Coaching Corner: A Different Kind of Addiction
By Master Coach Marilou Butcher Roth
In thinking of addiction, you may bring drugs and alcohol to mind, which indeed are powerful addictions that can change the course of someone’s life. Today, I want to address another addiction that does not impact to the same degree, but impact it does! What I am referring to is the illusive addiction to adrenaline, which can easily happen in our fast-paced world.
Our amazing bodies are designed to bring forth adrenaline when we truly need it, such as keeping us from danger. What can happen though is we can get ourselves into a “hyped up” adrenaline space to get through the day. That’s because, when you are constantly in a high-paced state, your body actually weakens by using too much energy ~ what goes up must come down! If you are living this way, you are creating a lifestyle that is not sustainable!
When we operate at this fast pace, we unconsciously will create drama or crises to keep the adrenaline kicked into gear. We tell ourselves that we are operating at this fast pace because we have to ~ so much to do! You may not be able to identify a possible adrenaline addiction for yourself, but how do others view you? These may give you some clues:
- Do you have friends or family tell you they do not feel listened to?
- Are you consistently late?
- Do others comment on how busy you always are?
- Do you get comments about the amount of stress you have in your life?
If you are beginning to suspect that adrenaline addiction might be affecting you, congratulations! Now you can begin to slow down and enjoy your life more. You may want to watch your caffeine and sugar intake. If you depend on caffeine, consider trying half-decaf. And then, when you drink your beverage, sit down and enjoy it. Take the time! I vividly remember visiting the UK and stopping at one of their extremely civilized rest stops for coffee. The experience was quite the pleasant surprise, using a small version of a French Press that clearly wasn’t transportable. You had to sit down and enjoy your drink!!
Another tip is making sure to give yourself adequate time to arrive at appointments so that you won’t need to rush. Also, bring more awareness to your individual pace, moving at a pace that is comfortable for you. When you can move in this way, surprisingly you will find yourself more productive. Trust me, multi-tasking is not a skill set to aspire to!
Today, focus your attention on your individual essence and pace, and see how you feel. You may be surprised by what you find!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
