Gambling Freedom in 60 Days: Day 24

Pride keeps people in addiction. High level pride is refusing to go to GA. Refusing to seek help from a Pastor or Priest. Knowing that Mom or Dad or Brother or Sister is right when they advise you and ignoring what they say because you want to do things your way. Knowing you need rehab and trying every other method instead (we will still be here when you come back). Pride is not seeking help because you do not want to tell people you slipped up again.

A humble person reads great books on quitting addiction 3 times just to make sure they get it. They take notes when their Pastor/Priest gives them great advice and they review them often. They get more help from everybody involved because they show such a high level of appreciation for the advice and help they get. They go to extremes to put the advice into action (whether they believe it will work or not). They see that other people have helped them and loved them. So they plan to help the next person once they have cleaned up their act.

Pride is a test. Will you do things your way or your Pastor/Priests way? Your way or the legal way? Your way or Gods way? The Bible says that pride goeth before a fall. Most of us have already experienced that verse. Passing the pride test gives you another important key to permanent freedom. Make it a focus.
Don’t let your environment get you back into gambling. Don’t watch the horses or poker or lottery or anything else that will bring you back in. If you have a friend who always talks about gambling you need a new friend. Don’t even go near any place where you can gamble.

Realize that when your emotions are OK you will have much less pressure to gamble.
Jake Brindell from www.wanttostopgambling.com noted the following:

“One stress neutralizer is to use deep breathing techniques. Make sure you are on your own and won’t be disturbed for five to ten minutes. If possible find a place that is quiet. Close your eyes and Start taking deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Let all the thoughts, good or bad, flow away from you. Do not pay them any attention. Concentrate only on your breathing.

Jake continued:

THE VALUE OF MONEY

I’ve been in hot pursuit for that ‘Golden Fleece’ (until recently) my entire life and look where it has got me? Look where it has gotten you? I’d like you to stop for a second and consider that if you won that big win you’ve been dreaming about all this time.

The one which would provide you with enough money to solve all of your ‘problems’and maybe provide you with that luxury lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Would that instantly solve the way you deal with your negative emotions? Is it really possible for money to solve the world’s negative emotional states? – I think Elvis, Robbie Williams and the millions of other rich people since the dawn of time and from around the world may have something to say on this matter.

So I would like to offer you that health, happiness and love as well as many other

things come before money and when you give up the pursuit of the ‘big win’ and give them more attention the results you can achieve will astound you.

Given below is a list, in order, of my new value system. I wonder what yours may look like…

• Health
• Love
• Happiness
• Fun and friendliness
• Giving to others
• Honesty
• Learning and education
• Making a difference
• Passion for life
• Achieving my goals”

Today, write out what your new value system is.

To stop gambling learn toughness. When all goes wrong in our lives we want to gamble. We need the toughness to just say no when events start to lead us back into gambling. Work on your toughness everywhere. At work your boss is a jerk. A tough person does not let it ruin their day. At home someone yells at you. A tough person forgives and forgets. Your children act like monsters. A tough parent forgives them (after they discipline them) and treats them with love. Pray every day for toughness. When you are tempted to gamble it takes a lot of toughness to say no. Work on this and pray about it every day.

Pray every day “Lord, help me to be tough when things go wrong”.

Read John 21, 2nd Corinthians 5 and Proverbs 19

Continue to read the Purpose Driven Life

Pray “Father keep me from temptation”.
Jesus said “If your hand offends you, cut it off“(Matt 5:30).  What He is saying is to cut off the source of your addiction or sin. The source is not the event, it is what leads to the event. Examples of sources are: daydreaming about gambling, continuing to believe you can develop a system to win (Casino’s and gambling sites online always win – sooner or later), thinking about money or getting ahead fast too much, moping around saying that you can’t do the one thing you love the most.

Hello – you are aware of the destruction, now put in the work to think about new things. Put forth effort to do new things. Be more aware of when you start to skate down a slippery path and be proud of your-self when you turn it around. No one at a support group will cheer if you get up and say: “I now am convinced that I can’t come up with a system to win.” But your life if going to be a great story a year from now because that is how you take the steel grip of addiction to the fire and start to melt it. When you stop looking at gambling sites, daydreaming about gambling, and talking about gambling: you will start to think about new things. You will start to do new things. And for a while you won’t be thrilled with the change. Then at some point you will be so excited about the change that you will tell everyone you know – I never ever want to go back to living the way I used to.

Memorize this fact: All addictions will substantially lower our quality of life. When we start to worship God instead of worshipping our own pleasure we will be happier.

Some of us shut everybody out because they have caused us pain in the past. Now, try to reverse that behavior by praying to be filled with Jesus love. God loves to answer a pray like “Father, take away my lust, selfishness, pride _____ (you fill in the blank) and fill me with your love”. We have been at least part of the problem in the past. Now (with prayer) we can become at least part of the solution.  Developing and healing of relationships is very helpful in breaking bad habits.

For those of you who are now overcoming addiction, you now need to start helping others. If you are still too early in recovery to start helping others in a one on one situation you can start by praying for other addicts. Pray: “Father, bring people to this website and give them a chance to overcome addiction, find your love, start to find their purpose and starting to find joy again. You may be able to help others by advising them to go to a self help group like AA. Think about, pray about and plan how you can help others both now – as well as in the future

If this article has helped you, share it with your friends. Share buttons are below the index.

Thank you for reading day 23 of this program to stop gambling and to leave this habit completely.

Index

Day one: Quitting addiction exercises

Day two: It is important to admit you are powerless

Day 3: Learn the right way to live

Day 4: Getting rid of negative emotions

Day 5: Remember – money lost is not yours. Don’t try to get it back or you will lose more.

Day 6: can you increase your pleasure by gambling?

Day 7: Staying clean in all ways helps you quit the addiction

Day 8: Decide what pain and pleasure you want

Day 9: Analyze what leads you back to your addiction

Day 10: Change your emotions and your mindsets. Stop believing that your big score will come in.

Day 11: Where the Spirit of the Lord is – there is liberty

Day 12: Learn how to worship God. Also try to develop positive addictions.

Day 13: Write out a letter saying why you want to quit

Day 14: Overcoming cravings and negative emotions

Day 15: You have some self control

Day 16: Have a list of coping statements. Have a list of substitute activities.

Day 17: How to find living water that will always satisfy you

Day 18: Do not have faulty beliefs abourt gambling odds

Day 19: Interview with a professional poker player

Day 20: What we can learn from Adam and Eve’s mistakes

Day 21: more great stuff from Adam and Eve’s mistakes

Day 22: Self control

Day 23: What to think about to develop self control