Why You’re Not Broken, Just Addicted To Problems

Tony Robbins once said

“The greatest addiction isn’t alcohol, drugs, pornography, or social media… The greatest addiction is problems.”

At first glance, it’s a provocative statement. But look a little closer—how often do we default to “what’s wrong” in our lives before acknowledging what’s working?

We say we love surprises. But let’s be real: we only love the ones we like. The rest? We call them Problems.

And we’re hooked.

The Real Reason We Cling to Problems

Problems are intoxicating. They give us energy, identity, drama.

They fuel connection—think about it: talking over coffee, venting in group chats, spiraling through “just another thing.”

For the ambitious, problems are a mission. They become purpose. Momentum. Something to solve.

But for those who feel buried?

Problems become identity. They keep stacking, even when they’re long gone. We carry them like old receipts in our wallet—proof of life lived, but no longer useful.

That’s what makes it an addiction.

Problems make us feel alive. But they also keep us from actually living.

Breaking the Addiction: Attractors, Solvers, and Chaos Thrivers

Not all problems are created equal—and neither are the people navigating them.

Some people attract problems like a magnet. It's not that life is unfair—it’s that their focus, language, and mindset say “I exist inside problems.”

And the universe keeps delivering what they’re tuned in to (another blog for another day)

Then there are others who seem to walk through life untouched—cool, calm, unaffected.

But don’t be fooled. They have problems too—they’re just fluent in solving them. They don’t make identity out of chaos. They make systems. Decisions. Progress.

And let’s not forget the quiet chaos artists. These are the ones who actually thrive in turmoil. Challenges are their playground. They may look like they’re juggling fire—but inside, that’s their zone of genius.

The trick? They’ve learned how to dance with discomfort instead of drowning in it.

The key difference?

> It’s not the number of problems—it’s the relationship to them.

> Some entertain them. Some solve them. Some let it melt into fuel.

Here’s the shift:

> Problems aren’t the problem. Our attachment to them is.

And attachment is just a pattern—wired over time, reinforced through repetition. That means it can be unwired too.

🔹 1. Notice the Loop

Catch yourself mid-rant? Mid-spiral? Good. Awareness is the first lever.

🔹 2. Interrupt the Rhythm

Stand up. Say something out loud. Laugh. Snap a rubber band on your wrist. Do anything to break the trance.

🔹 3. Reframe the Moment

Ask: What’s the lesson here? Who am I becoming because of this? How is this happening FOR me and not TO me?

🔹 4. Build a Bigger Mission

Your soul needs a vision larger than your problem. When the mission is bold, the obstacle become speed bumps.

🔹 5. Stack Wins, Not Wounds

Celebrate every small move forward. Let your nervous system receive momentum and bliss.

🔹 6. Surround Yourself With Pattern-Breakers

Hang with those who obsess over creativity, not complaints. Energy is contagious.

So just know,

You are not your past problems. You are your next bold decision.

Your mind’s a problem-solver. Your soul’s a story-maker. Tell the story that you can’t wait to tell.

So the next time your brain whispers “Ugh, what now?”

Smile.

And say: “Add it to the plot”