A lot of addictions take us further from the things we want. We all know horror stories of drugs or alcohol dependency destroying lives.
If you have an addictive personality, see if you can muster the discipline to direct your addiction to something you want out of life.
A lot of successful people are addicted to their lives and their work. Some of the most celebrated comics need a daily fix of laughter from an audience. They ride their addiction to fame and fortune.
The Onion’s top ad sales rep used a certain white powder to pump up his confidence in the early years of The Onion.
Of course, many Onion writers have historically relied on THC to fuel their creativity.
The Onion wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for those substances. (A favorite Onion headline of mine: “DEA Chief: Winners Occasionally Use Drugs.”)
That said, there are plenty of safe and legal ways to re-channel an additive personality:
I know professional writers who get ADHD prescriptions to power hours-long writing sessions.
Caffeine can keep you up for all-nighters when you need to meet a deadline.
Sugar is a powerful stimulant most people don’t appreciate. If you avoid it regularly, you become a lightweight. That way, it can give you 2-3 hours of intense focus when you need it. Just brace yourself for the crash after.
And don’t even get me started on hugs.
I’ve been trying to raise awareness about the dangers of hugs, but it’s an uphill battle.
Thanks for this post! It's rare to find a rational voice on this topic.
As I get older though, I'm more addicted to just doing the work itself. Workaholic. My wife is going to Europe with a girlfriend in a couple weeks, I'm staying home to work, and I like it. Is that a sick and twisted addiction, or what?