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Question ::: What type of pleasures do you seek that cause you to think twice before indulging, lately?
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Why might something that feels good at first become harmful later?
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Once Upon a Dream – Maleficent ‘Dream’ Trailer (1:31) The Reasons Why We Constantly Seek Pleasures (9:39) Garden of Self-Realization in LA Meditation (8:41)Today’s SFZ explores the deceptive allure of addiction and the critical moment of choosing recovery. Addiction seduces with brief pleasure but leads to lasting pain. This theme echoes what Thomas Jefferson warned: pleasure often hides a hook. The initial euphoria gives way to despair, as described in The Basic Text. The addict faces a harsh choice: endure short-term pain through withdrawal or continue the cycle of long-term suffering.
This paradox of pleasure and pain has been widely examined. Carl Jung warned that unchecked pleasure-seeking masks deep spiritual emptiness. Gabor Maté, an addiction expert, states that addiction is not about drugs but pain relief. He notes that people use substances to escape suffering, not to chase joy. Over time, the substance loses its power, and what once felt good becomes destructive. This is seen in The Big Book, where old pleasures fade and only failure remains.
B.F. Skinner, a behaviorist, showed how addiction mirrors reinforcement patterns. The brain learns to expect reward, even when the reward is gone. This leads to compulsive behavior and repeated disappointment. The cycle persists despite its diminishing return.
In Step 3, recovery begins with surrender. It invites us to choose discomfort in the short term to escape lifelong misery. Viktor Frankl observed that meaning, not pleasure, sustains us. Choosing to suffer briefly—through withdrawal or honesty—can open the door to lasting peace.
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