Podcast Summary: The Dr. Josh Axe Show – "Why Everyone Is Addicted to Something (12 Steps to Overcome Negative Patterns)" Featuring Ian Morgan Cron

Introduction to the Episode Dr. Josh Axe welcomes Ian Morgan Cron, the inventor of the Enneagram and author of his new book, The Fix. The episode delves into the pervasive nature of addiction beyond substances, exploring emotional and behavioral dependencies, and introduces a 12-step program aimed at breaking negative patterns to achieve personal breakthroughs.

Shift from Physical to Mental Health Issues Dr. Axe highlights a significant shift in his functional medicine clinic’s focus over the past seven years—from predominantly physical ailments like cancer and diabetes to mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

"Today, over the last seven years, it's mental health issues." [00:59]

Role of Social Media and Vulnerability Ian Cron discusses the impact of social media and the increased normalization of vulnerability, suggesting that while sharing emotions is beneficial, excessive openness can be detrimental to mental health.

"Sometimes people find their way there. It's just a natural progress." [02:13]

Understanding Addiction: Definition and Causes The conversation broadens the definition of addiction to include unhealthy compulsions beyond substances, such as workaholism, people-pleasing, and excessive shopping. They emphasize that addiction is deeply rooted in the human condition, intertwined with our neurological and spiritual makeup.

"Addiction is an attempt to find an external solution to an internal problem." [05:14]

The 12-Step Program as a Solution Cron introduces the 12-step program as a biblically grounded, time-tested framework designed to address addictions by fostering a relationship with a higher power, oneself, and others. He likens the steps to a trellis that supports spiritual growth and emotional resilience.

"The 12 steps are a way of life that ultimately equip you to become a useful, purposeful person who is germinating the world with the love of God." [53:46]

Personal Experiences and Stories Both hosts share personal anecdotes illustrating the power of the 12-step program. Dr. Axe recounts a transformative moment with his pastor, realizing the importance of surrendering control. Cron shares a story about apologizing to a coffee shop barista, demonstrating the practical application of the steps in everyday life.

"Transformation is when you give God consent to do for you what you have never been able to do for yourself." [40:12]

Overcoming Resistance to Change They discuss common resistance points, such as denial and the belief that one can overcome addictions alone. Strategies to overcome resistance include continuous engagement with the steps and fostering humility over pride.

"When you give up, when you admit powerlessness, then another power comes in that's not yours." [22:30]

Practical Steps and Integration Cron elaborates on the sequential nature of the 12 steps, emphasizing that each step builds upon the previous one. He advises against attempting to skip steps, as a structured approach is essential for lasting change.

"Step one is we admitted we were powerless over..." [07:23]

Spiritual Transformation and Surrender The hosts explore the spiritual dimensions of the program, highlighting practices like centering prayer that facilitate inner transformation. They stress the importance of surrendering to a higher power to achieve genuine change.

"The steps are not a self-help program. If your help could have, if yourself could have helped, you wouldn't have done that by now." [40:41]

Conclusion and Call to Action Dr. Axe encourages listeners to engage with Cron’s book, The Fix, and to participate in the 12-step program to overcome various forms of addiction and negative patterns. He underscores the transformative potential of the program in fostering emotional balance, spiritual growth, and purposeful living.

"What the steps do is they like that thing in your car where you start to drift out of the lane and it just gently bumps you back." [61:46]

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• "Addiction is an attempt to find an external solution to an internal problem." – Ian Morgan Cron [05:14]
• "Transformation is when you give God consent to do for you what you have never been able to do for yourself." – Ian Morgan Cron [40:12]
• "When you give up, when you admit powerlessness, then another power comes in that's not yours." – Ian Morgan Cron [22:30]
• "The 12 steps are a way of life that ultimately equip you to become a useful, purposeful person who is germinating the world with the love of God." – Ian Morgan Cron [53:46]
• "The steps are not a self-help program. If your help could have, if yourself could have helped, you wouldn't have done that by now." – Ian Morgan Cron [40:41]
• "Step one is we admitted we were powerless over..." – Ian Morgan Cron [07:23]
• "What the steps do is they like that thing in your car where you start to drift out of the lane and it just gently bumps you back." – Ian Morgan Cron [61:46]

Key Takeaways

• Addiction manifests in various forms beyond substance abuse, impacting mental and emotional well-being.
• The 12-step program offers a structured, spiritually grounded approach to overcoming negative patterns.
• Surrendering control and embracing humility are crucial for lasting transformation.
• Personal anecdotes illustrate the practical and profound impact of the 12 steps in everyday life.
• Engaging with self-examination and fostering relationships with a higher power, oneself, and others are pivotal for emotional resilience and spiritual growth.

Final Thoughts Both Dr. Axe and Ian Cron underscore the universal applicability of the 12-step program, advocating for its integration into daily life to combat addiction and enhance personal growth. They invite listeners to explore The Fix and implement the steps to experience profound, life-changing breakthroughs.