"Feelings
always want more of what's easy and sweet."
Freud
first discovered the Pleasure principle that says,
"Our
emotions will tend to want more of anything that
gives
pleasure and to avoid any discomfort or pain."
If
something feels good, our emotions want more of it.
Most
problems occur when we get lured by our feelings
into
giving into something just because it feels good. For
instance,
we may feel good at first for giving in to some
sweet
temptation or avoiding some unpleasant task.
But
that action soon causes a vicious circle to ensue.
Giving
in to it may make us feel good in the short run,
but
leave us feeling worse about ourself afterwards for
having
weakened ourself and increased our vulnerability
the
next time a temptation comes our way.
Then
in order to drown that bad feeling, we're even more
likely
to give in again to something that temporarily makes
us
feel good.
Can
you identify things that you do that make you feel good
or
relieve tension in the short run, but leave you feeling weaker
or
worse about yourself afterwards?