Activities – such as sports, creative projects, reading, work, TV, meditation – can be a wonderful way to relax, express yourself, or connect to yourself. Or they can be an addiction. How can you know the difference?
* Angie would surf the channels whenever she felt stressed or alone.
* Karen would lose herself in a book when things felt overwhelming.
* Keith would retreat and meditate when his wife wanted to talk.
* Pattys work schedule left her little time at home.
* Carl spent more time in the garage fixing things than with his family.
* Patricks love of running was interfering with his family time.
Whether or not an activity is an addiction depends upon your INTENT.
* When the intent of an activity is to avoid the pain of aloneness and loneliness, it is an addiction.
* When the intent of an activity is to avoid the pain of rejection or the fear of domination, it is an addiction.
* When the intent of an activity is to put off doing something you dont really want to do but need to do, it is an addiction.
Whenever an activity is used as a way to avoid...