Being ambitious is a useful character trait to possess when it comes to achieving your goals or advancing in your career. However, even a good thing can get out of balance and wreak havoc in your life if kept unchecked. Knowing if your ambition acts as a motivating force or an end is an important factor in knowing how healthy your relationship with ambition is in your life. If you aren’t sure whether your ambitious nature has gotten a little out of control, then look for some of these subtle signs that ambition may be becoming toxic to you.
You Compromise Your Values
Having a clear set of values and acting by them demonstrates your integrity. If you let your ambition shape your values, then you may experience success in your goals like you wanted to, but it may cost you in your relationships and make it harder to live out your other values.
Development of a Substance Dependency
If you have productivity goals you want to reach, but find yourself becoming dependent on substances like caffeine or Adderall to achieve them, then think twice if you are being unreasonable with the expectations you are setting for yourself. Asking yourself some important questions like, are you relying on drugs or alcohol as uppers and downers to get you through the stress you’re putting yourself through? Are these goals worth having a chemical dependency over?
No Time for Self-Care
Do you find yourself having enough time for yourself? When you don’t have quality time to recharge or rest, then this can lead to you experiencing depression, crashing, or burnout, which won’t serve you or your goals in the long run.
Lack of Meaningful Personal Relationships
Have you had any past relationships suffer due to your strong commitment to your goals? When you let your ambition impact your relationships, you either won’t devote enough time to nurture your relationships or only base relationships on a mutual benefit.
When ambition takes up too much space in your life, it can have trickle-down effects on your mental well-being and personal life. Learning how to balance your desire for ambitious goals and dreams is the key to not letting it control your life. At Avalon Malibu, we specialize in treating substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our talented team of professionals will customize a treatment plan specific to your needs from our continuum of holistic and clinical offerings to help you regain a sense of balance and happiness in life. For more information about our services, call (844) 857-5992.
