“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”  ~ Aldous Huxley

The easy answer is maybe a little bad luck but mostly poor decisions. Why do these poor decisions keep occuring? I believe we can literally become addicted to making bad decisions. Allow me to explain. All of us have observed good, intelligent people make the same type of mistake over and over. We’ve seen people that seem to find drama in their lives everywhere they turn whether it’s at work, home, neighbors and so on.  We’ve all seen the OCD kick in as people replay a negative event, torturing themselves with the negative emotions again and again. 

Here’s what I believe is a part of what’s going on and why it can be so difficult to break the cycle. We’ve become, in a way, addicted to the adrenaline, cortisol, and other drugs our body produces in high-stress situations. Our bodies crave this consistency and we subconsciously place ourselves in situations so we can get our fix. In some ways, our body functions as a pharmacy. This can be especially challenging to recognize and stop if you grew up in a very dysfunctional environment. 

Knowledge is power, and in most cases, your life can be dramatically improved. It will require awareness and a serious commitment to continually redirect your thoughts and actions into positive, stable, and steady paths. Brene Brown has some great reading resources along with podcasts to help begin redirecting your life.

“Doing more of what doesn’t work won’t make it work any better.” 

 ~ Charles Givens