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Words of Wisdom 103 on the core chaos cycle,
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recovery part 11 introduction.
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It's helpful to see the
fundamental elements of things
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and how those elements interact.
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I do that today in discussing
what I call the chaos cycle.
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This episode is part 11 in a
series on addiction and recovery
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to see the entire recovery series,
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go to wisecraft.org.
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To understand recovery, you must
understand addiction and what
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feeds the addictive behavior.
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Today I will introduce what
I call the core Chaos Cycle.
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The Core Chaos Cycle is a systems
view of addiction and trauma.
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Let's reflect on addiction.
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Typically, when people think about
addiction, all they think about is this
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specific addictive behavior, whether
a substance addiction like alcoholism,
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or a process addiction like sex
addiction, the focus is on the behavior.
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And the age old question is, why
don't addicts just decide to stop?
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To understand addiction, we need to
have a systems thinking mindset to fully
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see the cunning, baffling, and powerful
nature of addiction, we need to see
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not only the contributing elements of
addictive behavior, but the ways those
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elements interact with each other and
the compounding effect of those dynamics.
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There are many different elements
that comprise addiction, but we cannot
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see them only as individual elements.
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We must understand them in their
context, in relationship to one another.
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To understand an addictive behavior,
you must see it in the cycle of
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chaos that the addict is trapped in.
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The Core Chaos Cycle is a description
of the dynamics of chaotic living
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and how that feeds specific
physiological and psychological
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triggers to choose to setback.
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A setback is what I call choosing a
behavior that goes against your values.
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This setback behavior feeds what
we call the five strongholds.
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Over time, repeatedly moving through
the cycle of behavior grows into
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developing an addictive behavior.
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For example, occasional times of abusing
alcohol using marijuana or hooking
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up doesn't make someone an addict.
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Addiction is about the compulsive
nature of the behavior that has
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grown over months and years.
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Late stage addiction is indicated by
the addictive behavior in the Core
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Chaos Cycle that feeds it, becoming the
dominant dynamic of the person's life.
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To see an image of the core chaos
Cycle, go to wisecraft.org and
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I'll link it in the show notes.
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The core chaos cycle is a way of
seeing how these core elements
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of addiction feed each other.
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In the future
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I will explore all of these dynamics in
greater detail for today, consider the
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following practical steps to address
each element of the core chaos cycle.
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First, use the three circles exercise
from sex addicts anonymous to reflect
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on and identify the chaotic behavior.
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In S.A.A.
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this is called your inner circle
and middle circle behavior.
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Second, identify the triggers that
cue you to have the urge to engage in
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your addictive or setback behavior.
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Then seek to minimize your triggers.
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Third, know your values and what you're
committed to so you're clear with yourself
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about what a setback behavior actually is.
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Finally develop a daily reflection
practice to identify and let
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go of the five strongholds.
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The five strongholds are
selfishness, dishonesty, resentment,
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fear, and distorted thinking.
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The more deeply you understand and seek
mastery over the fundamental elements
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that drive addiction, the more you'll
experience freedom and flourishing.
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Quotes.
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"I think most people can learn a
lot more than they think they can.
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They sell themselves short without trying.
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One bit of advice.
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It is important to view knowledge
as a sort of semantic tree.
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Make sure you understand the
fundamental principles, i.e.
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The trunk and big branches before
you get into the leaves or details,
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or there is nothing for
them to hang on to."
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Elon Musk in an ask me anything on Reddit.
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In every systematic inquiry or methodos
where there are first principles or
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causes or elements, knowledge and
science result from acquiring knowledge
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of these for we think we know something
just in case we acquire knowledge of
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the primary causes, the primary first
principles, all the way to the elements.
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Aristotle, in his book, Physics Questions.
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First, identify one setback or addictive
behavior that goes against your values.
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It might help to think of the
last time you relapsed or setback,
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Then reflect on these questions.
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In the days and hours before, what led
up to you setting back or relapsing?
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What compromises in your
values did you choose?
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What feelings did you experience
in the hours before you set back?
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What physiological or environmental
triggers did you experience?
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What lies did you believe?
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Use these questions as a journal
prompt and prayers for this week.
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End note.
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Recovery is easy.
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All it costs you is everything.
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Live wisely, Josh
