BrendaChenowyth

Poll coming...

I could have phrased the question better, like what do you find to be your predominating thought, but I do think whatever that is controls us.

Please pick the one that most closely resembles your mindset.

shortstop81

At this stage of my recovery, my main motivator is that I have to get better. I have a lot riding on this - my son, my relationships, my job, and most importantly, my sanity.

Although things have been slowly going my way the past few weeks. I wondering if my mindset will shift soon to 'it only gets better.'

ScottFromWI

I've personally been striving over the last year to not let any particular thought control me. My anxiety and my addiction controlled me for a long time but my main goal is to always try and live more in the moment and not let my thoughts spin out of control. Sometimes they still do but acknowledging them and letting them pass by helps a lot. What has also helped is accepting that there is really very little that is under my control..and that it's OK for that to be.

Doug39

I picked "I have to get better".

I didn't pick "I can't drink" cause I can always give up and go back to it.

I didn't pick "I want to drink" because I truly don't.

I didn't pick "It only gets better" because it might not.

Oct2016

Other... I WON'T drink

BrendaChenowyth

This falls closest to "I can't drink".
The object of the thought is still "drinking".

For me these four are a progression.. I should have put wanting to drink first..

paulokes

I've thought all of these at times...nothing wrong with any of them if they help, I think

Right now I struggle to fit my thoughts into any of these...the trick for me is definitely letting go of controlling thoughts, ideas, who I think I am, what I think I need...AA speak for this is 'Letting go of old ideas'...emotions, ideas and attitudes that have controlled me for much of my life.

Interesting point...the desire to stay sober can become a dominating thought...but it's one I'm happy to keep. Similarly the 'label' of Alcoholic is argued to be negative by some...That's one I'm happy to keep too. As a friend once told me Sometimes you have to pitch your tent and stand for something, or you'll fall for anything

P

Mountainmanbob

When I don't drink it only gets better.
What more can I say?
M-Bob

Mark1014

Like many, I've been subject to all of the thoughts, but over time as I worked my way to the 'it only gets better' category I found the ability to control the thought rather than vice versa (most of the time). When the other thoughts do sneak in I now realize that they'll pass and don't give them legs so to speak. Took a good while, but the switch has flipped. Thank goodness.

SnazzyDresser

I generally try to stay in control of my thoughts, so none of those.

SnazzyDresser

When these threads of Brenda's, I often get the idea she's trying to make a larger point but doing it implicitly.

BrendaChenowyth

But which OF the four do you find yourself thinking more often than the other three lol

BrendaChenowyth

Only because you've probably seen me lecture people for lecturing me about focusing on things that seem trivial, I always harp on "the bigger issue at hand" lol

Dreamz469

I have to get better.
Get me back to me. I let this summer get the best of me. This **** just creeps up on you from outta nowhere. I have to get back to being the healthy, gym going, movie loving guy. Even though I didn't drink everyday, when I did, I went all out. No fun being hungover on the couch when your kids want to play. Then I'd be so exhausted from the weekend I stopped going to the gym. Stopped eating healthy because fast food was the easier option. I have to get better. I WILL GET BETTER

Oct2016

Can't and Won't are not the same.
I will not drink. Mind made up. Done.

BrendaChenowyth

I didn't say they were the same, I said that your remark falls closest to that one, out of the four on the list.

JeffreyAK

"I no longer even want to drink", which I guess might be closest to "It only gets better". It doesn't always get better, life has ups and downs, but I know one sure-fire way to make everything a hundred times worse.

Gottalife

Depends where you are with recovery. When I stopped my experience up to that point was that having stopped, it only gets worse. I had no experience to suggest it might get better.

The thought that controls me today might be the inspiration that comes from a prayer, Like what is the right thought or action for this situation, what is it You want me to do next? Drinking or not drinking thoughts are not part of the picture.

Aellyce

I don't drink

Soberandhealthy

Which though control me : I am not good enough and I will never be good enough period.