Almost 21 million Americans have an addiction to drugs or alcohol…

Over 40 million people regularly visit porn sites… with over 200,000 classified as “addicts”…

1.7 million are addicted to pills of some sort…

And over 70 million Americans are addicted to FOOD.

I won’t even get into the number of people addicted to social media… or work… or dozens of other things people become “addicted” to as a way to cope.

Today, I’m opening up about something really personal.

Now is the time to say something about it because I just can’t keep it quiet any longer.

In my 20’s, I was lying to my doctor, I was lying to my parents, I was lying to my family and I was pretending like I had it all together.

But the truth is I was very lost. 

And during that time when I was lost, it was because of my addiction.

I know that this may come as a surprise to you… and it’s really hard to share, but it has to be said, because addiction is affecting MILLIONS of people right now! 

And I won’t stand by and be silent anymore.

If my story helps just ONE person change their life… it’s worth it.

If you — or someone you know — is suffering from any kind of addiction, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, social media, pills, or food… I encourage you to watch this video.

I share my struggles. I share what got me through. And I share what I know to be true today.

If you or someone you know has ever been hurt by addiction, please take just 3 minutes to watch this video!

ADD VIDEO HERE

My Story With Addiction

I thought I was going to die.

That was my moment. 

I was just lost. 

The funny thing is, I thought being lost was normal.

Maybe your addiction isn’t as serious as a drug addiction. 

I was addicted to being skinny. I compared myself to other girls, thinking “Oh, she’s got a tinier waist or bigger boobs or perfect hair.”

I chose speed as my drug of choice because I woke up and I was super skinny, and I wanted to be hotter.

I believed that I wasn’t good enough.

What I didn’t realize is that I was self-destructing.

At one point it shifted from WANTING to be skinny to NEEDING it, and it led me to the point that I couldn’t be honest about what I was doing and who I was becoming.

Today I’m okay with sharing who I am, and my messiness, but at that time of my life I was still compromising who I was.

But here’s the difference… today I have wisdom.

Addiction Impacts Millions Of People Around The World 

Addiction doesn’t always mean alcohol and drugs. Many people are addicted to negative thoughts, work, social media, electronics or food.

Here’s the thing…when you’re addicted to ANYTHING, you’re in an extremely vulnerable spot and you’re liking compromising who you are.

I don’t care if your friends are doing it, or if your friends aren’t bold enough to be able to stand up to you to say that it’s wrong.

I’m standing here right now to say that the thing inside of your heart that you know is wrong… it’s wrong!

It may be hard to hear… but I’m saying this because I care about you.

I want the best for you. I’m taking a stand for you.

 You will never be successful in life, until you are truthful about who you are and fully embracing and stepping into that. 

Here Are the 6 Truths That Addiction Lies to You About

1. Your life is not your own. Your actions affect everyone around you.  You need to know that someone is watching you right now, and basing their next decision off of your actions. 
2. Your life is valuable. You have strengths that no one else has. You’re perfectly you. Every mistake, every bad decision, every challenge actually makes you MORE valuable to this world. It doesn’t mean you’re dumb, or a loser or unworthy.  Turn your struggles into strengths and use them to fuel your passion.
3. Your life has its own special purpose. Stop comparing yourself to other people who seem to have it together. Just because someone looks more glamorous, has more money or a bigger house doesn’t mean that you don’t matter, that your mission doesn’t matter and that you’re not good enough to make an impact. You are on this Earth for a reason!
4. Your life matters. You are the person you’ve been waiting for. You have everything you need inside of yourself – strength, courage, wisdom, and passion. Let go of the addictions that don’t uplift you… and instead, move into the things that bring you inspiration, creativity and support.
5. Your size doesn’t matter. You need to know that there’s a man that loves every shape of a woman. And a woman that loves every shape of a man. Remember to be yourself, because the people who value you for who you are, and not what you do or what you have, are your true supporters.
6. People care about you. Ask for help if you need it – you’ll get it. No matter where you’re at or what you’re going through, there’s someone out there whose mission it is to help you, to protect you and to inspire you. Stay open.

You can have everything you want right now. There’s nothing in the way of your happiness and success. 

So please… stop compromising yourself! 

Stop taking actions that you know in your heart are wrong. 

Speak up when someone you know is compromising themselves. 

Take a stand for who you truly are.

There’s not another person in the world that has your voice, your dreams, your ideas. This makes you so valuable!

Step into who you truly are, because that calling tells the world that they can be who they are.

Let’s help each other to stop being afraid, to stop feeling like we’re not good enough, to stop compromising our integrity.

The truth is that people will seek you not because of what you do, or what you have, but because of who you are. 

Who will you become?

How to Turn Addiction Into Service

Addiction is self focused.

As you become less self focused and more others focused, you can be of service to others. 

You will see that service to others results in the fulfillment of your own needs.

You have to understand that addiction is telling you that you don’t deserve love and success. That’s self-destructive. 

When you stop resisting your own self and self-lovingness, you can open to things like trust and faith.

Trust and faith will give you wisdom, which gives you the ability to help yourself and to help others.

It doesn’t make any sense to believe that you have to go through the cost of pain and suffering in order to achieve success in your life.

Playing small and feeling guilty are the roadblocks to achieving your true wants and desires.

While you may not be addicted to drugs or alcohol, are you addicted to negative thoughts that aren’t serving you? 

Or to people who aren’t helping you be who you want to be? 

Maybe you’re simply addicted to running away from the calling in your heart?

I care enough about you to address this big problem regardless of what others may think of me.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction watch this short 3-minute life-changing video!

If this video inspired you, please share it with someone you think will benefit from hearing this important message. 

Love,

Shanda