- Image by The Master Shake Signal via Flickr
A lot of people think that every addiction that ever was is a bad thing. But this is not the case in the slightest. If you are addicted to breathing, that is a great thing – unless you hate staying alive. It would be truly ironic if you were addicted to something that actually helped you, but you hated it to the point of being abjectly miserable about continuing to do it. But in the same way that being addicted to food could be an annoyance (especially if there is no food around when you are desperately hungry), being addicted to other kinds of good things can actually feel good.
Consider that some people play instruments. Have you ever seen how most highly successful musicians are while they are playing a gig? They tend to completely lose themselves in the moment, as they get into what an athlete might call being “in the zone.” In this state of flow, they accomplish their best work, while putting in the least amount of personally perceived effort. While it is true that they might be sweating, and they might be a little hoarse and tired afterward, their efforts tend to feel about as easy as hanging around breathing.
A good habit is defined by its energy. The energy of a good habit is positive, self affirming and even healing in its nature. If you are addicted to running sprints, the energy of reaching your full speed, the rush of personal power you experience as you seem like you could almost take off and fly, can be an addiction. But consider that you are also making yourself stronger, and pushing your body to a higher level of physical conditioning. Unless you take it to an extreme and get injured by it, this is a very good addiction to have.
