Up: [[Compulsion]] Related: [[Introspective Writing]], [[Expressive Art]], [[Embodiment - Ground Curriculum]] Created: 2026-04-02 Addiction thrives on frenzy, so it is absolutely essential that you have ways to get contemplative and calm. This includes: - a **space** where you have silence and solitude. See [[Quotes - Silence and Solitude]]. It’s easier to feel the divine and experience the mystery when there’s not talking. - a **time** for a contemplative (spiritual) practice. [[Ashok Bedi]] suggests that ideal times are within half an hour of sunrise and sunset because brain neurotransmitters are much higher at these times. And 45 minutes is an ideal length of time for these practices. When doing this work, tell thoughts and feelings you’ll attend to them later and mentally put them in a box. If you take your pulse after engaging in contemplative practice and it is between 50 and 60, you are in optimal balance. Between 60 and 70 is a bit of turmoil, and between 70 and 80 is a moderate stress response. - a **creative outlet**. [[Marion Woodman]] says to get so interested in nourishing and releasing your inner being that you don’t even think of your compulsion. You can do this through any creative outlet from [[Introspective Writing]] to [[Expressive Art]]. The contemplative practice and creative outlet might be one and the same, such as when drawing mandalas, certain relaxing forms of expressive art, or some journaling. Or contemplative practice might be prayer, mindfulness, meditation or many of the actions in [[Embodiment - Ground Curriculum]].