The use of cannabis can turn into an addiction when it starts to bridge the gap between one’s desires and their reality. Those who can tolerate this gap, who are content with what they have, do not succumb to addiction. The issue is that, in our modern world, it’s challenging to find people who are genuinely satisfied with what they have.

But why does this happen?

For many, our perceived reality follows a set narrative of how life should unfold. Initially, we’re meant to contemplate our life’s purpose, then chart a path towards it. We anticipate a gradual progression towards our goals, perhaps encountering a crisis or setback along the way, but we believe we will overcome it, recover, and continue our journey until we reach our desired destination. Our self-esteem is often intertwined with this process.

However, reality typically diverges from this path:

We encounter more crises and challenges than anticipated.

Progress is often inconsistent.

The lows can be far deeper than we had ever imagined.

And the final destination may not be what we initially targeted.

But why is it so hard for us to bear the fact that our path doesn’t look like we expected?

Consider TV shows and films. Most follow the narrative where the protagonist sets a goal, faces a crisis, overcomes it, and eventually accomplishes the initial objective.

Think of our parents, who steer us towards accomplishments and warn us against straying from the path.

Consider social media platforms, which often propagate a distorted image of life progression and people’s general satisfaction with their lives.

Even our immediate environment, trapped as we are in the belief that life’s progression should follow a predetermined path, influences us.

All these elements tie our self-esteem to our life trajectory, and any deviation from the expected course hits us at our most vulnerable spots. Furthermore, even if we manage to stick to the ‘ideal’ path, the fear of losing our way often breeds anxiety. Many individuals cope with these anxiety and self-esteem issues by smoking cannabis, thus perpetuating a cycle of dependency instead of developing the skills needed to navigate life.

Speaking from personal experience, I can affirm that breaking free from cannabis dependence would have been impossible without forgiving myself for the deviations from my plan, and most importantly, learning to love myself even when things are not perfect.