Escaping Reality Addiction: Rewrite Your Reality

Have you ever noticed how some people seem stuck in a cycle of stress, chaos, or burnout, no matter how hard they work to grow or succeed?

What if that is not just bad luck or poor timing?
What if it is a form of addiction?

In this week’s episode of The Amanda Kaufman Show, I sat down with Shiraz Baboo, award-winning author, international speaker, and reality interventionist. He completely reframed how I think about identity, productivity, and personal growth.

This conversation shook me. And if you have been feeling stuck, I think it will shake you too.

Addiction Is Not Always What You Think

When we hear the word “addiction,” most of us think of substances such as alcohol, drugs, or food. Shiraz shared a deeper truth. Your brain and body do not care whether the addiction is physical or behavioral. What matters is the chemical payoff.

For example, if you are the go-to person in your business or life, always solving problems for everyone else, you might feel overwhelmed. But each time you fix something, your brain rewards you with a hit of dopamine.

That reward loop can be addictive.

You feel needed. You feel useful. You feel validated.
And you start repeating that cycle, even if it is exhausting.

That is what Shiraz calls reality addiction.

When Identity Becomes a Cage

It gets even more complicated when addiction is tied to your identity. You are “the fixer,” “the hard worker,” or “the helper.” These roles bring you recognition. They become part of how you see yourself.

Shiraz offered a powerful reframe.

He used to take pride in outworking everyone. If someone worked an extra hour, he would work two. It brought him success, but it also brought burnout.

Then he asked himself a different question.
What if I got my dopamine from ease instead of effort?

His entire life changed.

You Cannot Escape Addiction, But You Can Choose It

Here is one of the biggest takeaways from our conversation.

You will always be addicted to something.
That is how your body works.
So the question is not whether you are addicted.
The question is whether you are choosing your addictions intentionally.

Shiraz explained that once he recognized his addiction to hard work, he decided to flip it. He started looking for opportunities to get a dopamine hit from ease, simplicity, and flow.

And once he did that, more things started happening easily. Not by luck. By design.

You cannot outrun addiction, but you can replace one pattern with another that serves you better.

Are You Chasing Problems or Embracing Challenges?

Another game-changing insight from Shiraz was this.
You can have problems, or you can have challenges.

Most people operate in a problem cycle. You are going along and a problem pops up. You drop everything, fix it, and feel good afterward. That fix feels productive. But then another problem shows up. And another. You are addicted to the drop and recovery.

Challenges are different. You start with a vision, set a goal, and face obstacles along the way. You move forward, grow through them, and get your reward from elevation, not survival.

That difference matters.

Shifting from “problem” thinking to “challenge” thinking changes how you use your energy, your mindset, and your time.

Coaches and Entrepreneurs: This Hits Close to Home

This episode really hits home for service-driven professionals. Coaches, entrepreneurs, and leaders often wear the helper identity proudly. We are driven by purpose, but many of us are secretly addicted to the validation that comes with helping others.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to help. That is not the issue.
The issue is when helping becomes the only way we allow ourselves to feel good.

Shiraz explained that helping others delivers not just dopamine but oxytocin, the love and connection chemical. So the addiction becomes even stronger. You feel loved every time you rescue someone else.

But you are not here just to rescue. You are here to rise.

Masculine and Feminine Energy: A Balanced Approach

We also talked about masculine and feminine energy.
Shiraz pointed out that many women are naturally drawn to the internal work he teaches. They are open to change and often more receptive. But sometimes they resist stepping into more direct, goal-driven action.

Meanwhile, many men do the opposite. They attack problems from the outside, ignoring the emotional work that needs to happen on the inside.

Success comes from balance.

You can be nurturing and assertive.
You can be structured and heart-centered.
You can lead without losing your sense of self.

This is not about giving up part of yourself. It is about activating more of who you truly are.

Final Thoughts

If you have been stuck in loops of overwork, burnout, or constantly saving the day, this conversation is a wake-up call. You do not need to be a victim of your patterns. You can rewrite them.

You can change your reality by shifting your identity.
You can change your outcomes by choosing better addictions.
You can break cycles by choosing challenges instead of problems.

This is about creating a life and business that truly align with who you want to be, not just who you have been told you are.

Shiraz’s work is a powerful invitation to step out of unconscious survival and into conscious creation.

If you are ready to choose something better, you can start right now.

Visit energeticmagic.com or check out Shiraz’s YouTube channel, where hundreds of videos are waiting to help you shift.

The next version of your life is not out of reach.
It is one decision away.

Connect with Shiraz Baboo
Website: https://www.energeticmagic.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/energeticmagic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energetic.magic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/energeticmagic/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirazbaboo/

Connect with Amanda Kaufman
Free Thrive & Scale Expert Blueprint:https://thecoachesplaza.com/the-thrive-and-scale-blueprint
Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-amanda-kaufman-show/id1450993176
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theamandakaufmanshow
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theamandakaufman
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandackaufman/
Clients Over Chaos Community:https://login.thecoachesplaza.com/communities/groups/clients-over-chaos/home