What if this is your “higher power”?

A Buddhist way to deal with everyday addictions

Even if you don’t think of yourself as an addict, most of us have everyday addictions. We are often stuck in loops of craving—for the next purchase, the next latte, the next video in the endless scroll. And, of course, at the extreme end of this spectrum, there are full-blown addictions—to drugs, sex, gambling, whatever.

As someone who has struggled with all manner of addiction, I have never resonated much with the notion of a “higher power.” But then I interviewed a Buddhist nun (and medical doctor) who reframed the idea for me.

For Sister Dang Nghiem (who prefers to be called “Sister D”), the higher power is not something external to which you surrender; it’s innate. You don’t have to look outside of yourself for salvation. Your capacity to be awake and aware; your ability to understand fundamental facts about the universe (such as the fact that everything is changing and if you cling too hard you will suffer) — that’s your higher power.

And the radical good news is that these qualities of mindfulness and insight are not unalterable factory settings; they are skills you can develop, through meditation and other modalities.

Click to watch or hear Sister D on the pod today. Below, paid subscribers get a cheatsheet of the episode, which includes key takeaways and a full transcript.

And—for all of you, Sister D recorded a special guided meditation to help you train the aforementioned skills. You can check it out right here.

Finally, a programming note: My next live meditation + Q&A for paid subscribers is tomorrow at 3:30 PM ET. I’ll guide a meditation and then answer some questions. Hope to see you then.

Episode cheatsheet

The big takeaway

Sister Dang Nghiem, a Buddhist nun and medical doctor, shares her Buddhist strategies for reducing everyday addictions, including a 12-step program combining the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. She emphasizes changing addiction at its roots through mindfulness practices, self-compassion, and social support.

Breaking the chains: Buddhist wisdom for overcoming addiction