How to Stop Drinking Alcohol
Number 1: Decide that just for today you won’t drink. Don’t focus on forever. Or next week. Or even tomorrow. Just for today, decide that you won’t ingest any alcoholic beverage. When you wake up tomorrow morning, make that decision again. It’s that simple. Just for today do, well don’t do, this one thing.
Number 2: Find the right community. Don’t feel the need to shout this decision from the rooftops. Be choosey with who you let in on your journey. At least for right now. Not because anyone wants you to fail. But because most people simply don’t get this journey. And that’s ok. They’re not you.
But find community. Safe people are those who have walked the road before you. Non-drinkers who used to drink are rooting for you. They know the magic of this decision. They can help you in the weak moments. In the times you question if you’re being too extreme. In the uncertainty. Find this community. Even if it’s a virtual friend. Or plugging into a hashtag on social media. This isn’t something you have to do alone.
Others want this for you. Not because drinking is evil. But because sobriety holds so much unexpected joy.
Number 3: Journal. Write down all your jumbled thoughts. Keep track of the wins. Write out your confusion. Grab a pen when you get an urge to grab a glass. The urge will pass, and your pen holds so much wisdom. It’ll help you see patterns - deduct when you get urges. Connect the dots as to the why. And cheer you on when you realize you didn’t need that drink.
Number 4. In time, allow yourself to truly reflect on your relationship with alcohol. Once you have some distance, you may see what harm it was doing. And if not harm, it likely was never helping. But don’t judge yourself. Resist the urge to shame or blame yourself. What’s done is done. All that’s passed has brought you to where you are now. To who you are now.
Number 5: Allow yourself to fully embrace this new you. Cultivate a new relationship with yourself and others. It’s ok if you’re not the same person anymore. It’s ok if what used to bring you joy no longer does. Embrace where and who you are now.
Number 6: Keep choosing you. A sober you is always a good idea. Waking up clear headed. Always being in control. Not needing to dull anything. Feeling all the feelings.
Number 7: Realize you never needed to be more courageous. You never needed social lubrication. You, in your raw form, are a gift to all those around you. Showing up is brave. And those who matter will appreciate the true you. The unaltered you. The sober you.
Number 8: Glow as you go. As time goes on, the choice to not drink will simply be something you unconsciously do. It’ll be second nature And you’ll feel more you than you’ve ever been.
The decision to stop drinking in a drinking-obsessed world is radical. Be radical. You have it in you. Your life is waiting. And it’ll be more beautiful than you could’ve ever imagined.
The first step is simply deciding that today you won’t drink. And decide that again tomorrow. That’s it.