In the last several posts at the Performance Lifestyle blog, I’ve been introducing you to a pervasive condition that many of us are dealing with but have never had a name for, perhaps for decades!

Unfortunately, more of us are afflicted by this than realized. It’s called Performance Addiction.

Not one for selling ‘disease’, this is one of those times where I have to acknowledge what often gets past on with a pat on the back and a raise, but is so destructive it can ruin your health and happiness and put major constrains on success. 

As you learn about it though, let’s first consider what it’s NOT.

You are not performance addicted if you seek an optimal lifestyle.

You are not performance addicted if you want to look and feel better, and perform "well".

You are not performance addicted if you are committed to Healthy High Achievement

You are not performance addicted if you are super enthusiastic about what you’re up to in life. If you could and would want to work at it 16 hours a day (though probably not a good idea) you are no more addicted to performance than you might be a workaholic. What you want to do and what you actually do are two different things.

None of these points, which you’ll learn a great deal about in Performance Lifestyle Training, means you are Performance addicted. Simply put, these values on your part mean you are interested in giving your best in life and getting the most out of life, all in the name of quality of life.

You are performance addicted if you believe that perfecting your appearance and achieving status will secure you love and respect. If you are doing any or all of the above, for these reasons, you are achieving for all the wrong reasons and this is performance addiction.  

Regarding, achieving, for the purpose of seeking love and respect, Dr Ciaramicoli states, (and I paraphrase) "I doubt if any of us is devoid of this completely".

"If we substitute the word performance for drug, this is an almost perfect description of how people talk about their performance addiction. Love is the objective. However if you have performance addiction, winning that love is likely to be, allot of work. That’s because you have the illusion that increased activity and achievement will get you want you want. It’s a grand, misdirected project."  

In the Age of Achievement, we have to be very careful about our reasons for doing things. Everyday, it seems, we are influenced to tuck our tummies, burn fat, build muscle, look younger, be more successful, have more, do more etc. Better, better, better… and most of the time it’s reinforcing this most fundamental description of performance addiction about love and respect. We end up achieving for all the wrong reasons and we’re just not happy.

I’m sure you know someone like this, perhaps intimately.  

As we move forward together, we have to be clear on this, that this is not what Performance Lifestyle is about. Performance Lifestyle is the solution.