Whatever pulls you away from your center, and you begin operating from the animal self rather than your conscious self, you begin a process of losing yourself into the things of the world.
Alcohol, sex, your friends, entertainment, your desires... Slowly, you become addicted to the world. You begin looking outside of yourself for satisfaction, fulfillment and something to make you feel alive.
The more you follow those pulls and desires, the further you move away from your center. You lose your ability to simply be conscious and present. You become identified with what you want, what you crave, and what gives you temporary pleasure.
You can do things without being controlled by the desire to do them. You can experience the world without becoming lost in it.
When you remain conscious, you begin to see the pulls for what they are instead of automatically following them. You become less controlled by the outside world and more aware of what is happening within you.