Ditching Perfection
I don't know about you but if I can't do something perfectly (or close to it), I'm not interested. Unless the process of getting better at it is fun.
This includes quitting drinking and, let's be honest, trying to get better at that isn't fun (at least in the beginning).
So how do you stick with something you're not perfect at and isn't fun in the beginning?
Starting scared, where's the manual + feeling your way
Starting scared
You're probably not going to feel 100% on board when you decide to quit drinking. I felt a lot of things at the same time - relief, uncertainty, hope, grief, and fear.
To decide to live a lifestyle that will (at times) shine a spotlight on you for being different is scary. Do it anyway.
Trying anything new is scary. Taking action despite your fear creates a spark of self-confidence that will grow brighter and, eventually, outshine your fear.
Trust your intuition and take the scary leap. What's the worst thing that can happen? More importantly, what's the best thing that can happen?
Where's the manual?
Spoiler alert, there isn't one.
When I first joined an online sobriety support community I thought they'd give me the manual on how to quit drinking. I'd follow the steps, check them off, and quit drinking…perfectly. Not so much.
There are as many ways to quit drinking as there are people in the world. Yes, there are some tried and true practices (like joining a community), but there are many pathways to sobriety and yours is as unique as your fingerprint.
Don't let anyone tell you how you should do it.
Feeling your way
In the beginning, I felt like a newly blind person trying to find my way out of a room. I had to use my other senses to figure it out.
So many practices can help you get and stay sober. There are meetings, books, podcasts, programs, yoga, meditation, therapy, art - the list goes on and on.
Every person is different - in our abilities, tastes, and physiology. What works for you might not work for me.
I've tried to pick up the practice of journaling many times throughout my life. Guess what. I HATE it. I gave it a few last-ditch efforts when I quit drinking and finally threw in the towel. It's not for me. Other stuff is.
YOU are the expert of your own experience. Feel your way through it. Try a practice, give it a chance, then keep it, or move on. Finding what lights you up is “the work” of sobriety and it (thankfully) never ends.
There's no personalized manual, you'll be scared, and there's a lot of figuring out to do but I promise, it's all worth it.
Ditch the idea of perfection and hold on for the ride as you follow your intuition and create your unique pathway toward a healthier, happier life.
