by Kate Fitch
Some of our readers and writers, myself included, deal with addictions. Whether that’s addiction to drugs (alcohol included), sex, food, self-harm, or anything else under the sun, this post applies. I’m going to share a technique that I use when I’m struggling with urges to engage in addictive behaviors. It’s very simple, and it comes down to making two lists.
The first list is what my addiction wants.
- Alcohol
- To feel a buzz
- To temporarily squash negative thoughts
The second list is what I want.
- Life
- Health
- To feel love, joy, happiness, wonder, and excitement
- To learn how to combat negative thoughts on my own
- To finish school
- To make a difference in the world around me
- To be trustworthy
- To remember each day and learn from it
- To live independently
- To retire with adequate savings
- To finish life with a couple library’s worth of books under my belt
- To be present and engaged in my life
Now, take a good look at those lists. Which one is more deserving of my time, energy, and money? I think it’s the second.
What I Want Vs. What It Wants.