I think, for me anyway, that focusing on how bad it was... and even making pros/cons lists never work long-term.
It never solidified in my mind until this last time I got sober... June 28th. Deciding once and for all that I can't drink... period. And that I will never drink again... ever. Under no circumstance, no exceptions, no re-considerations... none of that waffling back and forth. It's worked like an absolute charm!! I have had no problems staying sober this final time. And I do believe I'll never drink again. It's taken the whole "relapse" or "what if I drink again" anxiety right out of the equation.
It's left me free to move forward with real life... and in fact, I'm not completely sold on this idea of a long, drawn out "recovery" either... It's nearly as if I've picked back up where I left off before the drinking got out of hand. I'm actually working on regular things now. Finances, nutrition, fitness... etc. And I'm not ruminating about alcohol.