WISDOM OF THE WEEK - Addiction to excitement

Have you noticed how easily life begins to feel boring? The same routine, familiar faces, and everyday responsibilities often leave us drained and longing for something different.

We seek excitement by dining out, watching movies, travelling, adventurous activities, or even changing relationships. Although these experiences differ, the underlying desire is often the same: to feel alive, light, and fulfilled. But why has excitement become so addictive? The answer lies not in what life lacks but in what we have forgotten within ourselves.

WHAT IS EXCITEMENT?

Excitement is a temporary emotional high created by something new, pleasurable, or unexpected. It stimulates the mind, creating a momentary feeling of newness and engaging our attention. However, excitement depends upon external situations, people, or experiences. Once the novelty fades, the mind returns to its previous state and begins searching for another experience.

Excitement and happiness are fundamentally opposite. Excitement is drastic motion in the mind and body while joy brings stability to the soul. Excitement rises and falls like high tides, whereas joy flows quietly like a peaceful river. When we mistake constant stimulation for fulfilment, we become dependent on external circumstances.

WHAT IS THE NEED?

The need for repeated exciting events arises from an inner emptiness. When we forget our innate qualities of peace, love, and joy, we begin to seek these treasures in the physical world. We expect people, possessions, entertainment, and achievements to fill the spaces within.

Yet anything received from outside is temporary. What satisfies us today becomes ordinary tomorrow. The mind then demands something different, something greater. Gradually, excitement becomes a habit, and silence feels uncomfortable.

The deeper question is: Am I joyful, or am I using experiences to escape from my emptiness? When our relationship with our inner being weakens, even a life full of activities can feel fulfilling.

TIME FOR TRANSITION

Stability does not mean living without joy, enthusiasm, or beautiful experiences. It means being in a state of joy without becoming dependent upon joyful events outside.

The first step is to turn inward. Through quiet time, we reconnect with our innate self. In silence, we discover that peace and joy are not something to achieve but something to cultivate from within. This spiritual nourishment gradually reduces the craving for external stimulation.

When the mind becomes stable, even ordinary moments become meaningful. A quiet morning, a simple meal, or a loving conversation brings natural joy. Excitement asks, “What new can life bring to make me feel alive again?” Stability asks, “How can I make life enriched from within?”

The deepest lasting fulfilment is not found in constantly exciting experiences, but in discovering the unchanging treasures of the being.

Article courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Centre, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Get in touch via email: bkmeditation.jam@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 876-853-7848. Follow them on Instagram: @rajyoga.meditation.jamaica