What is your biggest motivation to stay sober???
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 335
What is your biggest motivation to stay sober???
Mine would be I am driving my car again. Because of anxiety I hadn't driven for 6 years. The next one would be I can I can go on holidays I haven't had many holidays due to anxiety as well. Thirdly health wise mentally I am finally stable and physically (losing weight) I am much better. Lastly the better quality of life all round. What are your biggest motivators to stay sober?
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,888
My biggest motivation to stay sober is to maintain some sanity and goodish health. Alcohol and for me drugs, took away my ability to care for myself and caused me to have serious health problems - mentally as well as physically.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 4,451
Tonight just before sundown I was outside installing a new reel for the garden hose, and I noticed a murder of crows forming in a tree across the street. They were calling out really loud, and more crows came. And came... and came. Twenty here, 30 there, until 200 or 300 in all were settled into that tree. Then boom—they all flew off together.
Enjoying stuff like that is one of the many rewards.
Enjoying stuff like that is one of the many rewards.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 22
Well, I'm scared of large numbers of birds, and I think that a large group of crows being called a murder just proves my point! Birds in large quantities are scary! lol. My biggest motivator is what you are gaining, Checkmate1, control over my anxiety and my brain. Not sure it will ever get better, but that would be the ultimate reward for me.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Posts: 272
Where to start?
(And not necessarily in this order):
1. Health
2. I started to hate it - more booze for less buzz and more trouble. Great.
3. Removal of shame & guilt
4. There has to be a better way to live (this is still faith-based, haven't experienced it yet)
5. Terror at the progression - when I finally realised it
6. Horror at how it limited me - when I finally realised it
7. Feeling 'clean' inside
8. Feeling proud of myself
9. Money
10. Depression
11. Following through on a decision already made (this is what I tell myself when I get 'thoughts')
12. I'm not missing it (addictive murmurs notwithstanding)
13. Millions of people the world over don't give a rat's ass about alcohol
Some of these sound more like reasons for quitting than motivators to stay quit - but, you know, same difference. They all motivate me.
Thanks for the great question! I know I'll be inspired by answers on here.
BB
(And not necessarily in this order):
1. Health
2. I started to hate it - more booze for less buzz and more trouble. Great.
3. Removal of shame & guilt
4. There has to be a better way to live (this is still faith-based, haven't experienced it yet)
5. Terror at the progression - when I finally realised it
6. Horror at how it limited me - when I finally realised it
7. Feeling 'clean' inside
8. Feeling proud of myself
9. Money
10. Depression
11. Following through on a decision already made (this is what I tell myself when I get 'thoughts')
12. I'm not missing it (addictive murmurs notwithstanding)
13. Millions of people the world over don't give a rat's ass about alcohol
Some of these sound more like reasons for quitting than motivators to stay quit - but, you know, same difference. They all motivate me.
Thanks for the great question! I know I'll be inspired by answers on here.
BB
Idiot!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 556
Getting rid of the constant preoccupation with of. It was always always on my mind. Have I got enough? When can I start drinking? Will I be able to drink today. Will I start a fight? Etc etc.
Peace of mind I think is the short answer.
Peace of mind I think is the short answer.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
Oh man...too many reasons to name. At the risk of sounding all googly and sappy, there is just such beauty in the world and I can see it now that I have a set of sober eyes. A shift in perspective has probably been one the the greater gifts of sobriety for me.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Highlands, TX
Posts: 1,192
To continue living. Alcohol had me on a super fast track towards organ failure. I know when you relapse you very quickly find yourself in the shape you were in when you stopped and then gets worse. For me worse equals dead and I choose to live today.
To enjoy fully my baby grandson along with any others that may come later and to maintain my relationships with my kids and family.
To keep a connection with my HP.
Knowing I am of use to people in general, fellow alcoholics in particular, my loved ones as well as the friends in my home group aka my extended family.
Great topic and great answers!!
To enjoy fully my baby grandson along with any others that may come later and to maintain my relationships with my kids and family.
To keep a connection with my HP.
Knowing I am of use to people in general, fellow alcoholics in particular, my loved ones as well as the friends in my home group aka my extended family.
Great topic and great answers!!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,756
My two biggest reasons to stay sober are my two dogs.
One is special needs and I have to be alert and aware for any changes in his behavior or health. I love being sober to take excellent care of my dogs.
One is special needs and I have to be alert and aware for any changes in his behavior or health. I love being sober to take excellent care of my dogs. 
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