When I went to treatment the first time they put down that I wanted to be sober but didn't believe it was possible for me (others, not me).
I believe that believing that sobriety is possible is absolutely critical to sobriety.
Ananda,
yes; believing it was possible for me was a crucial ingredient. it's what made me try again and again.
sometimes, i lost that and stopped trying, as it was easier to just stay drinking than risk failing at getting sober one more time.
but then, always, the belief resurfaced and underneath, i think, i never lost that.
when i say belief in this context, it's in the sense of conviction.
if i hadn't believed that it was possible, there would have been no more reason to try.