Transcending Addiction: How to Turn Your Pain into Purpose
As a former high functioning alcoholic, I know the struggle of addictive behavior all too well. For years, I thought I needed alcohol to survive.
I needed alcohol to get me through the day, and I couldn’t imagine my existence without it.
The problem, though, is that alcohol lowers your inhibitions and disrupts your judgment.
In order to do even the most fundamental of tasks, your brain has to work harder the more alcohol you consume.
This may seem like a terrible thing at first.
On the bright side, this is a blessing in disguise.
When you put in extra effort while under the influence, your brain grows the connections it needs to eventually succeed.
Reducing your alcohol consumption expands your mental horizons and for a brief period those connections fire in your brain in unfamiliar ways.
Modern methods of sobriety (like the ones I teach) capitalize on the channeling of your adversity and transforming it into something constructive and purposeful.
It’s tough to fathom right now if you’re struggling, but take it from someone who has been in your shoes: I’ve done this and teach it daily.
At one point, I really did believe that I required alcohol just to function.
Nonetheless, that’s not how things really are for most people. Those feelings aren’t authentic, but they feel real.
Further, they can be transmuted into the spreading joy and tranquility with practice.
Your ability to concentrate, which you’ve used to fight and sustain your toxic behavior, is also the key to designing a life you’ll adore.
Here are some examples that really drive home the point that the feelings you experience under the influence that aren’t genuine, even if they feel real:
“I have faith in myself”
Intoxication may make you feel like the most capable, self-assured person on the planet. It’s possible you’ll start to believe that you can strike up conversations with anybody, do any activity, and essentially be anyone at all. But you can’t fake confidence like that. True self-assurance originates inside and is not influenced by external factors.
Having A Good Time
Alcohol may provide a momentary boost in your mood, but it cannot replace genuine contentment. True happiness is the indescribable sense of fulfillment that permeates your entire being.
Having A Sense of Mastery
It’s possible that you’ll feel like nothing can stop you. However, that is not true in most cases. Having true agency means making purposeful decisions and taking positive steps toward building the life you envision for yourself.
Experiencing Love
It’s possible you’ll start to believe all the hype that you’re the center of everyone’s affection. However, love in that kind is not genuine. The only thing that can give you true love is being yourself and letting people in.
“Feeling Courageous”
Not true bravery, I’m afraid. True bravery entails taking risks in spite of anxiety and perceived fears that only exist in your mind. No amount of alcohol embrace is the true essence of courage.
Invincible in Spirit
That doesn’t cut it as invulnerability. The true mark of invincibility is the capacity to overcome adversity and go forth in spite of interruptions. Devoid of the sobriety-inducing effects of alcohol.
Sensual or Sexy
That’s not true sexiness, just a feeling. True sexiness is not dependent on the amount of alcohol in your system, but rather on the level of confidence and beauty you feel in your own skin day to day.
Sensing A Surge of Inspiration
The capacity to think outside the box, come up with innovative solutions to problems, and express yourself in ways that no one else has ever thought of before is the essence of true creativity, and it can’t be boosted and harnessed by a few drinks.
Having Confidence In Your Wits
The ability to learn, adapt, and problem-solve in a variety of contexts and from a place of mental clarity is the hallmark of true intelligence, which comes only with life experience and not the amount of alcohol in your body.
Having A Strong Sense of Control
That’s not true authority, though; true authority is the capacity to affect change in one’s environment and encourage the people around you to grow exponentially.
Feeling Adventurous
Drinking alcohol might give you the impression that you are a more daring, exploratory person who is eager to try out new experiences and venture out of your comfort zone but, a true adventurer embraces the uncertainty and acts with courage to experience life and all it has to offer.
Emotional Bonding
We can’t have a relationship based on that if we’re drinking. True bonding occurs organically via meaningful interactions with other people and the experiences you have in common with them. Alcohol helps you ignore how isolated you feel.
Satisfied On An Existential Level
By living in accordance with your true values and beliefs, you might experience the deep satisfaction that comes from having a feeling of belonging and meaning in life. But alcohol simply helps you ignore how disconnected you genuinely feel on a daily basis.
In Good Shape Physically
True physical fitness can’t be bought or snuck in, but may be achieved via consistent exercise and nutritious food. Being physically fit means being able to move about easily and effectively while also keeping your weight and muscle mass at healthy levels. Alcohol encourages the opposite and provides the illusion that you’re taking care of yourself.
Being In A Healthy Emotional State
When you’re drunk, it’s easy to fool yourself into thinking that your emotions are under control. Still, that can’t be considered a state of emotional equilibrium. When you can control your feelings, remain level-headed under pressure, and nurture positive connections with others, you may safely say that you have achieved emotional equilibrium.
So, whether you’re fighting addiction or have reduced your use of harmful substances, take heart in the knowledge that you have what it takes to overcome your challenges and succeed.
All you need is some help, some guidance, and some practice.
Know that you are not alone. If you’re ready to start living the life you deserve, reaching out for assistance is the first step.
