Why ask what can be gained? Ask what you can lose in sobriety.

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01-18-2016, 10:47 AM

# 1 (permalink)

Findingtheway

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Join Date: Apr 2012

Posts: 1,323

Why ask what can be gained? Ask what you can lose in sobriety.

At the end of my AA meeting on Saturday, it was closed with a simple statement that REALLY had a simple yet drastic affect on my day to day recovery.

I'm just past a year sober, but have been caught up in the what is there to be gained from this? The old what's in it for me mentality....

Basically the message was this. Don't focus on what can be GAINED from sobriety. But be grateful for what you can LOSE from sobriety.

Just to name one.

I can lose, the feeling of isolation (have AA, and SR friends now that understand and relate to my past experiences.)

So...What are some of the other things you can LOSE from sobriety?

Have a great day SR.

01-18-2016, 10:49 AM

# 2 (permalink)

SoberLeigh

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Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: East Coast USA

Posts: 120,870

The feeling of low self-worth.

01-18-2016, 11:58 AM

# 3 (permalink)

Soberwolf

Do your best

Join Date: Aug 2014

Posts: 67,047

Seriously excellent thought provoking thread Finding top class on reaching a year bud

For me it is everything

01-18-2016, 11:59 AM

# 4 (permalink)

SoberLeigh

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Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: East Coast USA

Posts: 120,870

That awful hungover feeling in the morning.

01-18-2016, 12:05 PM

# 5 (permalink)

Fly N Buy

Trudgin

Join Date: Jul 2014

Posts: 6,348

I have lost the reflection of my despair visible in loved ones eyes..........it has been supplanted with hope!

good thread!

01-18-2016, 12:06 PM

# 6 (permalink)

RattleAndHum

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Join Date: Jan 2016

Posts: 288

Credit card debt. :-) Also, people talk about losing your sanity. What about losing your INsanity?

01-18-2016, 12:07 PM

# 7 (permalink)

Kaneda8888

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Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: Strailya

Posts: 8,017

One big one for me: liberation from the wretched feelings of guilt, shame and remorse.

01-18-2016, 12:07 PM

# 8 (permalink)

SoberLeigh

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Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: East Coast USA

Posts: 120,870

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly N Buy

I have lost the reflection of my despair visible in loved ones eyes..........it has been supplanted with hope!

good thread!

Beautiful, Fly N Buy!!!!!!!

01-18-2016, 12:13 PM

# 9 (permalink)

bigsombrero

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Join Date: Nov 2012

Location: Central America/Florida USA

Posts: 4,064

I lost the anxiety and fear that shackled me when I was trying to complete normal, every day tasks. Lost weight, too

01-18-2016, 01:19 PM

# 10 (permalink)

oldsoul1122

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Join Date: May 2012

Location: CA.....Hometown : Sioux Falls

Posts: 2,624

I lost remorse, guilt and shame.

01-18-2016, 01:22 PM

# 11 (permalink)

enfinthechange

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Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: deepest england

Posts: 1,119

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsoul1122

I lost remorse, guilt and shame.

Lost the will to die... hoping to live. ....

01-18-2016, 01:31 PM

# 12 (permalink)

IfYouCanDream

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Join Date: Jan 2015

Location: Toronto, Canada

Posts: 378

In sobriety I'm loosing my nihilistic tendencies.
I've also lost feeling sorry for myself all the time.
I've lost having zero self respect.
I've lost those blood curdling mornings and those dreaded evenings
All the drama I missed out on since I started recovery... certainly counts as a loss as well.

01-18-2016, 01:39 PM

# 13 (permalink)

ccam1973

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Join Date: Apr 2014

Location: Gulf Coast, USA

Posts: 2,229

Great job on passing the year mark Finding!

In sobriety, I've lost the selfishness that comes with drinking. My days no longer revolve around when I am going to get my next drink, how much I will be able to drink before bed time, how I am going to sneak my drinking into the day and night...

So glad i've lost that in sobriety.