It is a no-brainer to say the world is becoming more seductive. But have you thought of it in this manner. Did you look over the post on January 1, 2008 regarding Diseases of Affluence? How easy is it to use your car less, stay away from fast food, maintain a good exercise regime, or stay away from alcohol? Hurry to get everything done: Need a car (at least those of us who do not live in megatrolis; No time for exercise (so we engage in weekend warrior self-destruction at the ballgame, hoping it will be enough); No time to cook, so hurry to fast foods in the car (I have a son who would have starved to death if there was no McDonald's prior to his marriage); Alcohol, the ubiquitous requirement of all business lunches, boss smoozing (spell checker does not like this word--guess the boss wrote the checker), social parties, and night survival. Seductive, No Doubt! But what to do about it? Suggestions follow below:
1. Get Personal Therapy. No Jack! I speak not about a psychotherapist. You can have one if you want, but I am one and I know what we are worth!!! (Half the people in my business are nuttier than the paying clientele. I mean, get something that is your own personal therapy which relieves your stress (and do not tell me you have no stress--do you want another speech???). My personal therapy is running....after a hour of beating myself down the levee, I do not give a rat's backside about anything. In other words, do something regularly that gets you into your own head and away from everything else...at whatever time frame you can afford.
2. Reduce Your Worry Time. I know, Jack! Us compulsive/perfectionistic types will never stop worrying. Did I say stop? No! I said: Reduce. Worry, beyond focusing your attention on a task, improves nothing. And worry about things that matter; How is the relationship with your spouse/partner/lover/kids/family pet/the house mouse? That matters! Who wins the Super Bowl does not! Whether or not the boss likes your work matters (probably)! Whether you said the exact correct words to the boss' wife at the office Christmas party does not (probably)! Sort out your worries. Pick and choose the good ones and dump the rest. The truth is, us worriers just like to worry. Makes us feel proper and productive. What we worry about is not always so important to ud...just so we are worrying.
3. If to be seduced you must, let a human do it...for a human purpose. Not a bottle; not a desk; not a steering wheel; not an armchair in front of the TV; not personal seclusion; not more video games; not McDonald's; not ???; etc....unless of course any of these are your personal therapy.
4. Do Something Yourself...Do Not Let Everything Else Do To You. Take some control back. Figure a way.