Our society is becoming increasingly chaotic. Deadlines and demands abound. Have you tried recently to schedule a dinner with a group of friends? This seemingly simple task is proof of how out-of-control our lives have become. Sorting through everyone’s overbooked schedules to find a couple of free hours that accommodate everyone often seems nearly impossible.
Performance expectations, both our own and from those around us, seem to be ever-increasing. It all feeds the underlying belief that so many of us struggle with that there’s something desperately wrong with us. Everyone else seems to be able to “keep it between the ditches.” Why can’t we?
Whether the others truly are able to manage it all or not is beside the point. Just the fact that we perceive that they can is enough to trigger our feelings of inadequacy. To survive the intensity of those haunting thoughts, we have to find a way to cope. Addictions and other compulsive behaviors have become common ways to get away from the stress our lifestyle and beliefs create. Unfortunately, as those diversions gain more and more control over our lives, they add even more stress to our already frantic existence.
So, we try harder to avoid “temptation.” We promise ourselves we’ll be stronger. We make resolutions about staying away from our troublesome behaviors. We beat ourselves up for not being able to get victory. We generally do everything under the sun but deal with the underlying triggers. We aren’t willing to acknowledge that the way we are doing life keeps us too close to the edge of the cliff. We are, in essence, selling our soul, to look like we’re managing as well as everyone else. Except the awful secret is . . . it’s not working for most of them either.
Statistics show that addictions are growing. At least 20% of the U.S. population have a serious problem with alcohol. 13% with drugs, 5% with gambling and between 30- 50% with sexual addiction. Increasingly huge numbers of people are relying on some sort of compulsive behavior to help them survive. It’s time for all us us to take a good hard look at our lives and find ways to reduce the stress. It’s only one part of the addiction equation. But it’s a start.
“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:6
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