The Non-Addicts Addiction

We all have an addiction, even if it’s having an addiction to not having an addiction.

How might that be true? Maybe looking at how addictions and compulsions work will bring us into a new state of awareness to our own behavior:

- Addictive behavior is expressed by habitually and persistently performing and act in an attempt to lead oneself to pleasure.

- Compulsive behavior is expressed by habitually and persistently performing and act in an attempt to lead oneself away from pleasure.

If it is true, that we all have an addiction, even if its an addiction to not having an addiction, what should we do?

Addictions are not minimized by feeding them, i.e. running towards them. Addictions are not minimized by starving them either, i.e. running away from them.

Perhaps our approach to addictions and compulsions is in need of a tune-up: When we focus on minimizing them we marginalize their deeper message.

What if you found out that an addiction to not having an addiction affects your life just the same as if you had an addiction?

Instead of running towards or running away from your addictive or compulsive behavior, try standing still and listen. I invite you to ask yourself this question, what is the deeper message I am trying communicate with my Self?

What can you do with this new awareness?