I realized very clearly today one of my biggest triggers. Stress. But not just any stress, the stress of having to get a project done, and relatively quickly (having put it off for far too long). Before, I would have masturbated, just to take the edge off. There's a giant knot of stress in my chest so my body is screaming for a break from that, and the habits of my old mind are trying to convince me there's not only nothing wrong with it, I'll feel better immediately, and keeps trying to wander thoughts to past sexual encounters. What it doesn't tell me (that jerk) is that it won't help me long term, or how it will be detrimental to my long term goals. If anyone has any tips for how to confront this kind of trigger, when I absolutely cannot shift my focus away from the work I must get done today (other than asking for help here), by all means, please let me know. I'm going to pray, and then meditate quietly (just a couple minutes of slow, steady breathing, focusing on the big picture and long term hopes and goals) before jumping back into my work. Maybe throw in some push-ups while I'm at it. For clarity I work from home, and can't move all I need to accomplish the task today.
Man, I'm blessed. A friend literally just sent me this text out of the blue. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8"
