I’m already feeling uncomfortable about what I will share in this video. I want to discuss some things I have overcome or was able to quit. I wasn’t proud of these things, but sharing these struggles with you is important. This information could be beneficial to anyone struggling with addiction or problems similar to these.
One of the beautiful things about getting older is gaining perspective and insights. Age also allows you to look back at mistakes and help you look forward. We all struggle with bad behavior at times, but when you take control and decide that you want to be happy and healthy, you can start living your best life. Every time I set one of these down, my life improved exponentially. So will yours.
Stop these as soon as possible
- Nicotine. I had a two-can-a-day dipping habit that I started when I was around 18, which I continued to do until I was around 30 years old. This is equivalent to six packs of cigarettes because each cans is equivalent to three packs. I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to put tobacco, but I decided that I didn’t want mouth cancer, and I wanted to be that person who knew better. I did the deep work and went cold turkey. I also quit drinking simultaneously. I am the most proud of doing this because I didn’t think I’d be able to.
- Alcohol. I still drink, but I do not abuse alcohol. It’s managed, and I’m responsible. I did not have a good relationship with alcohol in the past because I used it to self-medicate. I tried to numb and dull some pain that I was feeling and wasn’t ready to face.
- The past. I finally forgave their people for not being perfect, including my mother, some friends, and some ex-girlfriends. I also was able to forgive myself.
- Advice from the wrong people. I was looking for advice from people that I didn’t respect or want their type of life. I ended up looking for better friends and mentors. I started looking inside which was an incredibly freeing and liberating experience.
- People-pleasing. I have been a people-pleaser for as long as I can remember. I wanted people to like me and to get along with everyone. I came from a broken home with two abusive stepfathers, and being a people-pleaser was a defense mechanism. I learned to stand up for myself and say ‘no.’
- Not being true to myself. I stopped living a lie. I thought I needed to act or look a certain way to be liked and respected. When I decided to be vulnerable and let good people in, my relationships got deeper and better. I respected myself more, and I made better decisions.
- Allowing poor treatment. It’s uncomfortable to admit that you allow somebody to treat you poorly. In the past, I wasn’t confident enough in who I was, so I permitted girlfriends to cheat on me multiple times. My self-esteem wasn’t high, and I was desperate for love and affection. I didn’t want to be alone either.
- Watching p^rn. This type of material has a negative effect on people. I’m not here to debate the pros and cons, but quitting was amazing for me. My self-esteem went through the roof, and I had better relations with my wife.
- Senseless worrying. This is a big one because I spend much time and energy worrying and occupying a lot of mental bandwidth about things I can’t change or control. I could focus on what was truly important when I stopped doing that.
- Comparing myself to others. I still struggle with this one, especially with the advent of social media. It’s not easy, but I’ve gotten a lot better. I’ve gotten more comfortable with who I am and who I am not.
- Money solving problems. Money doesn’t make you happy, nor does it solve problems. My life got better after my first $5,000 in the bank. I didn’t have to worry about money regarding gas in my tank and things like that. I was also able to use money more creatively and grow it. Thinking about money all the time is a burden, and you need to figure out what number you need to get to so you have more freedom.
