Life is hard, but we make it harder
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,121
Life is hard, but we make it harder
One of my go-to self help books, The Road Less Traveled, starts with the simple sentence, "Life is difficult". It goes on to explain how, once we accept that simple fact, life becomes much more manageable. It also talks about how the root of most of our mental health issues stems from the lengths that we go to avoid life's difficulties. Although this book wasn't written about alcoholism, it certainly describes our affliction perfectly. As alcoholics we have the added challenge of facing life in a dense fog, walking in quicksand, in chains, pulling an anchor.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
Originally Posted by ClearPath64 
One of my go-to self help books, The Road Less Traveled, starts with the simple sentence, "Life is difficult". It goes on to explain how, once we accept that simple fact, life becomes much more manageable. It also talks about how the root of most of our mental health issues stems from the lengths that we go to avoid life's difficulties. Although this book wasn't written about alcoholism, it certainly describes our affliction perfectly. As alcoholics we have the added challenge of facing life in a dense fog, walking in quicksand, in chains, pulling an anchor.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
Yes, the last week was rough but because I wasn't either drunk or hungover I got through a difficult period without making this worse.
And that for me that is what sobriety is all about. Not making things worse when life gets uncomfortable.
Can I make things better? I certainly try.
But as long as I don't make things worse I consider this a plus.
Trying to Enjoy Life Now
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Posts: 275
Originally Posted by ClearPath64
One of my go-to self help books, The Road Less Traveled, starts with the simple sentence, "Life is difficult". It goes on to explain how, once we accept that simple fact, life becomes much more manageable. It also talks about how the root of most of our mental health issues stems from the lengths that we go to avoid life's difficulties. Although this book wasn't written about alcoholism, it certainly describes our affliction perfectly. As alcoholics we have the added challenge of facing life in a dense fog, walking in quicksand, in chains, pulling an anchor.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
Towards the end of my drinking career the couple hours of bliss alcohol would provide would be followed by days of anxiety. Then of course to deal with the anxiety and shakes and racing brain I needed more alcohol.
I kinda hate alcohol like I hated a bully back in middle school. Wish I would have punched him back much sooner than I did.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Your title says it all! Great book and absolutely true statement. It is amazing how much easier life (consistently) is now that I am sober. Things like 'making the next right choice' and 'it's ok, just one step (thing) at a time' . . . and so on - come much more easily and make hard(er) things do-able, and easy things much more normal!!
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
Originally Posted by ClearPath64
One of my go-to self help books, The Road Less Traveled, starts with the simple sentence, "Life is difficult". It goes on to explain how, once we accept that simple fact, life becomes much more manageable. It also talks about how the root of most of our mental health issues stems from the lengths that we go to avoid life's difficulties. Although this book wasn't written about alcoholism, it certainly describes our affliction perfectly. As alcoholics we have the added challenge of facing life in a dense fog, walking in quicksand, in chains, pulling an anchor.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
I had a few challenges yesterday (dead car battery, late to work, etc) but I felt capable of handling them. Could even see the humor, the silver lining, in the situations I was faced with. I know that sobriety isn't going to make life's difficulties go away, but it's certainly going to make dealing with them a thousand percent more manageable.
Couldn't be more thankful for where I am in my recovery today, and for my SR community.
For some fear has become a source of entertainment. Afraid of the boogeyman but can't live without him.
Until one is willing to step outside their comfort zone they'll never grow.
Easier to have a doctor to give you a prescription. I read somewhere it's estimated 30 percent of the U.S. workforce is on some sort of medication.
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 6,262
As my first sponsor used to say: "there are good days and there are learning days". We alcoholics tend to blow things out of proportion; what we call stress non-alcoholics call life. Thanks to the program I have tools for dealing with difficult situations.
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,121
Originally Posted by otter
I kinda hate alcohol like I hated a bully back in middle school. Wish I would have punched him back much sooner than I did.
Soberado
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Cleveland Ohio-ish
Posts: 395
Originally Posted by Ken33xx
For some fear has become a source of entertainment. Afraid of the boogeyman but can't live without him.
Until one is willing to step outside their comfort zone they'll never grow.
Easier to have a doctor to give you a prescription. I read somewhere it's estimated 30 percent of the U.S. workforce is on some sort of medication.
Until one is willing to step outside their comfort zone they'll never grow.
Easier to have a doctor to give you a prescription. I read somewhere it's estimated 30 percent of the U.S. workforce is on some sort of medication.
Right on the money Ken33xx
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