each other in mutual bestowal.
• She Was An Addict: Which represents being addicted to one another in the quality of bestowal, where we all seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

This doesn't mean that people have free licence to do whatever they want. I'm not condoning drug use or drug addiction. Not at all. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

ADDICTION:
Addiction isn't necessarily a bad thing, it simply depends on what we're addicted to:

1. Negative And Destructive Addiction:
• If we're addicted to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, food, sex, gambling, etc., it will likely ruin our lives and potentially ruin the lives of those around us.
2. Positive And Constructive Addiction:
• If we're addicted to the quality of bestowal, where we seek to benefit others instead of ourselves, we'll become addicted to each other. This will increase the connection between us and keep us united in mutual bestowal.

_______

References:

1. Whitney Houston. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Oct 19, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Worldwide Annual Smoking Holocaust

Smoking is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Round tables should be established to seek to eliminate smoking entirely.

Here are a few notes on smoking, tobacco and the tobacco industry:

1. Within the last few years, the worldwide tobacco industry is estimated to be around USD $700 billion [1].
2. There are about 1 billion smokers worldwide, 80% of whom live in low and middle income countries. Up to half of these will eventually die of a tobacco related disease. [2] 
3. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews between 1941-1945 [3]. Tobacco companies kill 6 million people worldwide every year [2] - a worldwide annual smoking holocaust.

If you use tobacco, you'll pay. You'll pay with your wallet (smoking is an expensive habit), you'll pay with your health (you'll likely suffer from a tobacco related disease), and you'll pay with your life (up to half of all users eventually die of a tobacco related disease).

If you're addicted to cigarettes/tobacco and would like to quit, please contact your doctor  and/or your local community support groups.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

__________

References:

1. Statistics and facts about the tobacco industry. www.statista.com. Retrieved Sept 7, 2014.
2. Tobacco. www.who.int. World Health Organization (WHO). Media centre. Fact Sheet No. 339. Updated May 2014. Retrieved Sept 7, 2014.
3. The Holocaust. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 7, 2014.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

The Recognition Of Evil

Our entire education is about recognizing good from bad, for example, good influences from bad influences, good behaviour from bad behaviour, good habits from bad habits etc.

Habits become second nature, which is why we become addicted to destructive habits, such as drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, even the quality of selfishness.

The quality of selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves) is a destructive habit because it leaves us feeling isolated, alone, empty, unfulfilled, miserable and unhappy.

We have to change from personal selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves) to mutual bestowal (seeking to benefit others). We have to get to a point where we recognize that the quality of selfishness is evil, because it causes harm to us, others and all of nature.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Addiction Takes Away Free Choice

The problem with addiction is that it takes away people's free choice. Freedom of choice is extremely important because without it, you're trapped.

Today, the trend to legalize soft drugs is happening because they don't want people to be free, they want people to be under the control of drugs.

Do you want to be controlled by drugs or do you want to be free? Be free and have free choice.

Copyright © 2013, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Who Benefits From Our Intoxication?

Ask yourself:  were you put on this planet to be drunk, stoned and high under the influence of drugs and alcohol? To be passed out, hung over, unable to help yourself and others? To waste your life away?

If drugs and alcohol were two personalities who came up to you and asked to take control of your body, would you let them?

Nobody wants to be controlled by others, yet we allow ourselves to be controlled by drugs and alcohol. Nobody wants to be bossed around by others, yet we allow ourselves to bossed around by drugs and alcohol.

Society and aggressive marketing practices have influenced us in a negative way - to think that drugs and alcohol are cool, that it's acceptable to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Yet drugs and alcohol are destructive to our health, welfare and well-being. In extreme cases, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction are a death sentence.

While smoking has decreased in the past few years, there's a new trend to legalize drugs. So what ... we can lie around with stupid smiles on our faces wasting our lives away?

Who benefits from our intoxication and drunkenness? Think about it.

Copyright © 2013, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Constructive Addiction

Addiction can be a good thing or a bad thing, it depends on what you're addicted to.

If you're addicted to destructive things like drugs, gambling, sex, food, alcohol, cigarettes etc., then you hurt yourself and others around you.

If you're addicted to constructive things like love, giving, helping others, being mindful of others, then you live up to your personal potential and benefit others around you.

Having an addictive personality isn't a bad thing if you use it to benefit others.
 
Copyright © 2013, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Addiction

The kingdom of this world is about serving ourselves. The Kingdom of God is about serving others.

Addiction is a complicated issue. There are many experts and services available to help people suffering from addiction.

The simple explanation provided here should not be construed as a lack of sympathy for the seriousness and complexity of the issue.

Problem – Disconnection
Addiction is one of the ways we are disconnected from one another. When we are high, stoned, drunk, passed out, hung over, mentally unavailable and/or physically unavailable, we are disconnected from others.

Reason for Problem - Selfishness
Addicts are entrenched in self-serving behavior, spending time, energy and effort focused on feeding the addiction. Addicts do not think about anybody else except themselves.

Solution – Connection
If we change the way we live our lives and seek to serve others instead of ourselves, then we make sure we are mentally and physically available to serve them.

Instead of engaging in addictive behavior that leaves us unavailable, we keep our minds, bodies and hearts fit, ready and alert to be of service to others.

Copyright © 2013 , Carter Kagume. May be used for research purposes only. May not be used for any commercial purposes.