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Addicted to GETTING MY WAY. No seriously...ADDICTED.

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  [COLUMN 1] Addictions That Are Commonly Thought Of: [COLUMN 2] Addictions Sometimes Are Sometimes Thought Of: [COLUMN 3] Addictions That Are Rarely Thought Of: Drugs (i.e., Cocaine, Pills, etc.) Shopping Getting YOUR way. Sex Food Doing what YOU want. Alcohol Negativity Avoiding boredom. Pills Video Games Distorted and/or Imaginary Self-Expression Social Media Plastic Surgery [Toxic] Music Culture Porn Risky Behavior   The Internet Tanning   Work Exercise   Gambling Sugar/Sweets     Love     Television   A Closer Look at Column 3                                   As a professional counselor, I have, and

EYEdentity CRYsis

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  Here’s the thing – in the American culture we are not taught self-discovery.   As infants, some of us heard things like ‘ Be a leader.   Not a follower’ .   In middle school or high school, we may have been offered the idea of ‘loving ourselves before we love other people’.   Even if we heard these messages earlier in childhood, it was most likely not discussed in depth in terms of what self-love looks and feels like in an authentic way.   I believe the main reasons adults have trouble teaching kids and other adults unapologetic self-love in a way that produces a healthy sense of self-identity and self-acceptance is because 1) they have not   experienced it themselves, 2) they were not taught it and 3) generations have habitually undervalued it as an essential part of the life curriculum while instead focusing on making sure kids can are functionable enough to complete the academic curriculum.   A rapper recently rhymed, “In high school I learned chemistry, biology[,] But not how to