Wealthy Affiliate, Money, Addictions and Good Habits

Money is at the foundation of modern society, we all need it. My father used to say: “Making money is easy, but what is difficult is making money honestly”. That thought he taught us through his words, but especially through his example is engraved in my brain for as long as I remember and I consider it one of my father’s most precious gifts. He was such an honest, talented, helping, hard working person and his example still remains and conducts my behaviour.

A natural, general aspiration as individuals and as society is the search for happiness and the desire to stay away from uncomfortable situations. This is an ancient oriental teaching.

In modern society the desire for motivation and rewards is at the basis of the search for experiencing more intense emotions, but that, if misunderstood may lead to drug use, which is part of the search of humans for happiness and pleasure and to avoid suffering, in this case, for not consuming (abstinence syndrome).

Recent research has found that 70% of the population use alcohol and less than 3% use sleeping pills. The research also found that only 1 in 10,000 users of sleeping pills develops addiction to them, which is not the case with alcohol.

Us humans (and other animals as well) are beings of habits. Bad habits may be difficult to change or drop if we do not follow the right path or take the correct steps to do it. We may become addict when using something to feel good. This is true not only to legal/illegal drugs or prescribed drugs but to almost anything really. We can become addict to video games, TV, sex, food, sports, shopping, even working (workaholics) and many other things that do not help us grow as human beings, they only give us a short time feeling of wellness that is not real everlasting happiness. Of course playing video games, watching TV, having sex, eating, practicing sports working and so on and so forth are not negative activities in themselves but they may become troublesome if we develop dependency upon them –lose control. Then we become addicts.

On the other hand, there are some positive activities or desirable habits that cannot be considered addictions like reading, studying, learning, helping others, dancing, playing music, etc. And here is where Wealthy Affiliate fits in: Not only gives us the opportunity to build a legitimate business to make money in order to achieve a decent, honest, comfortable lifestyle but it also encourages us to learn, read, study, help others, communicate, search for information, create websites, and so on. In other words: develop positive habits that not only help us grow as individuals but that may be useful to help us get rid of or keep us from bad habits that may become addictions within time. I consider that as one of the most important gifts that Wealthy Affiliate University provides us all.

With my best regards:

Eugenio.