Chapter 1: The Importance of Sorting Your Affections

Self-love is an excellent starting point, yet it alone cannot create lasting improvements in your life. Without addressing and sorting out your affections, you risk reverting to old habits.

Disordered affections refer to unhealthy habits that gradually evolve into addictions. This isn't limited to substance abuse; it encompasses anything that diminishes your freedom and fills your life with negativity. Consider toxic relationships, compulsive eating, excessive shopping, and even late-night gaming sessions.

A disordered affection is anything that clutters your life, yet you find yourself drawn to it, despite knowing its detrimental effects.

Why should you heed my advice? I've battled my share of chaotic habits that felt like a whirlwind of confusion.

Here’s a glimpse into my previous disordered affections:

• Toxic online relationships that left me feeling empty.
• An addiction to adult content.
• Smoking excessively, to the point of scavenging for cigarette butts.
• Daily consumption of alcohol, often half a bottle of whiskey.
• A quick temper.
• Overeating, particularly during a six-month phase of only consuming spaghetti.

On top of that, I manage obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which manifests in both compulsive checking and ritualistic behaviors. Despite these struggles, I've managed to regain control over my affections, eliminating smoking, drinking, and unhealthy habits from my life.

You might find it beneficial to listen to my insights on how to address affections that may be harming you.

First, it is crucial to understand the motivations behind your desires.

Define "the world" as a complex network of corporations, individuals, and institutions that aim to dominate you.

Remember this: "The world seeks to weaken you to ensure your compliance."

Living in a working-class area of Madrid, I observe that many tend to purchase junk food and tobacco. Why is this the case? Such choices foster addiction, which is highly profitable for businesses that thrive on repeat customers.

Ultimately, these corporations do not care about your well-being.

• The brewery that produces your favorite beer is not your ally.
• The tobacco company is not looking out for you.
• The fashion brands that encourage debt are not your friends.
• The restaurants enticing you with catchy slogans have no genuine concern for your health.
• The gambling platforms showcasing glamorous lifestyles in ads are not your friends.

They aim to ensnare you in a cycle of dependency on their products and services.

If you have spent any time in this world, you likely find yourself addicted to some of these offerings. This is the root of your disordered affections: societal pressures and advertisements manipulate your emotions, making you identify with brands through clever marketing techniques.

The second step is to grasp the underlying manipulations.

Regardless of your beliefs, it’s essential to recognize that much of advertising feeds into our base desires, leveraging the seven deadly sins to enslave us to their products.

Let’s explore these sins:

• Pride: "Drive my car and be superior."
• Greed: "Enroll in my course for easy riches."
• Lust: "Smoke this tobacco to enhance your appeal."
• Anger: "Join our side or be against us."
• Gluttony: "Enjoy a two-for-one deal; don't miss out!"
• Envy: "Everyone else is attending; will you be left out?"
• Sloth: "Buy this gadget to avoid chores."

After years of exposure to such advertising, it’s no wonder your affections are confused. What you possess often possesses you, making the brands you frequently engage with your masters.

In summary, your disordered affections are not entirely your fault. You desire harmful things because you've internalized a definition of success that aligns with societal expectations rather than your authentic self.

Chapter 2: The Path to Sorting Out Your Affections

In the video "Why Self Love Isn't Enough," the creator delves deeper into the idea that self-love must be complemented by addressing unhealthy habits for genuine improvement.

To truly change, simply reading self-help books or reciting affirmations will not suffice; you must confront the mental conditioning you've endured over the years.

To bring structure into your life, consider these four steps:

1. Belief in a Higher Power: This allows you to relinquish your ego to something greater, fostering humility and openness to help.
2. Prayer: Set aside daily time for reflection and to seek guidance on what truly matters to you.
3. Charity: Helping others provides perspective and enhances your self-esteem by reminding you of the value in selflessness.
4. Fasting: This involves abstaining from harmful habits. For instance, I began by giving up adult content, which allowed me to moderate other compulsions.

This process is neither quick nor simple. However, nothing worthwhile comes easily.

I encourage you to identify the most frequent disordered affection in your life and start fasting that behavior. For me, beginning with adult content would have been beneficial, but addressing my overeating could have led to quicker changes in my other habits.

Identify the root of your vices and tackle them head-on. The improvements you seek may arrive sooner than you expect.

Best regards,

Your friend,

AG

In the video "Do You Love Yourself ENOUGH?" the discussion centers on the importance of understanding the depth of self-love and the necessity of addressing underlying issues for true self-acceptance.