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The Flawed Yogini

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Lifestyle

I turned my biggest flaw into an asset and you can too!

by Lorraine C. Ladish April 5, 2019
written by Lorraine C. Ladish April 5, 2019
I turned my flaws into assets

I’m deeply aware of my character flaws. The upside is that by now I’ve learned to turn them into assets and make them work in my favor. I’ve been labeled a prolific writer, an effective and productive editor, a fast and reliable translator, a successful entrepreneur, a multitasker, a supermom and an overachiever. While I like to think of myself as such, I confess: I am none of those things.

Do I accomplish a lot? Yes. But, not because I am disciplined, organized or efficient.

I pull it all off because I am, in fact, an addict. That is my secret. Well, not really a secret because I’ve written blogs, articles and books about my flaws. But of course most of my clients, former employers and colleagues have not read those books. So, to them, I’m just someone who gets things done. In truth, I am compulsive, obsessive and neurotic, but I’ve learned to stop fighting it and make it work for me.

I was a straight-A student as a kid. I would even get sick with a fever from studying too much and wanting to excel academically. Then, perhaps driven by that perfectionism, at the age of 16 I contracted an eating disorder. I swung from bulimia to anorexia — peppered with clinical depression — for many years, and my grades suffered as a result.

As I grew up, to the outside world, I appeared to be a happy fitness instructor (which I undertook in an effort to control my weight), and then a successful translator and interpreter. I felt like a fake, because in private, I could not control my impulses and I knew that was robbing me of the chance to achieve my real career goals. I wanted to be a published author, and make a living writing.

As I struggled to overcome my illness by going to therapy, reading books, and eventually attending a 12-step recovery group, I had a revelation. Recovering addicts, alcoholics, gamblers, and yes, bulimics, all had something in common. They all went on to become successful in life.

How and why? Because they (we, really) learned to channel their addictive (read compulsive and obsessive) personality. Once the addiction is out of the way, we are left with a lot of time and mental, emotional and physical energy. If instead of obsessing about and using drugs, food, exercise, gambling or any other substance or behavior you obsess about writing, getting a college degree or establishing your own business, just imagine the possibilities!

I eventually wrote about my struggle with bulimia and compulsion in my first book titled I Feel Fat, originally published 22 years ago. That’s how my addictive personality landed me my first book deal.

I may have recovered from my eating disorder, but I am still neurotic. I have, over the years, learned to use this to my advantage. I have no problem focusing on work. I am task-oriented and self-driven. In fact, once I get started on something I’m a machine. My site Viva Fifty! is a result of that.

The problem comes when I have to shift my focus outside of writing, editing and now social media … I need to force myself to take breaks, to go running (another result of my addictive personality — I’ve been hooked on the endorphin high of long-distance running since I was 12), or hang out with my significant other or my kiddos. Now I channel it into yoga, all 8-limbs of yoga.

I believe that being an overachiever beats being addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or having a full-blown eating disorder. It takes acute awareness of one’s flaws to be able to put them to good use. But once you’ve pinpointed them, I assure you, you can ride them like a wave to the shore of opportunity.

How do you take advantage of your flaws?

Me, I turned them into The Flawed Yogini!

Your flaws can become your biggest asset if you are willing to own up to them, embrace them and channel them! #yoga #lifeskills #midlfie

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Lorraine C. Ladish

I’m a 21st. Century Communicator, helping empower women and others to achieve their goals. I am the founder and CEO of Viva Fifty! a bilingual community that celebrates being 50+. I’ve worked as an editor and social media coordinator for a number of online publications. I’m a content creator and regular contributor to NBCNews, Huffpost, AARP, Babycenter and Mom.me. I’ve contributed to People en Español, La Palma of The Palm Beach Post, Purple Clover, Latina magazine and Redbook . My latest book on embracing age was published by HarperCollins in 2017. But most of all I am a woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a writer, an entrepreneur, a yogini.

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2 comments

Karen May 2, 2019 - 12:31 pm

Congrats Lorraine! I love your story and watching your success. I recently read a book by Grant Cardone who did exactly the same thing. Took his drug addiction and turned into a extremely success speaker and entrepreneur. What a different world we would live in if every child were taught the power hidden beneath their flaws! Keep shining your light! Namaste my friend, namaste!

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Lorraine C. Ladish May 2, 2019 - 2:36 pm

Thank you Karen! I’m trying to teach my kids this, hopefully by example. XOXOXXOXX

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About The Flawed Yogini

About The Flawed Yogini

Yoga & Wellness

I'm Lorraine C. Ladish, bilingual writer, mom, wife & yogi. I started my yoga & wellness journey at 12, with a book by Richard Hittleman. I have a huge flaw, an addictive and compulsive personality. In the long run, this turned out to be my biggest asset. I learned to channel it into leading a creative and productive life. At 61, I'm committed to sharing my journey to inspire others to channel their flaws into positive things and achieve greatness.

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