12 years ago I was an “info addict”. (Had a bad habit)

And I was also a “never meditator.” (Lacked a good habit)

The info addiction led to procrastination.

The lack of meditation led to anxiety.

But I knew that if I wanted to tame my anxiety that I needed to kick the bad habit to the curb… 

And make the good habit a daily ritual.

Up until that point my Mindset was failing me.

I justified my bad habit, “Successful people say it's important to know what’s going on.”

And I tried to force myself into a good habit because “Other people said it was good for me.”

After years of failing with the “External Benefits” Mindset, something had to change.

That’s when I realized: 

Only my Internal Mindset about the behaviors mattered.

I needed to apply my own meaning to each of these actions.

Again, the External mindset allowed me to justify the info addiction, and it made meditation difficult because “it something I was supposed to do”.

However, I don’t like authority and I don’t like to be told what to do… 

So I internally rejected meditations because it was externally forced on me.

Here’s the switch that allowed me to quit the bad and make the good (meditation) a daily habit that I’ve stuck with for 12 years.

I focused on the Internal Feelings.

I quit my “information addiction” because I recognized that reading the news hurt me... it made me feel bad, anxious, angry, and fearful. The internal feelings were more important than the external recommendations to “stay current”.

Recently when my Info Addiction started to rear its ugly head again...

I focused exclusively on how the media negatively affects my life.

- It steals my time.

- It makes me angry.

- It robs me of the joy that my life should bring.

- It gets me thinking about things I cannot control.

- It does everything that the media wants the media to do!

Even worse, I realized that I was no longer addicted to the actual info...

But I was actually addicted to reading the opinions of so-called “experts” who validated my feelings and sense of superiority over others that “did not see the world my way.”

It made me dislike other humans that I had never met... most of whom were likely good people.

OUCH.

Embarrassing to admit!

That is such a low-level human emotion.

And so I focused on the negative feelings that came with this weakness.

I said to myself, “Craig, you’re acting hypocritically with this bad habit. Time for you to evolve beyond your ego and feelings of inferiority. Time for you to get public accountability to avoid this iteration of your information addiction.”

So I snapped out of it and now relish the challenge of avoiding it all day.

Plus I’m making the promise to you that I won’t get sucked into negative media.

My focus is on what matters... my family, my clients, my readers, and my health.

It’s good to be uninformed about things that I cannot control and do not matter right now.

As for meditation and adding in good habits...

I decided to meditate in my own way... Instead of sitting there for 20 minutes and trying to block out all thoughts, I focused on breathing and allowed my mind to wander.

That was how it “felt good”...

And when I labeled meditation as something that made me feel good, rather than something I was “supposed to do”, that was when I became addicted to the “goodness” of meditation.

As a result, I’ve been meditating every day since Thursday, Jan 28th 2013.

All because it feels good to me... not because someone else told me I should do it.

Bottom line:

Look at your guilty pleasures.

It is time to quit justifying them.

Instead, make a list of all the negative consequences they bring into your life.

For example...

Alcohol – Poor sleep, stupid comments, foggy brain, unproductive mornings, wasted money

Then create a new identity around this bad habit...

“I’m not the type of person that wants to feel bad, or wastes time, money, and energy on drinking poison (alcohol) that prevents me from getting further ahead in life.”

Boom. Alcohol problem solved.

And on the flip side...

When it comes to good habits...

Internalize the benefits ... focus on how you feel from doing it...

NOT the fact that someone told you that you should be doing it.

Success Loves Speed,

Craig

PS - If you’re ready to 2X your income (or more) while working 10 less hours per week...

... Just REPLY to this email with the words “2X 10 LESS” and we'll set up a time to chat with you to find out if we can help.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. This message is part of an ongoing conversation between us, and I want to take a moment to ensure you have full transparency about why you received this message, how your information is handled, and what to expect from future emails. Why You’re Receiving This Email: You’re receiving this email because at some point, you opted in to receive updates, news, or information on a specific topic we’ve previously discussed or shared. Whether it was through a subscription, a form submission, or another form of communication, your information was shared willingly, and we respect your decision to connect with us. If you’re wondering about the nature of our correspondence, rest assured that we aim to keep all emails relevant, interesting, and free from unnecessary clutter. This includes respecting your inbox and refraining from sending irrelevant messages. Your Privacy is Important: We value your trust and take your privacy very seriously. The information you provide is securely stored and never shared, sold, or used outside the purpose for which you provided it. If you ever want to review how we handle your data, feel free to contact us directly. Transparency is our priority, and we’re happy to address any questions you might have. You are always in control of the information you share. If you feel that any part of your subscription or interaction needs clarification, let us know. We’re here to provide accurate answers and ensure your satisfaction. How to Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences: We understand that everyone’s inbox is different. If you ever find our emails no longer relevant, there’s no hard feelings. You can easily manage your email preferences or unsubscribe using the link provided below. By clicking the unsubscribe link, you’ll be taken to a page where you can either adjust your communication preferences (such as receiving fewer emails or only on specific topics) or completely remove yourself from our list. The process is straightforward, and any changes will take effect promptly. We don’t use tricks or gimmicks to keep you subscribed. Our priority is to ensure that our emails add value to your day, and if they don’t, we respect your decision to part ways. Accessibility and Communication: If you have any trouble accessing the unsubscribe page, managing preferences, or understanding why you’re receiving this email, you can reach out directly to our support team. We aim to provide a response within a reasonable time frame and address your concerns effectively. Our communication is designed to be as inclusive as possible, but we know there’s always room for improvement. If you have any feedback on how we can make our emails more accessible or relevant, please don’t hesitate to share. A Commitment to Non-Intrusive Emails: We aim to create a non-intrusive communication experience. This means we won’t overwhelm your inbox with unnecessary messages, and we work hard to ensure our content remains clear, concise, and helpful to you. The purpose of this email is to stay connected with you and provide updates or information that we believe is meaningful. If we ever fail to meet these standards, we encourage you to let us know. Feedback, whether positive or constructive, is always appreciated. Your thoughts help us understand how we can do better and improve our communication approach. While we cannot guarantee every suggestion will be implemented, we will take the time to carefully review and consider your input. We strive to ensure all communication channels are open and readily available to you. Whether it’s a question, comment, or concern, our team is ready to assist.