"I'm Addicted to This Game"

I let myself scroll through Instagram a couple times each week, and each time I come across ads that say something like this:

“I’m addicted to this game.”

“I’m addicted to this page.”

“I’m addicted to this app.”

Is that supposed to entice me? That their product is addictive?

No thanks! I'd rather not get addicted to whatever you're trying to sell me.

I’ll admit, there is a part of me that does get attracted to those ads. Other people’s passion can be attractive and inspiring!

But do we really want more addiction in our lives?

Here’s why we like being addicted to games, shows, substances, people, food, etc.: 

Our addictions help us avoid the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings we don’t know how to be with.

What if instead of scrolling longer, or streaming the next episode, or having a glass of wine, we instead decided to just sit with and be with the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings within us?

What if we got addicted to bringing wholeness to the parts of us that are uncomfortable? Or if we got addicted to listening to the parts of us that are whispering truths and integrity, the parts of us that know better, want better, and want to be better?

This week I reached for another date (the fruit, not a human) to eat after dinner - and there was a voice inside: “That’s enough.” So I put the date back in its package.

I listened and honored that voice.

It was powerful. It was freeing. It was authentic. It was Grace.

Also one evening this week, as I made dinner, I turned on an episode of a show I’ve been into lately. Again, that whisper inside: “Just be with the meal you’re making.” So I closed the laptop and focused solely on the meal.

I listened and honored that voice.

Here’s what I’m building up as a habit and an addiction: welcoming, embracing, and loving all parts of myself, including the uncomfortable ones.

When we let those parts be, they’ll let us be. And then there’s no longer any need to hide from them with our addictions and distractions.

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."

- Blaise Pascal

Thank you for reading. ❤️