Dooley Noted: 3/5/2016
I am a motivated woman.
To obtain a goal, an exorbitant amount of focus and attention must be placed on achieving said goal.
This begs the question:
What separates healthy, goal-achieving obsession from self-damaging obsession that borders on addiction?
I’ve seen people so addicted to gambling that they will put up their mortgage – just for thrill of potential goal achievement.
I’ve seen people sell themselves in many ways, just to get a fix of their current vice.
And I’ve also seen the “healthy” addictions to fitness and nutrition that backfire into obsessive focus that hinders goal achievement.
There’s a fine line between healthy obsession and addiction.
And I do believe it may be slightly different for everyone.
Most of us follow basic patterns, though.
Since goal achievement requires sacrifice, I started to look at the addiction cycle to make sure my healthy goal focus didn’t cross the line into addiction.
This diagram helps one determine if the self-proclaimed healthy obsessions can cause more harm than good.
If the obsession starts to inflict shame – like a missed workout or dietary deviation – then consider that your behavior may be damaging.
If you find yourself bargaining that you’ll work out twice as much tomorrow – then consider your behavior is bordering on an unhealthy addictive pattern.
If you start watching yourself judge others’ diet and exercise, then consider your entitled behavior may be actually damaging yourself.
Feel free to keep this cycle diagram on your phone to check yourself.
Not crossing the line into addiction can be just what you need to obtain a healthy obsession with goal achievement.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley