{"id":67389,"date":"2023-05-31T12:59:28","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T04:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/?p=67389"},"modified":"2025-03-12T11:11:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T03:11:37","slug":"overcoming-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/blog\/overcoming-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Defeating demons: Stories of overcoming addiction with Adam Gunton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You’re walking on a tightrope. Each step teeters on the edge of a hundred-foot drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction is that tightrope, and every addict balances precariously between falling into the abyss or crossing to the safety of sobriety. Imagine having a guide who has walked that tightrope, fallen, got up, and crossed to the other side\u2014welcome to the stories of overcoming addiction, inspired by Adam Vibe Gunton\u2019s own experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam is a former addict-turned-life coach, author, and entrepreneur. In a podcast interview on Honest Conversations with Kristina M\u04d3nd-Lakhiani <\/strong>(a part of Mindvalley\u2019s podcasts), he shares how he took his worst nightmare and transformed it into his life’s work. (The interview<\/a> is available for replay for Mindvalley Members.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He’s essentially the Gandalf of the addiction world, helping others navigate the winding paths of their personal Mordor. His experiences are raw, real, and loaded with insights that can shift your perspective on addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this isn\u2019t intended as a substitute for professional advice, it does serve as a source of inspiration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because you’ve got to have a purpose in life that’s bigger than the addiction. That\u2019s the theme in Adam\u2019s own story as well as the fundamental belief he shares with those he works with in recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Honest Conversations with Kristina M\u04d3nd-Lakhiani (tune in with the Mindvalley app)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adam Vibe Gunton\u2019s story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019ve gone through it personally, the struggle of addiction can be difficult to imagine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let\u2019s look at it this way: you’re Frodo, and addiction is the One Ring. It’s an unending, relentless burden. Your own personal Mount Doom seems insurmountable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the life of Adam Vibe Gunton, a real-life Frodo in the war against addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam’s journey wasn’t simply a walk in the Shire\u2014it was a crawl through Mordor\u2019s darkest trenches. His relationship with addiction led him to incarceration at a young age, the bars of his cage reflecting the chains of his affliction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing is, addiction often leads to imprisonment, as indicated in the 2021 report<\/a> by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. It found that \u201cnearly four in 10 state prisoners and three in 10 federal prisoners reported using drugs at the time of the offense<\/em>.\u201d And that\u2019s a chilling echo of society\u2019s toxic culture<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, in the shadow of his personal Mount Doom, Adam found a spark of hope. His story of overcoming addiction wasn\u2019t some magic spell\u2014it was a trek of endurance and determination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As in the depths of Mordor, he found his purpose amidst the chaos, becoming the architect of his own journey to sobriety. He emerged not just victorious but with a new mission: to redefine the societal norms surrounding addiction and help those struggling through Recovered on Purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Adam says in his interview with Kristina, \u201cWhat we have to do as a community is shift the focus completely away from everything that we can’t do and refocus on everything that we can do<\/em>.\u201d This conviction powered his path toward becoming a life coach, author, and entrepreneur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he didn\u2019t stop at just narrating inspiring stories; he provided a roadmap to navigate addiction’s treacherous terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 ways to fight addiction: Insights from Adam Vibe Gunton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saying that getting sober is challenging and daunting is an understatement. Yet it\u2019s not an impossible feat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of stories of overcoming addiction, Adam\u2019s included. And taking inspiration from his (and others’) experiences, here\u2019s how you, too, can rise above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> While Adam\u2019s experience is just one of many stories of overcoming addiction, it\u2019s crucial to remember that it\u2019s a serious issue that affects many individuals and families. Always seek professional help if you or a loved one is struggling. This article is meant to inspire and shed light on the issue, not to replace professional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Surround yourself with a strong support system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to rally a strong support system. After all, Frodo didn\u2019t go on his quest alone; he had a fellowship to ensure he carried out his mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the battle against addiction, having the right comrades by your side can make all the difference between faltering and flourishing. These are the people who\u2019ll not only help you detour away from the slippery slope of old habits but also with feeling worthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be a support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. It can be your friends (the non-using ones, of course). Or, as it was with Adam, it can be your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Vibe Gunton\u2019s insights <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Know that a support system will always champion you with love. But \u201cit goes in waves<\/em>,\u201d says Adam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s the element of shock, he explains to Kristina in the interview. They may offer their help. Then, it can get to the stage where they feel they can\u2019t talk anymore because they don\u2019t want to enable you\u2014a \u201ctough love type thing<\/em>,\u201d in Adam\u2019s words. And as your recovery starts happening, they may come right back in again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Talk to someone who\u2019s gone through it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something about connecting with others who\u2019ve battled similar demons of addiction; it’s like being part of a group, with each member having their own unique roadmap to sobriety. There\u2019s a shared understanding in these circles that fosters comfort and reduces feelings of isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you’re walking the tightrope of addiction recovery, having a companion who’s been there can offer invaluable balance. They might share grounding techniques that helped them maintain stability or even how they explored alternative methods<\/a> for healing trauma and PTSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> supports this approach, suggesting that shared experiences of recovery can significantly enhance the chances of sobriety. It’s as if each shared story strengthens the safety net under your recovery tightrope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Vibe Gunton\u2019s insights <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wish that when I was 12, 13, 14, maybe 15, a man would’ve come into my life that had been through what I was about to go through and shared with me where it went<\/em>,\u201d Adam confessed in the interview. His experiences made him realize the vast difference between an authority figure simply detailing a list of substances to avoid (like in the D.A.R.E. programs) and a person who has personally experienced drug use sharing their journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He underscores the importance of speaking with those who’ve walked a similar path. He believes shared experience and personal understanding can offer a lifeline during the recovery process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The takeaway here? Don’t shy away from these conversations. They’re not about highlighting failures; they’re about pooling collective wisdom and turning recovery into a community effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Find a new purpose in life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you’re embarking on a road trip, it helps to have a destination in mind. Similarly, when you’re overcoming addiction, it’s beneficial to have a beacon to guide you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam suggests that finding a new purpose in life<\/a> can be that guiding light, illuminating a path towards fulfillment and away from addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does that look like? It could be anything that gives your life meaning and direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe it\u2019s committing to a healthier lifestyle, diving into a hobby you’ve always loved, or pursuing a new career. It can even be like Adam\u2014helping others tell their stories of overcoming addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, it’s about replacing the harmful with the wholesome, creating a healthy space that addiction has no room to occupy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Vibe Gunton\u2019s insights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s about taking the focus away from what addicts can’t do and instead, re-focus on what they can, according to Adam. He says, “It’s all about what areas of your life [and] what strengths you have in your life to grow on to become the best version of who you possibly can<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This concept isn’t just Adam’s personal philosophy; it’s rooted in research. A study<\/a> published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment validates this strategy, highlighting that having a sense of purpose helps improve outcomes in addiction treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when someone in recovery has this dream for their life, they\u2019re less likely to give in to their triggers, Adam highlights. So remember that each step you take towards your purpose is a step away from addiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Recovered On Purpose (@recoveredonpurpose)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>