Memory of consequences is one of the things that keeps me sober, too. How many stupid scenes, blackouts, headaches, nausea, hospital trips, and on and on, does it take to get us to stay away from the stuff?
But my feeble little brain does sometimes require other people to remind me of that. I can't get down on my knees and ask God or Zeus or whomever for help, but at least I have people I can call and talk to. They are my "higher" power because they can be rational about my behavior in those moments when I can't.
I stick with a program (AA) because it helps me connect with those people. The only challenge is the disconnect I feel when some of them talk about their role in "God's Plan." I'm not sure if I envy them that feeling, but I'm sure I don't have it--I can't even make sense of it. Still, I'm sober and happy for today, and I'm doing other people some good too, in my way. That's worth something.