The Worst Part About Getting Sober Is...
Nothing.
There is nothing bad or “the worst” about getting sober.
It might not feel good and it might mean hitting rock bottom, but it’s most definitely not a bad thing. Bad is dying because of addiction. Bad is living a life drenched in fear and drowning in alcohol.
Bad is going through life a shadow of who you are supposed to be.
Getting sober is really hard though. The surrender? The relapses? The work? The sacrifices?
Yep. Those all come with the territory of breaking an addiction and even being broken yourself. But the only way you can become who you want to and are meant to be is by putting yourself back together again.
If The Sober Journey Were A Fairy Tale
It’s kind of like being Humpty Dumpty almost. In case you don’t know the tale of Humpty Dumpty, it goes like this:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the kings horses and all the kings men
Couldn’t put Humpty back together again.
-Mother Goose
We have to fall and break, my friends. Everyone’s fall will be different. Everyone’s level of brokenness will vary. But one way or another in order to get and stay sober we all must become completely shattered.
Only when we are broken are we be able to sift through all the pieces of our old self. This allows us to then find and build our new self piece by painstaking piece.
The “Worst” Part Of Getting Sober
Much like what Humpty probably experienced on that day, you might be lonely and disappointed for a time.
There is an abundance of help out there. Communities abound where likeminded people will truly hear you and see you and lift you up when you need it most. The validation you will receive from others when you ask for help can almost be overwhelming. It’s a love like no other.
But…
Will your new community be able to fix you? Will they be able to do the work it takes to find the puzzle pieces that make up the new you?
No. Only you can do that. And so maybe this is the worst part of sobriety…
…solitude and loneliness.
But there is no other way we can heal and rebuild while getting sober. We must do the work and while we can have council, we must do it alone.
Only in the silence and solitude can we truly mend our broken spirit and mind. Only in a lonely place can we face the thoughts and feelings we have been running from for so long.
The Best Part About Getting Sober
Despite how hard all of it is, sobriety is the best thing ever. If you are willing to do the work it can change your life in amazing ways. If you are able to turn the “worst” part of sobriety into the best part of your journey, you will find an inner strength like no other.
Your inner child will heal as you find yourself one piece at a time. The grief, anger, fear and sadness that may have fed your addiction will subside. They will not go away. They will never be silent, but in the solitude you will understand them so well they will no longer own you.
Most importantly you will finally be able to be alone with yourself. There will be no need for running. Hiding will no longer be a necessary option. Chaos will no longer be needed to drown out the emotions.
You will be alone, but not lonely. You will be you. And it will be the best part of your life moving forward.
Much love and much life, my friends. For more support be sure to check out my Blog: The F.A.I.L
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