Why I don’t like the Term “Addicts”

May 30, 2019October 5, 2025CHRISTINA DITZEL Leave a comment

I’d like to start this article by saying: “Stop labeling people who use drugs and alcohol addicts or anyone else for that matter”! It programs their brains to receive and send false information about their character. Millions of people are “addicted” to social media, video games, Netflix, sex, and even work, the list goes on. But we never call those people “addicts”. Furthermore, we don’t say they’re in “Recovery” when they decide to stop or eliminate those things from their life. So, why don’t we treat drugs and alcohol the same way? As bad habits! Recovery keeps them in “Recovering addict” forever.

Here’s the truth, I never called myself an addict and I never went to “Recovery”. And do you know why? Because I knew it was just a bad habit and I could just “DESIDED” I no longer wanted to feel or live the life I was living and stop doing it. truth is if you want to “recover” you have figure out what you’re recovering from! I had to “suck it up” and whatever pain I had to endure, I went through it, and grew from it. Yes! of course It sucked! Yes, my body went through detox. And yes, I almost died! But I didn’t! To the contrary, it made me even stronger. By having to go through the hardcore pain and see what that drug was actually doing to my physical body, by the time it was completely out of my system I was certain of one thing. “I NEVER wanted to go through that again”! I sucked it up for the sake of some clarity in my life because “I” wanted to! BECAUSE “I” DESIDED! If you have a friend, family member or loved one who has these “bad habits” you can’t decide for them. By labeling them you’re already telling them they have a problem. Do you think they don’t know that? Do you really think the problem is the drugs or alcohol they are using? Similarly, if you’re the one looking for change, well, if you’re going to make any change in your life “YOU” have to be the one to decide! Other people can’t decide for you, and they can’t do the hard work for you either.

It is not easy, but if you really want to recover, YOU CAN do it! YOU need to stop playing victim, suck it up and make the changes happen! And do you know why? Because CLARITY GIVES YOU PURPOSE! And unless you are clear minded, you will never know the underlying cause of your “little habit”. Because that is all it is. That substance does not define who you are. “YOU ARE NOT AN ADDICT”! You are the only one with your exact “thoughts, feelings, and actions”. Only you know what you’re truly capable of. Stop needing the affirmation from other people. You are perfectly made and only you know what breaks or makes you to movement. So, if you really do want a different life for yourself…You CAN have it! Go Freaking Get it! FIGHT FOR IT DAMMIT!

So back to my point. First, labels are programmed into our brains. Our brain is like a huge program that saves and stores information and it helps guide our way through life. However, we have a ”mind” that can override any program. All the information we gather can either help us respond in a positive or negative way. Our mind has the power to choose which direction we go. Second, every time we pamper people with “labels” we are not helping them. In fact, we are doing them a “disservice” by enabling them to keep doing the shit they do. Labeling people as “Addicts” allows them to keep making excuses for their BAD, UNHEALTHY HABITS and they continue doing really shitty things because they know they use the “addict label” as an excuse they never make any real changes to quit. Hence, leading them right back where they started.

You may think I’m being a little harsh, but I changed my life by changing my perspective. Basically, I lost the labels people placed on me. But that wasn’t all I did. I disconnected my phone and myself. And that included the people, places, and things I surrounded myself with. Humans don’t need more patronizing, and they definitely don’t need more “labels”. But what we are lacking is LOVE, SUPPORT, & RESPECT.

What people really need, is someone who wont judge them, but still hold them accountable for their OWN LIFE and just be there when they are going through stuff. Speak with love and encouraging words!

Your words can give Life or Death.
proverbs 18:21

Your words have the power to lift someone into life’s purpose or tear them down into harmful lifestyle habits. Choose your words wisely. Stop the labeling! If we must throw labels out there, lets talk about “Weakness”. (The state or condition of lacking strength). The inability or “desire” to do what we want to do and stop doing the things we don’t want to do. Did you see what I did there? I gave you two different words (inability and desire). The inability to do something means you just “cant” do something. But the word desire is something we “feel” we really must do or want to have. By using the word desire I am telling you that “weakness” is not an “addiction”. Contrary to what I said earlier, uou do have a choice. You can CHOOSE to NOT be weak by having the DESIRE to do the things you want to do.

Rather than placing labels around someone’s neck encourage them with positive words that lift them up. Remember, they need to figure out what they are recovering from! Because it is not drugs and alcohol! Trust me on that! And no, I am not telling you to patronize them! But do…. Love them for the person you know they are going to be. Support them even if you can’t see the bigger picture. Be there when they are going through the hardest times in life. And mostly, respect others because you know God made them who they are, and you know they will come out of this mess stronger than they were before. Don’t hear what I am not saying! If you can’t be around this person because their habits or lifestyle is harming you, then walk away. It’s really that simple. At the end of the day, each and every single one of us will have to make a decision. As for the word “addict” Instead of calling it “addiction” or using the term “recovering addicts”, maybe try using the term “bad habit” or a “healthy lifestyle”. Habits and lifestyles can be altered and changed. The term “recovery” leaves people in a state of mind that tells them “They will always be recovering”. But when we stick people in a building with a group of more people who are “recovering addicts” we are just allowing them to continue to talk about the one thing they want to stop doing. And then we give then to patronize the situation even more, we give them a metal or coin that reminds them how many months and years they have been recovering from this substance abuse. IT IS ABSURD!!! News flash! “Recover” means to “return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength”. Why would anyone ever want to leave the person they love, to feel sick, lost, and weak???

To Conclude this article, I’d like to just say:

STOP “ALL” THE LABELING! Let the words that come out of your mouth build people up and stop breaking them down! Make the change today and DECIDE to live your life fully blessed in abundance. And remember “you have to know what you (or your loved one) “are recovering from”.

Your words have Power to Heal the sick
Or Break people down into their illness
Author Christina Ditzel

If you need more advice please comment below, join my channel on YouTube, or just grab my book “Hot mess to totally blessed” on Amazon Today. This is how you begin your journey into an abundant life. Living in abundance is a choice…

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Thank you in advance for all your participation, support, and encouragement.

HOW TO BE MINDFUL IN THE MESS

May 17, 2019October 5, 2025CHRISTINA DITZEL 2 Comments

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

BEING MINDFUL IN THE MESS

Are you being mindful in the mess? Or are you letting your mind and body’s past experiences and trauma guide you through life? So, you already probably know that you have millions of memory programs running inside your head from past experience, to things you were taught, things you learned and unlearned, all the way down to things you said and did. As you read this article, your brain is memorizing and working to remind you of things you already know, from things you’ve heard before, to the very things you didn’t know or never learned. It is all in your memory bank. Even the things you think you forgot, it is still there, sitting in your subconscious mind.

This is why you can smell something or taste food and remember something from your childhood or have a memory of a specific moment in time. Your mind is extremely powerful! So, are you really being mindful? Are you aware of your own thoughts, feelings and actions? Or, are you just running on routine and habits that your memory already has stored? I know I am getting a little deep here with the whole thinking thing, sorry about that. But, in order to be “mindful in the mess” I am about to make you “think of thinking” and it might hurt a little.

Did you know “your Thoughts control your Emotions, and your emotions control your actions”? Think about that for a minute……Your thoughts become emotions and then you act based on your feelings. Am I right? So, what are you thinking about, (finances, work, finding love, wanting more, meeting deadlines, all your needs, all your wants, etc.)? For the majority of your day what are you thinking about? What do you think about the minute you wake up and open your eyes? Do you reach for your phone, then go to the bathroom, then go make a pot of coffee, still checking social media, etc.??? You’re not really thinking of doing these things you are just doing it. You’re doing it out of habit! Am I about on point here so far?

So, right about now you’re “thinking of thinking” which is probably beginning to get frustrating, but that is good. You are literally about to teach your brain that your “mindfulness” is in control instead of your brain being in control of you. Okay, so, when I asked you what you think of when you open your eyes in the morning, what was your thought? …..

That thought determines how you will act moving forward, if you are not mindful of controlling the feeling that emotion gives you. And every thought there after will control how you act and react the rest of your day. Unless, you are “MIND-FULL” of your thoughts. Here is an idea:

Write these questions down and answer them for yourself:

1. What are you seeing and doing the second you wake up in the morning?

2. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?

3. What are you putting in your body first thing in the morning? (cold wakes up the brain)

4. What are you physically doing to wake your body up? (exercise, meditating etc.)

5. How do you feel mentally, physically and emotionally before you leave the house?

6. Are you prepared to take on your day with a positive outlook?

Self-awareness

If you want the mess to dissipate in your world, you have to be self-aware of what your attracting to your world. The challenge of doing everything from “habit” is that you are not “aware” of your thoughts, feelings and actions. Therefore, you’re not allowing yourself to learn anything new to be able to change the old from happening. Hence, you continue to do the same things over and over, year after year, trying to get different results….”INSANITY” right?

So, “How” You ask? How do you find mindfulness in the midst of the mess? Well think of this, if you are waking up each morning thinking of the mess at the office, at home, in your relationships or in your life, what emotions are you carrying around with you all day? Are they positive thoughts? Or are they negative and toxic thoughts? Are they filling you with purpose or are they bogging you down with stress, anxiety and worry? Furthermore, if you are carrying all these emotions with you around all day, what attitude are expressing to everyone else?

We often get so caught up in blaming everyone else and everything else for our chaos, that we never look inward. The fact is, you carry yourself around with you everywhere you go and until you become mindful of your own “thoughts, feelings and action” your reality will never change. You will continue to live the same life your living with no feeling of purpose, always chasing the next best thing. So, are you really performing at “your” best? Are you giving yourself the best opportunity’s in life? Are you showing the world the “best version of you”? Or are you letting the world around you and the people in it dictate your character and lifestyle? Today, I share with you, my list of things that I had to learn to find my true purpose and blessings in life. I hope they help you find the inner you without the mess, so you can be blessed too.

Breaking habits

Stop doing the same things you’ve always done. Embrace change.
Who are the people, places, and things that influence your everyday life and character?
“Be mindful and Get Clarity” of your own environments (personally and professionally).
Are the people, places and things in your life “stepping stones or a stumbling block”?
Stop thinking, feeling and acting the way other people want or expect you to.
Stop feeling emotions based on fear of change and learn something new.
Most important on my list is to be your unique self and embrace change and express new characteristics.

Be mindful of the thoughts, feelings and emotions you entertain today. In the mess of things sometimes we allow our past thoughts, emotions and actions to take over. Rather, find an awareness today that not only change your perspective, but changes your entire outlook in all areas of your life. You have to “welcome change”. Transformation can only happen with change.

I am all too familiar with the “Hot mess of life”. I know where there is chaos, finding order (“thinking”), is nearly impossible. I also understand that doing what is “different” feels very uncomfortable. But only for a little while. Building your own brand is being different, bringing change and transforming from old to new. So, to break it all down for you ….

How to be mindful in the mess

Ask yourself those five questions above each morning.
Take from my list of breaking habits or make your own list and read them each morning and every night to reflect change.
Change your mindset first thing in the morning and each night before you go to sleep
Be aware of the people, places, and things that influence your thoughts (your thoughts control your emotions and your emotions control your actions)

“be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
Romans 12:2

C Love xo

Life’s Ripple Effect Revealed

May 4, 2019October 5, 2025CHRISTINA DITZEL 21 Comments

By reading my content you enter into my Ripple Effect! Continue this journey and you will become the light in a world of darkness!

Welcome To My World…

Make Waves but Stay Humble!

“The Ripple Effect” is a subject I speak about towards the end of my book “Hot Mess to Totally Blessed”. The words and actions we use to express and articulate ourselves has an impact on others and makes waves in our society. In all our actions, whether they have a positive or negative effect, those vibes get sent off as energy into the people around us. “Having an influence on 1% of the world, has a much larger impact than we can even imagine”. So many of us are so caught up in our own current situations that we miss so much blessing in the physical realm, that is right in front of us.

For example, as I write this, I am experiencing a couple of struggles in my life. However, I refuse to allow a few of life’s obstacles to prevent me from experiencing the light while I am in a dark season. Life is nothing other than a never-ending ripple effect of events. The fact that I love writing and inspiring others, is what drives me. However, my awareness tells me that with every struggle, I get a little stronger. So, I try to embrace all the seasons of life with poise, purpose, and excitement. The only way to avoid dark pathways in life is when we become so aware that we realize the things that will eventually drag us down the rabbit hole. These are the things we think we can’t escape. I never want to disregard my dreams, goals or purpose driven life. Helping others find their “Zen” and live life full of Abundance, brings me true joy inside. Watching a person transform is amazing. And to know I was a part of that is like water to my soul.

So, just because life gets a little difficult in the moment, we should never allow our “ripple”, to be negative vibrations of dark energy. Don’t allow the difficult times in life prevent you from receiving true joy. Furthermore, don’t allow other people hold you back with their negativity because you can make an impact in the lives of others who desperately need you and your gifts. So, when people try to steer me in a different direction I have to sit with God and ask some questions. Why would I stop doing what I love just because life is happening around me right now? I just wouldn’t! I will always push forward so my ripple effect remains positive and effective. “The larger the ripple, the more I expand”. Besides, how shady would it be if I was living contrary to what I was trying to preach and teach in my blogs and books? I just wouldn’t do that! If I am honesty, I have done that and I can tell you from experience, it SUCKS! You lose yourself; you lose your energy, and you lose your focus! Today I sit and edit this article, because I don’t want to just “preach the Ripple Effect” I want to be the example of the “Ripple Effect”. In this very dark time in 2022 after covid, I am eager to prove that it is possible to shine a little light toward others, even when life seems a little darker than we had hoped for.

What is the Ripple Effect?

The Ripple Effect is When an event or action causes a continuous spread”. As stated above, this can be a positive or a negative effect. In today’s society, with all the social media sites, we witness this sort of thing happening all the time. People make an impact based on their words and actions in Reels, TikTok’s, YouTube videos, or other content they push out. Whether it’s the bully picking on someone or the hero who stands up to the bully, we all choose our battles and we spread a message based on those choices we make. So, what is a ripple effect? It’s a trend! Something that happens good or bad that spreads through the world we live in. The most exciting thing about the Ripple Effect is that we have the power to choose if it is Light or Darkness.

Why Mindfulness of The Ripple Effect is Important

As we live each day experiencing events in our workplace, at school, driving in traffic, on vacation, at church, or just in our everyday life; “Mindfulness of thyself”, is the difference between positive or negative impacts. The ripple effect we make daily causes a huge impact in our community and in our world!

It is as simple as one single person who makes a ripple effect of change with their words and actions.
It’s the decisions people make daily that turns a bad situation into an experience that leads to a life of abundance, or a life of suffering.
It is a sick child who spreads the word of Grace by giving back in her most tragic moment.
It is a single mom who struggles every day to put food on the table for her growing children, but still helps a stranger at the gas station.
It is the CEO of a company who promotes the guy who delivers mail to his floor; because he goes above and beyond with a smile on his face, even though he has a sick wife at home that he struggled to support.
It is a father that works 3 jobs just so he can buy his daughter her dream dress for prom.

All these actions cause not just a small impact on one person, but it created a ripple effect on multiple families. So, why the ripple effect? Why am I even writing an entire article about this topic? Because it is important to understand that our own mindfulness creates awareness of our own words and actions. And by being aware we can move through our day knowing that we have an impact in this world. We can choose to cause the people around us to either hurt or we can choose to help the people around us so they can be blessed to help others. Causing this ripple effect of positivity.

“Mindfulness of the ripple effect”, gives hope to the lost, it offers encouragement to the weak, it gives confidence to the insecure, and it provides healing to the sick. Most of all, it creates a continuous spread of light in the darkness of the world we live in. That is, if we choose to do it in a positive healthy, meaningful manner.

That is why I sit here today, in my own struggles and write about Ripple Effects. I love creating a ripple effect of light in the darkness! Instead of pondering on the things I can’t control in my own life, I leave it to GOD and continue to be a blessing in others life. Here in this moment with you, writing for my readers, my wish is that I offer you a small piece of hope, love, encouragement, and confidence! I would rather show you how easy it is to “change the mindset” by being the example. See most people show you their success after they have attained it. But I am no one! I am a struggling single mom, a cleaning lady, and only have about 267 followers on Instagram at the time I am writing this.

The Darkness That Blocks Our Light

See, although I published the book, created the podcast, write all the blogs, and continue to tweak and build programs that will help transform people’s lives, I have not seen any return on these things. In fact, all this time I’ve invested I expected to have sold many more of my books, had a successful podcast, have at least a few thousand followers, and have at least been asked to speak on one stage! But NO! All this work and I don’t have any of that! I sit back and watch scammers make millions off vulnerable people all day long. And yet here I am honest, genuine, hardworking and trying to make a simple living, and continue to struggle. So, I am very familiar with the Darkness that comes in and tries to block our light that we are so desperate to shine. Yes, it is frustrating to the core! We all want to be successful!

I get it!!! However, what keeps me going is the feeling I get when I read a comment on my blog, or someone reaches out to DM me for help & advice, or to share how something I said or did help them move mountains. By doing these things, without expectation of a reward, recognition, or money, I not only feel better about my own situation, but I am open and willing to helping others in the process. Every time I step out of my own selfish desires, I leave room to offer time and space to another human. And when I do that, I am blessed in just knowing I contributed my knowledge, gifts, and talents to help another soul. It makes the journey much more exciting in the midst of the storm.

Help Those Who Help Themselves So They Can Help Others

I don’t’ want to just exist in this world, I want people who cross paths with me to always find meaning behind our connection. Meeting and speaking to strangers can bring clarity in the mess and help us all live with a sense of joy, blessing, and abundance. Truth is, the only way to find clarity in our mess, is by opening up our mind and looking at life, and all things, through a new lens. Changing the vibrations of our own thoughts and actions always creates room for positive ripple effects.

How You Can Create a Ripple Effect and Succeed at Anything

Is there anything you enjoy doing? Is there something you feel compelled to do or say? Are you allowing the negative ripple effects of others ruin your chances of a happy, successful life? Well, my advice to you is “DO WHAT YOU WANT AND DO THE THINGS YOU ENJOY DOING! SAY WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR HEART, ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL, AND NEVER HOLD BACK!”

In most cases, these deeper ideas and feelings we have at our very core, is our intuition and our inner self leading us to success and fulfillment. Sometimes, we may overstep and get ourselves into trouble, but we learn in those times of hardship and struggle. Sometimes the only thing that holds us back is our own self-doubt and other times we have to trust God/Univers to take care of the things we have no control of. There will be times that we have lessons to learn and other times we must offer encouragement and provide healing to our self, before we can learn to do that for others.

Can I just add that, as humans we must always live in a state of mind that remains teachable! If we are not willing to learn something new and make changes in our own life, how can we preach and teach others to change the circumstances in their lives? We can’t be the light if we’re living in darkness. If we can’t give ourselves grace in difficult times, how can we extend grace to others in their difficult times?

So today, I sit here as living proof that we each have the power to cause a ripple effect in some way. I am doing it right now as a single mom and “struggling” author and influencer. Yes, we can do it while we are in our own darkness, but we also have to be mindful of how we extend ourselves. We can’t preach what we are not living proof of! Whether we tell it through words in books and blogs, create a program, or through the stories of your own struggles and gains in life, remember; our words and action have the power to make a difference. YOU have the power to make a difference in your community and in your world. You make change by taking a hold of that silent nudge at the core of your soul and taking action. You spread ripple effects “through and to the world around you”. With every act of kindness or act of disrespect, you have the power to cause a ripple effect that will impact your life and the life of those around you. Through teachability (allowing others to shine a light on you), the light in the ripple effect can help you succeed at anything your heart desires.

Awareness & Clarity in Our Ripple Effect

So, what ripple effect are you creating? What change are you making in your 1% of the world? And what is the vibration of your ripple effect in your life? Positive or negative? Good or bad? Are you being the light in the darkness no matter how dark your world is? Because I am here to tell you, when you look outward towards others instead of inward at yourself, life feels so much brighter and feels a hell of lot lighter. When we clean the foggy lens that we look through, sometimes we can find clarity through our own struggles. Discovering that the chaos actually makes us stronger can offer healing and blessing. Sometimes, the struggle is there to guide you back on track, and although it may seem to have high and lows in the ripple every now and again, the reflection of light on the waters of the storm will guide you. I promise if you can get mindful and present with yourself in the moment, the effect of ripples in life, well, it is extraordinary!

If you need more advice in other areas of your life, please comment below, join me on social media, help create a ripple effect by grabbing my book “Hot mess to totally blessed” or one of my journals on Amazon Today. This would help me get my content out to you and others, while also help you become teachable and begin your journey into an abundant life filled with positive ripple effects. Living in abundance is not just a choice, it’s in the actions that follow our choices…

Stay connected and follow the Author and stay tuned for Part 2 of “Ripple Effect”

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