Sober Curious – Why is there so much to think about when considering whether to stop drinking alcohol?
When I am coaching, I am often asked “There seems so much to do, where do I start?” I often start by acknowledging my client’s courage and determination to pursue sobriety and let them know that seeking help is a significant step towards positive change.
There are a myriad of considerations at this time, and often clients will be concerned about the sheer number of changes they might have to make, and also what should they do first.
What sort of things are there to think about when considering a sober journey?
Some of the most common questions that arise are:- What will my friends and family think or say?
- What am I going to do at the next company function?
- How do I tell my partner?
- What am I going to do with all the time I spent drinking?
- How am I going to cope with the early days of sobriety?
Do I need a Sober Coach to help me?
This can be a tricky one. I stopped drinking alcohol in 2020 without the support of a coach. I had, however spent 3 years preparing for this and had several periods of sobriety but had always managed to find an ‘excuse’ to open the bottle again.
The benefits of a coach in any walk of life are generally:
- To understand and agree your objectives.
- To agree a plan of action.
- To hold you accountable to your plan.
- Provide guidance and support along the way.
Only you can judge whether this would be of benefit to you, and that’s why I recommend a free Discovery Call, which I have written about in a previous blog
With so much to think about, where to start?
There are a whole load of things to think about in preparing for a life of sobriety and sometimes these can grow and overwhelm and make the goal seem impossible to reach. So where to start?
This is really quite simple. The first thing to do is to STOP drinking alcohol. Starting at any other point is illogical and will fail. But taking that massive logical first step can be hard and needs planning, but as with everything else in life, procrastination doesn't serve you well.
The benefits of an alcohol-free life will only start on the day you take your last drink of alcohol, not on the day you tell your family that you are going to give up.
What are you waiting for?
Take control of your relationship with alcohol and embark on your journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. The first step is just a click away. Don't hesitate any longer; seize the opportunity to book your sober curious discovery call today.
So Much – a postscript
As I am writing this, Peter Gabriel, an artist I have followed for many years, has released a track from his new album, i/o. The track ‘So Much’ is a thoughtful song which really spoke to me when I listened carefully to, and understood the words.
What I took from this song, although it is largely about getting older, was that there is an fine balance to be achieved between two ‘So Muchs’. The chorus of this song in particular speaks to this.
The first ‘So Much’ is about there always being so much to do and not accepting the status quo in life. Always wanting to do something else, something new, something different. This appears to me to be vital to our growth as people on this planet. Without people challenging ‘what else can I do or change’ do we just become stagnant and accept our lot?
The second ‘So Much’ is about acceptance that we can only do so much. Continually challenging ourselves and raising out anxiety levels about not doing enough or being good enough is not good for the soul.
Finding ways to balance these two ‘So Muchs’ will start to bring new meaning and confidence in our lives. Something we all need when we face the world in our early days of sobriety