Episode 203

Welcome to Thrive Beyond Pornography. We're thrilled you're here, and we believe in your potential.

Hey everyone, and welcome to Thrive Beyond Pornography. I'm Zach Spafford, your host. I love this time of year because it's filled with birthdays in our family. We have twins born in July, Darcy was born in July, and our third and fourth child were also born in July. It's a busy month, and we have a lot of special celebrations, including Pioneer Day here in Utah. For those unfamiliar, Pioneer Day honors the men, women, and children who traveled from the East Coast to Utah, founding and building the state, often to escape persecution. It's a time to appreciate the incredible achievements of those who came before us and created the comfortable lives we enjoy today, even in Southern Utah's triple-digit heat, thanks to modern conveniences like air conditioning.

Now, let's delve into the topic of unleashing the power within and thriving beyond pornography. In today's world, pornography is easily accessible and omnipresent, leading many individuals to turn to it for various reasons. However, those who find themselves turning to pornography against their values usually do so because of deeper issues and unmet needs. The good news is that everything you need to address these issues is already within you. You don't need to look outside yourself for solutions.

The first step is understanding and addressing the underlying issues and learning new skills to cope with unmet needs or problems. Pornography is often used as a temporary escape from anxiety, stress, or discomfort. However, relying on it as a solution only perpetuates the cycle of greater stress and frustration. To break free from this cycle, it's crucial to explore healthier avenues to fulfill your needs and address emotional struggles directly.

Self-awareness and self-reflection are essential in this journey. By noticing and naming what's going on mentally, emotionally, and physically in the 30 minutes before turning to pornography, you can identify the underlying causes that lead to this behavior. This self-awareness enables you to explore alternative ways to fulfill your needs without resorting to porn.

Remember, you have the power within you to create positive change. Recognize your past achievements and moments of resilience as indicators of your inner strength. Embrace positive moments and learn from those times when you weren't at your best, using them as guides to understand what drove you toward behavior that didn't align with your values.

Unleashing your inner power starts with being curious about your emotions, addressing them directly, and learning to resolve your emotional struggles in healthy ways. It's not about demonizing porn, but understanding why you turn to it and finding healthier ways to fulfill your needs and face challenges head-on.

As you gain self-awareness, practice mindfulness, and explore new ways to address your emotions, you'll find yourself breaking free from unwanted pornography use and other habits that hinder your growth. Remember, you possess the strength and potential to be the person you want to be, and with self-awareness and self-compassion, you can thrive beyond pornography.

Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate your support. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a review. In the month of August, we'll be doing a drawing for a $50 prize for one lucky reviewer. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we look forward to bringing you more empowering content in the future. Share this podcast with someone who might benefit from it, and we'll be back next week with another episode. Take care and remember that you have the power to thrive beyond pornography. 

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