Can Addiction Be Good? My Journey with Reading || Hive-Reachout Weekly Prompt 96

Addiction is a word most people don’t like to hear. It often comes with a negative meaning something harmful, something difficult to stop. But from my personal experience, I’ve come to believe that not every form of addiction is bad. Some can actually build you and shape your life in a positive way.

Ai generated image of myself
For me, that addiction was reading.

It started casually. I would read once in a while, mostly when I had free time. But gradually, it became something I couldn’t do without. A day would feel incomplete if I didn’t read at least a few pages of something meaningful. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just reading for fun I was growing.

Most of the books I found myself drawn to were motivational and Christian literature. Books like Think Big by Ben Carson and teachings from Myles Munroe had a strong impact on me. These kinds of books didn’t just entertain me they challenged my mindset.

They taught me discipline, purpose, faith, and the importance of seeing beyond my current situation. Sometimes, I would read just a single chapter, and it would stay in my mind all day. It shaped the way I think, the way I speak, and even the way I approach life.

At some point, I started asking myself: if something is helping you grow like this, can it really be called a bad addiction?

Interestingly, this habit didn’t stop with me. It began to influence someone close to me my girlfriend.

At first, she wasn’t really interested in reading. But she kept seeing how passionate I was about it and how it was affecting my life positively. I would share little lessons with her, sometimes even discuss things I read. Slowly, she became curious.

I introduced her to simple and relatable books, especially the kind I read motivational and Christian based. Today, she is gradually building that habit too. Seeing that change in her is something I’m really happy about. It made me realize that positive habits can spread just like negative ones.

However, I also understand that even something good can become harmful if it is not controlled. Being too attached to anything even reading can become a problem if it takes away your balance in life. For example, if I ignore my responsibilities, relationships, or personal well-being just because I want to keep reading, then it stops being helpful.

So, how do we manage this?

I believe it comes down to balance. You can love something good, even feel “addicted” to it, but you must stay in control. Set limits, prioritize your responsibilities, and always check yourself. Make sure that what you’re doing is still adding value to your life and not taking over it completely.

In this image you can see me with another different book John Manson

In conclusion, I believe there is such a thing as “good addiction.” Anything that helps you grow, improves your mindset, and positively influences others can be seen as good but only when it is balanced.

For me, reading is one of those things. It has helped shape who I am today, and it is now influencing others around me. And if that is what addiction looks like, then I’m grateful for it.

Thanks for reading...
Welcome to my blog...