Soft Addictions- You Can Overcome
Mild addictions involve any chronic, mindless behavior or mood. The most apparent soft addictions are watching TV, overeating, surfing the internet and playing video or computer games. However various others existtalking bad about others, daydreaming, exercising, pitying oneself, going on shopping sprees etcetera. The majority of parents arent upset by this type of conduct, believing correctly that theyre "normal". These behaviors become abnormal and harm your childs development once they become routine, robbing children of the time, energy and incentive to engage in more important activities.
Children need time to be alone so they can reflect and explore. They require freedom to figure out what is important in life and to master knowledge and develop skills that will allow them to accomplish their goals. Soft addictions are enemies of reflection, discovery and skill development.
The spread of soft addictions has been thoroughly documented by the media. Many of these reports reveal that children are spending more time than they have before sitting in front of computers, TV's and video game screens.
Additional studies reveal a shocking percentage of children who are overweight who are softly devoted to unhealthy foods including fast food restaurants, obsessed with celebrity worship and fanatical about shopping is also on the rise. Parents need to be in charge of helping their children control these addictions. All too frequently, they model the very behaviors that encourage their kids to fall into soft addictions instead. For instance, many parents return to their house from work and spend the majority of post-dinner hours slumped in front of the TV, they overeat or even work out compulsively, unwilling to miss their exercise routine even if they are greatly needed somewhere else. Other parents are examples of rumor-spreading behaviors, spending hours every day e-mailing and phoning friends about who is doing what.
I am not asking that parents or their children quit all their soft addictions at once. Most of us have some addictions. Living a meaningful life is possible when these habits are in our life, but, they need to be a minor part. We help many parents who all say the same exact thing about their lives: "There must be more than this."
There is! However, they will not find it until they use their time and energy on more conscious, meaningful activities. This doesnt mean they have knit sweaters for homeless children in Siberia and work in soup kitchens to feed the hungry (although these are not bad activities. Rediscovering the fine art of conversation, spending time with friends and loved ones, going for walks in the mountains, sharing their feelings with people they really care about, listening to uplifting musicall these things can add purpose and meaning.
It can also provide a healthy behavioral example for their children. Kids are great copycats, and softly-addicted parents usually create softly-addicted kids. It is terribly hard for parents to get their kids to quit watching endless amounts of TV when theyre guilty of the exact same kind of mindless, habitual behaviors. Parents will soon find however, that by learning to use their time in more meaningful ways, not only will their lives be more satisfying but theyll help make more satisfying lives for their children.
About the Author: Judith Wright is an author, speaker, life coach, and seminar leader. She has taught workshops on overcoming soft addictions and creating "More" for 12 years. You can contact her through her Web site at www.theremustbemore.com. See also Massive Personal Growth
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Print Article | Download PDF | 106 views | May 15 2007
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