Years ago, I was treating a very famous actor. He had a pattern of depression that was only getting worse with each new project. It stemmed from a fantasy, one we all have, that something ‘out there’ would make him feel better ‘in here’.
But when you win an Oscar, and you’re still depressed, then what?
“We live in a delusional culture where we’re mostly damaging ourselves in our avoidance of the reality of life. Avoidance, or resistance, will never stop reality—but it can stop you from experiencing life.” – True and False Magic, 2025
Reaching for something in the world around us with the hope that it’s magically going to change how we’re feeling inside simply does not work. More often than not, this thinking actually causes more harm than good. It’s at the root of most addictions. Addictions come from projecting that something in the material world has the magical ability to fix any problem we might have.
It’s only possible to conquer an addiction if you accept the nature of reality. Reality is not magical. It requires an ability to find meaning in the process of living. This has to be more than an idea. It means nothing until you act on it.
Instead, we prefer to live in a Safety Zone. The Safety Zone is an imaginary state that we want to believe we can retreat into. It’s a place where we mistakenly believe we can be safe and comfortable. The truth is, we are held there by fear. Most people live their entire lives inside their safety zone in the attempt to avoid pain. But what we sacrifice is the ability to move forward.
If you want something badly enough, you become willing to change. But venturing outside of the Safety Zone isn’t easy. Which is why we have a Tool for that. It’s called Reversal of Desire. And you can check that out right here.
The inability to leave the Safety Zone makes for a small life. Ask yourself – do you want a bigger one?
