Changing Your Addictive Behavior

“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.” ~ Jung

Addictions can take many forms, and each of them is detrimental. We are all ready to admit that drugs and alcohol are addictive and if you stretch your thought a bit further, you might also see some other addictions that affect your life in one form or another, like having to be in control, reading books, watching sports, amassing money, listening to music, etc. I’m not saying that last group is all detrimental, but they can all create addictive behavior.

What is your addiction? What form does your addiction take and does it keep you from living a full life? Does it keep you from a full expression of all the forms that life assumes?

In the twelve-step (AA) environment, folks work to overcome their addictions. It’s a very interesting thing to do to attend a twelve-step meeting. Even if you don’t think you are an addict, you still learn something about yourself while listening to the others share.

Many business people are addicted to work. Folks call them workaholics. Some people are overeaters. Some are problem gamblers. The internet has made this kind of gaming much more accessible. Some have sexual and relationships addictions. Do you work obsessively to solve mathematical problems? Must you figure people out? It might be wise to ask yourself if you have any form of addictive behavior.
Have you made the effort to get rid of one addiction only to have it replaced by another? You quit smoking marijuana but began drinking beer, for example. That’s an addictive personality.

Behind every addiction is a raging desire for instant gratification so that you can be okay with yourself. “If I only know this; have this; feel this; etc.” Have you said that to yourself? It could be cigarettes, coffee, or Facebook, but you have to have it now.

And another key point about addiction is that it’s about running away from a fear. Any addiction is a running into, a running toward, but more importantly, it’s a running away from.

Here’s the good part: if you have an addictive personality or behavior, you can choose whether you will run away from, or run toward, and you can specifically choose what you will run toward! Decidedly cool. You can feel empowered and in control of your life, your destiny.

You can decide to do this on your own, cold turkey, or you can decide to join a group to get the support of the other people in it, and hear their ideas for best ways to work it out. It doesn’t matter which way you choose; there is no special way, and the choice is yours. I just want you to know you can walk away from any addiction and enjoy more harmony in your life.

Your decision to overcome your addiction has to be for you alone. You cannot do it for any other, no matter how they want you to do it. In order to remain motivated, you have to do it for you only because, face it: your own wishes, wants and desires are much more important than any one else’s.

You can decide today whether YOU are worth the effort to change your addictive behavior. You can decide if you want to keep being who you are today, or who you might want to become tomorrow. It’s up to you. I think you can Be the Change. I’m cheering for you!