Masturbation: Why is it one of the hardest addictions to overcome?
- We have body memory. Since we were 11 years old, we have grown used to making the movement with our hands, to stimulating our genitals.
- We have emotional memory. Long moments of loneliness were “illusorily” compensated with quick minutes of “pleasure” or immediate satisfaction.
- We live surrounded by screens. Unless we work in the fields, planting and harvesting, we work with screens. Cell phone screen, computer screen, screens… It seems natural that, from so much living with screens, we also direct our leisure moments (watching lectures on YouTube, series on Netflix…) to screens… But it is not natural. It is not at all, NOT AT ALL HEALTHY!
- It is always available. We need nothing but our imagination to masturbate. Just one lustful thought about any person. Pornographic videos, photos, erotic stories only feed our imagination!
- It seems natural – after all, we must reproduce. This is the hardest question: if we have a penis or a vagina, why shouldn’t we use it? But it is the intention that matters. For what purpose am I using my penis? To create a healthy family, to build a family, to multiply as God wills? Or am I using it to satisfy feelings of immediate pleasure, or a “carnal” pleasure?
Whoever seeks the Kingdom of Heaven must be aware of these 5 points at all times.
For it is very easy, in a moment of weakness, discouragement or boredom, to fall back into old habits.
Like any other addiction – but in the case of masturbation – we must remember to direct our energy, our will and our intentions toward creating God’s works, and not earthly works.
It is, therefore, about overcoming oneself every day, beyond the survival instinct.
Mere survival is certain death!
Life, Life in Abundance – is to be a temple of the Spirit! It demands practice, demands training, demands reading!
The Love of Christ is demanding! That is why it is the narrow gate!
It is not easy!
But if we want to free ourselves from death, it is the only way!
May God bless you!!!
May He give you strength, courage, and discernment!!!