“Do people who are addicted to sugar or any other substance think differently than those who are not?”
This question crossed my mind recently and I decided to do some research on it.
I discovered this sobering quote from psychologist Dr. Lee Jampolsky about the origins of the addictive mindset:
…the origins of addiction really come from our own thinking. When we are in a belief system that says ‘my happiness is somewhere out there’ – in a substance, in a relationship, in an amount of money in my bank account – that when I see that my happiness is out there, I am going to be heading down the road of addiction.”
The idea that your happiness is attached to having a particular food or any other material substance can lead you into seeking or clinging to that substance desperately.
This reminds me of the “Acres of Diamonds” story. It seems an African farmer always dreamed of possessing the wealth of diamonds.
He could not imagine happiness without them. So he decided to sell his farm and go off in search of diamonds.
He traveled all over the world but in spite of his desperate efforts, he never found the diamonds he sought. Finally, despondent and discouraged, he took his own life.
Meanwhile, the person who bought the African farmer’s property found an unusual rock on the ground. He thought the rock looked interesting, so he put it on his mantlepiece.
One day a friend was visiting and exclaimed when he saw the rock. “Wow, what an incredible diamond you’ve found!”
The new owner said, “What do you mean? That’s just a rock. There are tons just like it out there.”
The friend explained to the owner that the “rock” he’d found was a diamond in an unfinished form.
It turned out that the farm was one of the largest diamond mines ever discovered!
That African farmer, the original owner, already possessed wealth; the problem was that he lacked the vision to see it.
Rather than putting his energy into maximizing what he had, he was too busy looking for happiness elsewhere.
Even Christians can fall into this trap.
The Bible doesn’t teach that happiness is “out there.” Rather, Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:20-21).
Romans 14:17 defines what this means;
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Righteousness, peace, and joy are part of our inheritance as kingdom citizens.
Here are some scriptures to meditate upon daily to ensure your inner kingdom is in order:
- Affirm righteousness as your identity in Christ: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
- Allow the Lord to work righteousness through you: “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:13).”
- Make choices that give you true peace: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).”
- Seek joy in the Lord’s presence: “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence (Acts 2:28).’”
Examine your thoughts. Are you thinking that you can’t be happy unless you obtain something “out there”? Even good things can become a problem when we make our daily happiness dependent upon them.
If you are struggling with sugar addiction or any other addiction, then a great place to start in overcoming it is to learn to focus on righteousness, peace, and joy daily – which is your kingdom inheritance through Jesus Christ!
Click here to learn what feeds addiction in Part 2 of Overcoming the Addictive Mindset.
Be Blessed with Health, Healing, and Wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple Weight Loss Community
P.S. Do you struggle with overeating sugar? If so, you are not alone!
Overcoming sugar addiction was a key factor on my weight loss journey; I lost 85 pounds and dropped from a size 22 to an 8.
In our 14-day Sugar Detox Challenge online course (inside the Take Back Your Temple Community), you’ll get the same success strategies and support to gain peace in your eating habits and achieve lasting weight loss.
Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple Christian Weight Loss Community.
This reminds me of the hymn Jesus loves even me. When I despair of the sin I’ve committed and the ways I not only wrong the Lord but others as well, it is a good reminder that Jesus loves even me. That in confessing and repenting of my sin and practicing righteousness instead I am assured of his forgiveness and cleansing. My prayer is may I continue to cling to Him. How selfish that I would choose the unfulfilled things over the riches he offers. Lord forgive and heal my unbelief.
Amen, Ruth! When I fall short, it reminds me “Why I Need a Savior (WINS).” So thankful for Jesus!
Another great article and on time! Kimberly since starting the program a month ago. I have discovered that my “thoughts ” has been my problem. Knowing who I am in Christ, and accepting who I am is the struggle. But I know the struggle is part of the process. THE MINDSET is key. Thanks for sticking with me through this process. Nugget for those who are struggling in the mindset:
Identifying the author of the thought. If the thought is negative & self-defeating- red flag satan; Do like Kim says go straight to your scripture treasure chest – James 4:7 Submit to God 1st, then tell SATAN irs not your thought & you are not accepting it but casting it down in JESUS Name! It might take repeating. Believe me it works! The Holy Spirit ‘s power is unexplainable But all I know He works for us. Kim
Praise God, Kim – I am so thankful that the Lord is illuminating His word to you. It is indeed becoming “flesh” in your life as you are living it. May He continue to bless you in this journey 🙂
I’m struggling with depression and false mindset for years that lead me to food addiction. I’m feel overweight now and need to take control of my own thought and body. Your program really help me to take control of my thought.
Praise God, Juan!
This is encouraging to read but I find my self in a unhealthy cycle of stress eating, and addicted to junk food. I read the scriptures, and know what I should do but I don’t know how to start. I feel discouraged that I won’t be able to have this cycle broken in my life.
Hi Jennifer – I recommend getting clear first if you want to change. Check out my change quiz here to see where your mindset is: https://takebackyourtemple.com/change-quiz-i-dont-believe-i-can-change-or-i-dont-want-to-change-weight-loss-blog/.
If you are clear that you want to change, then write down your reasons to change. These reasons need to be strong, real, and EMOTIONAL to you. Don’t just consider how these habits impact you, but those you love, and your ability to fulfill your purpose.
Finally, you said “I know what I should do, but don’t know how to start.’ Write down what you know you should do. Then look at your list and pick 1 small thing from what you have written to start working on.
Writing things down will help you see things in black and write and give you something to work with. Otherwise, your dreams will remain ‘castles in the sky’ and you can’t live in those 🙂
Thank you Kimberly for the response! I’ll be sure to do what you have suggested and keep you posted.
Understanding our identity IS the first step to where we ‘find our happy’, because without that Blessed Assurance we can develop a works mindset, or performance mindset. God’s Word describes our happy as ‘blessed’. A short word study in the Concordance/Computer on blessed, and delight changed my mindset from a works mentality to KNOWING I was intimately loved by God, my Abba, Teacher, Counselor, Comforter to resting in the righteousness of Christ, pursuing Him (John 15). Understanding the ‘blessed is the man’ verses helped me to reorient my thinking to pursue those things rather than running on the gerbil wheel to earn his love as I had been doing as a young Doctor before I committed my life to Christ.
Great word, Debra! It’s funny how you described the “gerbil” mindset. My false image was having to jump hurdles to earn God’s love! It was only when I became convinced that He loved me just as I am that healing from emotional eating and the weight loss began.
I just love your website!!!!! I just love it!!! YOu are such a neat lady with a neat gifted heart!!!!
Thank you, Susanne – I praise God for the opportunity to share His precious word!