So, it’s been over a week since I had any sugar or sweets, and today my mind was playing tricks on me. It kept saying “it’s okay, you can have that piece of candy,” “go ahead, one cookie won’t hurt,” and “it’s just a little bite of cake, where’s the harm in that.”
First of all, I didn’t cave. Second, what’s going on here? Justification at it’s best it seems. Research shows that justifying one’s behavior and making excuses for our actions is common addict behavior. We tell ourselves (and others) stories to make what we’re doing seem okay.
The most common justifications or excuses?
- I’m just being social
- It’s for work
- I’m only hurting myself
- Everyone else does it
- If you had my problems, you would ____ too
- I can stop whenever I want
- I’m not as bad as other people
- It’s medication for _____
- It sparks my creativity or helps me think
I have personally used most, if not all, of these excuses for my consumption of sugar or sweets at some point. Many of them time and time again. When my brain is offering up run-of-the-mill addict excuses for why I can and should break my pledge, I know that’s addiction at work. I’m not getting sucked in by that mind game, not today.
sweeter without 