The Alpha Alchemy

Let’s get the bad news out of the way, first: There’s a pretty good chance you’re contributing to the Alpha Addiction. Perhaps you are numbing the senses by winding down with a bottle of red wine in the evening. Or maybe you’re staying late at work to perfect a presentation. Neither of these is necessarily a problem, but they’re not necessarily not a problem, either. It’s when they are a means to avoid being with yourself and your thoughts that things start to get worrisome. I’ve previously referred to the Alpha Addiction as an epidemic; and while I still hold that to be true, one of my wise Youngers recently expanded my perception of the concept. I had been viewing this type of large-scale self-avoidance as a numbing of the world. I was so focused on that enormous, big picture that I overlooked the fact that it is a devastating force on an individual level, too. Addiction – not just in terms of substance abuse – is a pattern that keeps you from being with yourself. It is a means to avoid your own feelings and emotions. It provides an alternative to being alone with your own sad, scary, and overwhelming thoughts. Unfortunately, we’re passing these patterns on. Despite the fact that we don’t need more Alpha-holics in the world, we sure do seem to be turning out a lot of Type-A personalities. Our Youngers are being told daily that their worth is defined by external accomplishments. They are constantly cajoled to strive for the trophies, the grades, the accolades, and the money. Unfortunately, when your self-perception is based on external validation, things can get pretty rough when the affirmations and “atta-girls” are in short supply. If your measure for self-acceptance is how much you are praised, what happens when the praise stops coming? Young or old, we are being driven toward perfection, despite the fact that perfection is a completely unattainable goal. We find ourselves reacting before reflecting, which doesn’t generally yield the healthiest or wisest results. As a result, we live with too much self-doubt and too little self-health. It’s reflected in a planet that is unhealthy and in a state of distress, from individual mental health to national economies to global environmental concerns. When we are constantly looking for external validation and avoiding our own feelings, we become numb and aren’t open to receive the gifts of life or even to see what is happening all around us. Don’t get me wrong, as I understand and engage in the allure of a good merlot or a little retail therapy; but we need all things in moderation. We need everyone to be fully engaged and aware of their surroundings because there’s a whole lot of clean-up to do here. It is time to get the Alpha energy aligned and working in a purposeful way. Whether you drink, smoke, overeat, or find yourself addicted to the Alpha lifestyle, it is a good idea to do a gut check and determine if you have actually fallen victim to these patterns. As I said above, these things don’t have to be a problem. Moderation is wonderful, and the whole point of this journey is to bring Her back into balance, after all.