Damn right, friend 🎤. I used to justify my heavy drinking because I needed to relax, or take "the edge off," because it was Friday, because it was Tuesday...
I began to realize that I was rationalizing my behaviors even though I hated it by that point. Fast forward 9 years, I have an occasional glass of champagne 🥂 when I choose to, not because I'm dependent on it. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thanks for your brutal honesty, I hope it encourages another person! 🌸
Thank you so much! It helped me to choose to take care of myself every day, as opposed to telling myself I couldn't drink again. I had more consistent outcomes when I focused on what I "wanted" to do as opposed to what I "couldn't" do. That got me away from the black-and-white mindset that led to a bunch of false starts!
Beautiful words, encouraging words, thank you. I’m working on learning to sit with difficult emotions. It’s still a struggle, but I’m not turning to chemicals anymore to get me through the hard stuff.
Well it helped me to remember that it was just putting a bandaid on the problem. That didn't go away, the problem would still be there when I sobered up! 😳
I appreciated reading this. You were very honest. Thank you. I lived in Denver years ago, those stores you mentioned were too commonly available as far as I saw it. Marijuana has its uses for pain, however selling it without prescription unsupervised isn't a good thing in my view. Well done for what you overcame. Its inspirational.
Thank you deeply, Clair. I wholeheartedly agree: I think we've taken something meant for healing and transmuted it into just another way we can continue running from ourselves.
Such beautiful article. You are right, the familiar loops are just highs and then empty. Its suffering. Our mind just try to only remember the highs, that is why we go back. But cutting it off is the pure joy
That’s me right now, I’ve been wanting to quit and have done so number of times only to fall back into it again. It’s been years now… but I’m hopeful it can happen for me
I've yet to meet anyone who's path to sobriety has been linear, Lea. It can definitely happen for you, no question. What would you say is causing you to fall back?
In my experience, whether it's addiction or any other form of suffering, mindfulness isn't necessarily more helpful in some moments than others. Instead, it's a way of approaching all of our experiences where we pause, breathe, and provide ourselves the space to step back and ask ourselves, "What action(s) will serve me best in this moment?" Rinse and repeat hundreds of times every day.
The more we practice this skill, not only in controlled circumstances (i.e., on the meditation cushion), but especially out in the "real" world during our daily lives, the more adept we become at remembering who we are, what we want, and how we can achieve it. Does that make sense?
Damn right, friend 🎤. I used to justify my heavy drinking because I needed to relax, or take "the edge off," because it was Friday, because it was Tuesday...
I began to realize that I was rationalizing my behaviors even though I hated it by that point. Fast forward 9 years, I have an occasional glass of champagne 🥂 when I choose to, not because I'm dependent on it. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thanks for your brutal honesty, I hope it encourages another person! 🌸
Congratulations on 9 years! That's an amazing accomplishment. May our stories (especially the "ugly" parts) help others remember themselves.
Thank you so much! It helped me to choose to take care of myself every day, as opposed to telling myself I couldn't drink again. I had more consistent outcomes when I focused on what I "wanted" to do as opposed to what I "couldn't" do. That got me away from the black-and-white mindset that led to a bunch of false starts!
Beautiful words, encouraging words, thank you. I’m working on learning to sit with difficult emotions. It’s still a struggle, but I’m not turning to chemicals anymore to get me through the hard stuff.
Congratulations, Dorene! That's huge. Please remember: the struggles don't go away, we simply learn how to relate to them differently.
Well it helped me to remember that it was just putting a bandaid on the problem. That didn't go away, the problem would still be there when I sobered up! 😳
Wise words, Amparo! Substances only mask, but never solve. May we all have the courage to face our problems with compassionate clarity. ❤️
I appreciated reading this. You were very honest. Thank you. I lived in Denver years ago, those stores you mentioned were too commonly available as far as I saw it. Marijuana has its uses for pain, however selling it without prescription unsupervised isn't a good thing in my view. Well done for what you overcame. Its inspirational.
Thank you deeply, Clair. I wholeheartedly agree: I think we've taken something meant for healing and transmuted it into just another way we can continue running from ourselves.
Memento Si.territatem! Alo-self-conscience is alo-self-care.
Le problème, c'est l'inflation des nukemafias. Rire face à l'absurde! Rest in sweet Memory! RISM!❤️🙌🔥
Such beautiful article. You are right, the familiar loops are just highs and then empty. Its suffering. Our mind just try to only remember the highs, that is why we go back. But cutting it off is the pure joy
Perfectly said, Kita! We're always chasing but never arriving. The definition of suffering. 🙏
Facing your demon head on is the hardest thing anybody could ever do.
The courage to do so doesn’t quite manifest overnight, but it’s a series of small practices everyday that builds up until one day it’s just there
So true, Anita! Small efforts, repeated daily. 🙏
Solid wisdom, and a great read, thank you.
Thank you deeply, Adam. 🙏
That’s me right now, I’ve been wanting to quit and have done so number of times only to fall back into it again. It’s been years now… but I’m hopeful it can happen for me
I've yet to meet anyone who's path to sobriety has been linear, Lea. It can definitely happen for you, no question. What would you say is causing you to fall back?
Thanks so much, Emily. 🙏
In my experience, whether it's addiction or any other form of suffering, mindfulness isn't necessarily more helpful in some moments than others. Instead, it's a way of approaching all of our experiences where we pause, breathe, and provide ourselves the space to step back and ask ourselves, "What action(s) will serve me best in this moment?" Rinse and repeat hundreds of times every day.
The more we practice this skill, not only in controlled circumstances (i.e., on the meditation cushion), but especially out in the "real" world during our daily lives, the more adept we become at remembering who we are, what we want, and how we can achieve it. Does that make sense?