Source http://zenhabits.net/feel-discomfort-2/
By Leo Babauta
Our lives are pervaded with addictions and distractions.
Social media, shopping, favorite websites and video services, alcohol, cigarettes, biting nails, porn, drugs, sweets, fried foods, soda, coffee, gambling, gaming, workaholism, complaining, avoiding, procrastinating, perfectionism, fantasizing, rationalizing, self-hating, sex addiction, drama addiction.
These addictions are some of the most common ways we have of soothing ourselves when we’re stressed or feeling bad about ourselves or others. When we’re feeling anxiety, insecurity, depression, anger, sadness, pain. When we’re feeling overwhelmed, bad about ourselves, self-doubt, uncertainty, discomfort.
We sooth ourselves with our addictions, until it feels like we can’t stop.
The first step to dealing with the addiction, of course, is to recognize that it’s a problem. I remember rationalizing for years why it was OK…