Are You Addicted To: Comparing Yourself to Others?

We have all done it at one point or another- compare ourself to others of course.

While, in many instances it seems it could ignite the 'competitor' in us, for the most part it is actually a disabling mechanism.

 There is always someone more successful, wealthy, healthy and etc. that we could compare ourself to, but what I have found in recent years is that even the person that seems to have it all, is lacking stability in one or more aspects of their life.

Comparing myself to others is almost second nature to me. From work, school to physical appearance and personal relationships, it becomes very easy to lose oneself in the realm of 'only if I had.....' or 'why don't I have....', and as personal experience takes it, there is nothing more detrimental then having the self-deteriorating prophecy that despite what you have or achieved that you somehow are not good enough.

So how do we try to overcome it?

When you find yourself belittling yourself or your accomplishments, take a moment to send gratitude for everything you DO have. This action instantly changes the mindset and refocuses your energy, breaking the pattern of comparison.

Try it today; write a list of 5-7 things in your life that you are truly grateful for or should be grateful for, but may not always focus on. Example: a supportive family/partner, a healthy body, great communication/listening skills, ability to speak different languages, a hidden talent. Any little thing that you are grateful for will remind you that you are your own individual, and you have your own unique path life.

Are You Addicted to: diets?

Here it is: I have never been considered skinny.

And, since I could remember I have either been on a diet, finished a diet, failed on a diet, or thought I really need try that new diet.

This is not a unique tale, and I am certainly not the first person to write about it. We are all aware of the role that media plays in presenting the 'ideal', and we all seem to be experts in criticizing the fashion industry and ad campaigns for planting the 'skinny seed' in our brain. 

Yet, North Americans spend close to $40 BILLION/Year on weight-loss programs and regimens. I am not going to lie, I have contributed a hefty amount to this total as well. 

We also have the crazy Cabbage Soup Diet, 3 day Military Diet, Master Cleanse, Baby Food diet and so on and so forth that could easily be found on the internet. But, we know that they don't work, if they did, we would all be skinny. The only thing they do is reduce the water weight for a few days giving you the illusion that you have lost weight. I would know; I have tried a number of them. 

If I spend half the time following a healthy lifestyle that I do following new fad diets, I would maintain a healthy weight. But, the problem is, it seems that I have been engineered to only respond to quick results. Or the truth is, I am addicted to diets. There is a rush I get when I start a new diet because I think 'this might just be it'; this could be the formula to becoming the 'skinny image' that I have in my mind.

And, like any other addict, when I hear someone talk about a new diet and its supposed results, I get excited and become anxious to try it.

But, I am sure I am not alone. If the diet industry is as successful as it is, there are a few 100 (thousand) addicts like myself out there struggling with this addiction, unequipped with any real information about how to overcome it. And, NO, simply telling someone to change their mindset towards diets and body image is not a feasible, realistic solution.

If someone out there has a real solution to overcoming diet addiction, I would love to hear from you, but until then...

 the real question remains: 

Are You Addicted to Dieting?

Image from: www.bcliving.ca

            

Are You Addicted to: Coffee?

I am neither a scientist, nor a psychologist. Not a nutritionist, doctor or a counselor. But, I know an addict when it is having a nervous break down behind me while waiting to buy her coffee. 

I usually buy my morning coffee from the drive-tru, but today while looking at the endless line, I decided to park and go in. Bad idea.

I was not aware that "I haven't had my coffee yet" has become a socially acceptable excuse to act like a lunatic. While, I admit that the line up was long, and the number of staff low, a lady clearly in need of her morning coffee managed to further frustrate others in line by cursing at the workers, loudly scream over the phone to someone who seemed to be her contractor, and wrongfully accuse another woman for budding in line.

As I was waiting for my order to get ready, I overheard her explain to the cashier that she was sorry for the commotion, and smiled while saying "...you know how it is, I haven't had my coffee yet".

Are you kidding me?  

If being unable to control your behavior or social responses due to the lack of a substance, i.e. caffeine, is not an addiction, I don't know what is.

The only difference is that her substance addiction is socially acceptable, and economically motivated by coffee chains that always seem to find a new neighborhood corner to pop up in.

So, now the real question:  

Are You Addicted to Coffee? 

 There are a hundred reasons (health, psychological, economical, etc) to control your caffeine addiction. But beside all else, do it for the sanity of those that have to be around you in the morning.

Image from www.coffee-addiction.com.au