While pornography is a serious issue, often other underlying influences need to be addressed to effectively combat the challenge of pornography use. An awareness of our thoughts, words, and deeds (see Mosiah 4:30) is at the heart of evaluating those influences. In the following video, note how others have learned to do this.

Identifying and Understanding Influences

Training ourselves to be aware of feelings, thoughts, and influences that lead us to use pornography takes practice. Rather than just saying we’re going to stop viewing pornography, we can learn to develop plans that identify underlying influences and address them in a healthy manner. In the video above, professionals and others explore the concept of self-awareness and how it helps us understand the complex reasons why we may use pornography.

As we identify the individual biological, psychological, social, and spiritual influences in our lives, we can more effectively address our pornography problems. Influences are things that affect our decisions and behaviors. When we recognize these influences and their impact on our behavioral patterns, we can better understand why we act the way we do. Understanding our influences is key to making plans that lead to sustainable progress.

Some of our influences, like our biological sex drive, are natural and a part of life. Others take work to resolve. Being aware of our influences helps us change our perspective of ourselves and escape the shame that can hinder us from making changes.

Having a clear vision of who we want to become as disciples of Christ and recognizing that healthy sexuality is central to the plan of happiness helps us choose alternate paths and maintain sexual feelings that stay safely within God’s boundaries.