Talking with the young people who are working with us to get off drugs, there are several patterns that trigger certain behaviors that end in drug use. One of them is destructive habits that don't appear to be habits.

By definition, a habit is an activity or attitude that is done habitually, on a daily basis. How do we know if what we do is right or does me good? God's word says....

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify" 1 Corinthians 10:23.

I can do all things, but not everything I do is good for me. This is where the problem begins because first I must ask myself: What do I want and why or what do I want it for?

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" James 4:3.

The repetitive pattern is the pursuit of satisfying desires, satisfying what I think I need to be happy such as material things, a partner, money, recognition. When I manage to have those things and I am not able to be happy comes the disappointment that triggers other feelings such as sadness, bitterness, anger, the desire to satisfy myself comes and I look for it in immediate pleasures like liquor, drugs, irresponsible sex, etc.

To avoid this vicious circle it is necessary to make a stop (that's why they go into the foundation), meditate on what really makes me well and how to achieve it. It is important to be aware that positive habits will lead me to emotional, physical and spiritual stability and there is true, permanent happiness and joy.

Sometimes we believe that because they are harmless habits, they will not end up doing any harm to me or anyone else. The smallest of habits that do not add but subtract, end up in time taking us to negative states of mind where we will not know what happened. For example, watching too much television or playing games on the cell phone can lead to procrastination. Seeing that I am not achieving my goals for small tasks and not being able to blame the cell phone or TV, because it is really my fault, ends in disappointment, anger, bitterness, which leads me to a state of sadness and I must solve it quickly and make bad decisions.

Permanently review what habits you have that may seem harmless but in the long run can hurt your performance, finish tasks and meet your goals. Small savings, turning off the TV and sleeping, less time on social networks, are just a few examples. Do it for you, because no one else can do it, it's your life.

God bless you!