Performance Addiction, it’s the dangerous new and arguably pervasive syndrome that can undermine your need for balance, let alone, ruin your life. It’s more common than you think and the reason is, it’s masked in our culture; often as a “good thing!” Can you imagine that, an addiction that drives people out of balance, in some cases non-stop and potentially into a dangerous downward spiral, is more often than not applauded, rewarded and reinforced in our modern world?
Well believe it, it’s happening and it might be happening in you. But before you even conjure up images in your mind of another invented problem that of course must have a solution, consider these questions.
- Have you ever had a story playing in your head that you were going to look, feel and perform better than your mom or your dad; better than your friend, or a reigning champion, your boss, your enemy etc…?
- Have you ever compared yourself to others, and had thoughts of working, or working out harder than ever before to prove that you can come out on top or at least garner the same level of status, respect or admiration?
I ask these questions almost rhetorically, because the answers are likely yes. And if you’ve answered yes, then this is a podcast on the performance addicted life might seriously benefit you. By the way, I use the terms like “almost” and “likely” because while these human psychologies are common that does not mean that you are suffering from Performance Addiction.
What is performance addiction and how can you get free of the burnout it can create, especially as an entrepreneur, business owner and driven business professional?
Performance Addiction is a mental state where talented people mask their vulnerabilities through their capabilities.
We refer to it as the curse of the capable in Performance Lifestyle lingo. It’s when people are trying very hard in their efforts to achieve and perform to win the respect and love of other people and it’s one of the most relevant and pervasive, even celebrated, yet misunderstood and evolving afflictions in modern day life.
What happens when you try your very hardest and yet you still can’t attain the healthy, balanced life you long for? What happens when you don’t understand the reasons your life is not satisfying? You feel Cursed! You’re disappointed you’re not living the life you thought all your hard work would bring, and you’re feeling run down in the process.
Early in life we create a novel, a fictitious story about ourselves that we write based on what we think is being reflected back to us from those around us – as if we are looking at ourselves in a mirror. If the mirrors you are looking into are cracked or inaccurate, you get a distorted view of yourself as you would in a circus mirror. As a result you create an inaccurate story about yourself and this story sets the stage for an irrational belief system. A lack of empathy creates an unsupportive internal story, a belief that you’re not quite good enough, which sets the stage for over-achievement in an effort to make up for what is secretly missing inside. When you are able to change your biased story, you can live a life free of tension and anxiety and full of joy and meaningful achievement.
Discover what high achievers—entrepreneurs, driven business professionals and leaders all over the world are realizing:
The story you created about yourself early in life, which is part fiction, is having a dramatic impact on your present lifestyle—how you think and live.
The assumption that all capable people in our culture have balance are healthy and experience peace of mind and are satisfied with their life course is commonplace. Is this notion true? Not always. In fact millions have fallen prey to a belief system that says appearance and status provide the golden road to love and respect. In an attempt to perfect themselves, they are hiding their self doubt through constant achievement at the cost of losing balance and well-being.
Suffering from performance addiction, being overwhelmed emotionally and physically, exhausted and fatigued, often with the health complications of being overweight; they have been felt deeply disappointed.
Performance addiction the crux of the curse, capable people often experience. A problem they know is there but they can’t quite put their finger on. It describes how a biased view of you can lead to a fragile sense of self, addictive thinking and behavior, and a seemingly mysterious downward spiral that the majority of people can’t see or untangle.
What leads to this confused condition that ultimately hinders our ability not only to achieve success, but live successfully?
In the book The Curse of the Capable, a book I co-authored a few years back when I was in the thick of helping to illuminate the Performance Lifestyle idea; you read about men and women who long for intimacy and strive for perfection in an effort to please those around them. But ultimately they feel defeated, depleted of energy, and misunderstood; all while feeling obligated to perform, often for others, at all costs. It addresses the hidden challenge capable people have in taking care of themselves – Their Story
It is this hidden challenge that the book discusses through the poignant stories of everyday achievers from diverse backgrounds: housewives, lawyers, teachers, contractor’s, models, trainers, doctors, media personnel, corporate executives, as well as professional athletes, that I am now discussing in the Performance Lifestyle podcast.
If you want to get free of the guilt and tension of the past that is driving you a little bit crazy, and are ready to live a balanced and healthy, high achieving life for the right reasons; listen in!
