October 29, 2025

117: Mindfulness Over Willpower: Ending Porn Addiction Through Self-Awareness and Compassion — A Buddhist Approach to Healing Addiction and Shame

1 hour 13 minutes

When I first began my recovery journey, I believed the answer to ending porn addiction was more control — more willpower, more discipline, more “try harder.”

But the truth is, that mindset only deepened my shame and made me fight harder against myself.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Lipkowitz — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of The Unhooked Academy — to explore a radically different path to freedom from porn addiction.

We dive deep into the power of mindfulness and self-compassion as tools to overcome shame, heal the mind, and rewire the brain for peace and presence. This conversation bridges neuroscience, psychology, and Buddhist philosophy, showing you how mindfulness can create real, lasting change from the inside out.

🧠 In This Episode, We Explore:

Why willpower doesn’t work for lasting porn addiction recovery — and how mindfulness creates the awareness needed for true freedom.
The neuroscience of craving and contentment — how porn trains the brain for dissatisfaction, and how mindfulness and meditation reverse that wiring.
Healthy shame vs. toxic shame — learning to transform guilt into growth rather than isolation and relapse.
The “Hungry Ghost” mindset — a Buddhist metaphor for the endless craving cycle that drives addiction.
How to use mindfulness and self-awareness to meet emotions like loneliness, fear, and anger with compassion instead of escape.
The importance of connection, accountability, and brotherhood in men’s recovery from porn addiction.
How to rewire your brain through daily mindfulness practice, self-reflection, and authentic connection.

If you’ve been fighting yourself in recovery — this conversation will help you finally make peace with your mind.

You don’t overcome porn addiction by fighting against yourself — you overcome it by understanding yourself.

That’s the heart of mindfulness.
And when you combine mindfulness, compassion, and masculine leadership — you stop chasing freedom and start living it.

Link to Blog Article for this Episode

If you’re ready to build the mindset and lifestyle that lead to long-term freedom from porn addiction, visit NoMoreDesire.com and apply for my 1-on-1 Porn Addiction Recovery Coaching Program. You’ll gain the structured tools, accountability, and training you need to transform not only your habits—but your heart.

Grab my Free eBook and Free Workshop for more strategies to overcome porn addiction, rewire your brain, and rebuild your life

Contact Jeremy @ The Unhooked Academy
Or shoot him a follow @jeremylipkowitz
Want to learn more about Jeremy and his message? Click Here

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By Jake Kastleman

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