Positive Addiction?
Utilizing Addiction To Your Advantage
Positive Addiction?
Utilizing Addiction To Your Advantage
Written by a human, for humans, always.
Whenever we talk about the word...
Addiction...
It is universally used in a negative sense...
For good reason.
Most of the addictions that people have do not benefit them...
And in many cases...
It does destroy them...
Physically...
Mentally...
Emotionally...
And spiritually.
Here is what is interesting, however...
Addiction itself is simply a psychophysiological mechanism.
It is, itself, inherently a neutral function.
Just like a tool.
Let’s take a hammer...
If you use a tool to place a nail solidly...
It is beneficial...
But if you use a hammer and hit a body part...
It suddenly becomes a painful weapon with serious consequences.
The hammer is not the problem...
It is a matter of how it is utilized.
Addiction can be used in the same manner.
Most people do not attempt to use it positively...
But that does not mean that you are unable to.
So...
How do we use addiction to our advantage?
How do we create positive addiction?
Well, there are a few mechanisms to help us out, depending on the context we are looking at.
For instance...
We have skill addiction, which has two mechanisms.
The first is habit, and the second is flow states.
See...
Our bodies are, inherently, always looking to maximize results while minimizing energy (Mg-ATP) expenditure.
The mechanism to accomplish this is habits.
We build neuron and energy (Mg-ATP) pathways through taking an action...
And the more we do that action...
The more efficient these pathways become.
After you begin to move past a certain tipping point...
Everything begins to take the path of least resistance...
Where these pathways have been built the best...
And we begin to subconsciously seek to continue that behavior in an addictive manner.
Many people ask me how I have come to write an article every single day for over 1,200 days in a row...
And the first aspect is habit.
I started writing consistently...
Kept my articles small to begin with...
Kept momentum going...
Until I began to think about writing all the time.
I am constantly thinking about and researching more things to write about constantly.
When I come across new ideas or discoveries in my work...
I am already processing in my mind how to write about it...
Then when I sit to write...
More or less...
I begin to write.
It is not always “immediate”, and some days it takes a little extra time to get an idea started...
But once I start...
The habit takes over...
And before I realize it, an article has been written.
Indeed, I am addicted to writing, and it started with a habit.
With this...
I also find flow states every time I get into writing.
Flow states are the psychophysiological state of being...
Where we feel our best...
Perform our best...
Think our best...
Problem solve our best...
Are vastly more productive...
And learn faster.
But, when it comes to addiction...
It is also the most addictive psychophysiological state one can be in.
Why?
Neurochemistry.
Upon entering a flow state...
A host of neurochemicals are all released...
Which are, inherently, addictive.
This is why flow states are considered “autotelic”...
Meaning we will do the activity that ignites flow states without needing any other motivation.
This is what extreme athletes become addicted to, even if they are not being paid for their sports...
It is also what many gamers become addicted to, even if they are not esports athlete.
These types of individuals will seek to do these activities...
Even if they are losing money, relationships, and lack proper sustenance...
Because the flow state itself is addictive.
Now, it is important to note that you “should” still take care of yourself...
And it is actually important to...
Because flow states do require high levels of energy (Mg-ATP) to maintain over time, requiring sustenance...
And because you can become blocked out of flow states if you have too many stressors in your life, such as financial or relational stressors.
Now, if we want to approach positive addiction from a different perspective...
We can look at bliss exposure as another mechanism.
The idea here...
Is that if we do something that creates a form of bliss in our lives...
Extreme happiness, joy, or contentment in life...
We will seek that out throughout our lives.
Now, this is usually used in a negative way “against” us...
But we can change it around for us.
For instance...
Many processed and junk foods contain different chemicals and synthetic compounds to hijack our bliss system...
But they also lack nutrients.
Many people are in “extreme” nutrition difficiencies in their lives...
And their bodies are “desperate” to obtain that nutrition.
So...
If you begin to expose yourself to more healthy foods...
Even if you do not go on a full “diet”...
The simple exposure to most healthy foods also provides exposure to nutrients that the body is desperate for...
And...
When your body begins to get those nutrients...
You will begin to feel significantly better...
And that exposure will create a correlation in the brain that “this” food that is more nutritious will provide more of the blissful state created from those nutrients.
Your body will also begin to recognize...
That the processed and junk food fail to provide those nutrients, while also making us feel horrible, especially in the long term.
Suddenly...
You’ll begin to simply want more nutritious food more often...
And processed and junk food less often.
I have done this in my own life...
And I have never been on a strict diet...
Plus, I used to eat a “lot” of bad food and was a soda-aholic...
Easily drinking 3.5 to 8.5 liters of soda per day.
As I said, it was bad.
But, I began to take my health more seriously...
Began to expose myself to healthier foods and drinks...
And my diet has completely changed.
I often find myself not wanting or physically unable to eat foods and drinks that I used to constantly consume...
Because...
I exposed my body to more nutritious foods and drinks...
Which made me feel better...
Which drove the bliss exposure mechanism.
Now, this is not the only way to use the bliss exposure mechanism.
People also feel it with new careers, new types of activities in their lives, even with things like meditation or journaling.
People become addicted to these because exposure to them creates this bliss state...
Which they want more of.
This is the takeaway...
Most people are afraid of addiction...
Because what they are addicted to, rightly, causes them many problems in life.
But...
The mechanism does not need to be scary...
And if we actually understand it...
We can use it to our advantage to create a better life.
To Your Sageship,
Cody
P.S. - It can be Difficult to Figure Out How To Achieve…
Stress Optimization
Psychophysiological Freedom
An Exemplar Wayset
If you want Aid on the Path to Sageship, let me know - I’ll be Your Coach and Guide.
Just Send Me A Message.