One of the things that may worry those trying to break away from alcohol addiction is what they are going to do with their life if they don’t drink. It can be difficult for alcoholics to imagine sober living, especially if they have been drinking heavily for many years. If the person decides that living with alcohol is going to be dull, it is going to be very hard for them to develop the motivation to quit. It is therefore very important that this individual have some ideas about what they can do with their life once they quit alcohol.
They Myth of Boring Sobriety
If you are caught up in alcohol addiction, you may imagine that life in recovery must be a little dull. It is understandable why you might feel this way, but it could not be further from the truth. It is actually the life of the alcoholic that is boring and predictable. If you are addicted, it means that your options in life are very limited. You are a slave to a drug and this is going to keep dictating your future until you can escape or you die.
The main reason alcoholics will look upon sober living as dull is due to a mental coping mechanism called cognitive dissonance. The individual may understand on one level that their life would be much better if they did not drink alcohol. They also believe that it is not going to be possible for them to stop drinking. These two conflicting ideas cause cognitive dissonance in the mind of the alcoholic. The only way to eliminate this emotional discomfort is to adopt a new idea to remove the conflict. This is usually done by deciding that life in recovery must be dull and boring.
If you give up alcohol, you are going to have far more options in your life. You are going to be able to use all those hours you wasted on drinking, thinking about drinking, and dealing with the consequences of drinking, for better use. It is common for people who have broken away from addiction to be able to make their childhood dreams a reality. Sober individuals can do amazing things, and it is definitely going to be possible for you to go on and find happiness and fulfilment in this new life.
No Major Changes in the First Year of Recovery
You are undoubtedly going to be able to do some great things in recovery, but it is best not to make any major changes in the first year. This is because you are already going to have plenty on your plate. The first few months of sober living is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. This is because you are going to be facing many challenges, and it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. If you make any more changes to your life, it is just going to increase your stress levels, so it is best to put off any major changes until the second year of recovery.
What to Do with Your Life after You Quit Alcohol
When you first become sober, you might not have a clear idea about what you want to do with your new life. This is common. One of the best ways to find out about what you might want to do with your life is to experiment with different things. It can also be a good idea to think back to your hobbies and passions before you fell into addiction to see if there is anything there that can spark your passions.
One way that you can give meaning to your new life in recovery is to have goals. These should not be unrealistic but you do want to aim for things that are going to require you to leave your comfort zone. It is just as bad to set the bar for your goals too low as it is to set them too high. You are capable of achieving far more than you could ever imagine, but you are only going to find this out by getting out of your comfort zone.
One of the other things you need to do in your recovery is to begin chipping away at your character flaws. Every human has character traits that may be holding him or her back in life, but it is not necessary to just accept these. The more you begin to overcome your character flaws, the more your happiness is going to increase. You are not expected to become a saint – the goal here is progress and not perfection. It is particularly important that you begin working on any character flaws that may increase your risk of returning to addiction.
Some of the greatest happiness in life comes from having fulfilling relationships. This is definitely something that you are going to want to work on when you get sober. It is common for people who have been trapped in addiction to lose friends and alienate family. The good news is that once the person becomes sober, they can begin to rebuild their relationships.
One of the most satisfying things that individuals can do after they give up alcohol is to help other people. The truth is that it is usually the person who gives this type of service that benefits the most. If you belong to a group like Alcoholics Anonymous, it is going to be very easy for you to find ways to help other people; this organisation is built on the principle of service. This type of work can be a way for you to give something back, while it is also likely to give your self-esteem a huge boost.
There is no need for you to settle for anything less than an enjoyable and satisfying life in recovery. This does not mean that all the good things are just going to fall into your lap. You are going to need to work to make recovery work, but the good news is that this is definitely within your ability to create a great life – it is what you deserve.
