Great tips here, Ed. The hardest for me was the realization that some friends weren't really friends, they were just drinking buddies. Once I stopped drinking and didn't want to hang at the bars anymore, they stopped calling. Even some friends I had since we were kids. It's led me to more fulfilling friendships with others but that was unexpected and sad. But sobriety and healthy lifestyle is worth it!
My social life looks a lot different now and in the best way! I'm hosting a sober social water tasting at my yoga studio on Friday. We already have 16 people signed up! I've made many close friends from my yoga studio as many are also sober for a variety of reasons. Do you practice yoga, Claire?
My hot take on your question about what’s been the enemy/what’s been hard- I think for me it was building different habits that helped to build up my happiness- so that I had more energy to work on my recovery. Replacing quick hit pleasures (or as Cecily Mak says “dimmers”) with activities that build a consistently more positive mindset - as without the improved mindset I lacked the energy/motivation to dig into the discomfort.
So much wisdom here, Ed. Thank you for sharing and guiding the way.
Great tips here, Ed. The hardest for me was the realization that some friends weren't really friends, they were just drinking buddies. Once I stopped drinking and didn't want to hang at the bars anymore, they stopped calling. Even some friends I had since we were kids. It's led me to more fulfilling friendships with others but that was unexpected and sad. But sobriety and healthy lifestyle is worth it!
So painful, Katie! And yet, as you say, so worth it.
I was going to say that too. Now I'm sober I don't have a social life.
My social life looks a lot different now and in the best way! I'm hosting a sober social water tasting at my yoga studio on Friday. We already have 16 people signed up! I've made many close friends from my yoga studio as many are also sober for a variety of reasons. Do you practice yoga, Claire?
Ed, great read. Thanks for sharing your insights.
My hot take on your question about what’s been the enemy/what’s been hard- I think for me it was building different habits that helped to build up my happiness- so that I had more energy to work on my recovery. Replacing quick hit pleasures (or as Cecily Mak says “dimmers”) with activities that build a consistently more positive mindset - as without the improved mindset I lacked the energy/motivation to dig into the discomfort.
What a lot of people don’t consider about sobriety is that it’s a habit, just the same way alcoholism is.
And, like alcoholism, there are supporting habits that you have to build up. Those supporting habits replace the old stuff you used to do.
So keep up the good fight, sticking with your new habit until it fully replaces your old habits
Thank you for sharing all your insights.