Sobriety is so much more rewarding than simply quitting drinking.
First, we must define what sobriety is. Abstinence plus a program of activities designed to make abstinence comfortable and to improve functioning in relationships and in other aspects of life. But, is this enough?
What would your answer be? A bigger question for you would be what is sobriety to you? Does sobriety mean that you are sober if you just quit drinking? Is this enough?
Bill W. said in his book As Bill Sees It p. 227, “The alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil.”
The answer to the question in the topic is, that it depends on how you define sobriety. Some think that merely stopping drinking makes one sober. Do you know the difference between being sober and being dry?
Merely stopping drinking and being dry, although a great first step, is only the beginning of sobriety. We have become sick and tired of being sick and tired. We learn that we may have to change some things in order to really become sober.
Sobriety had brought happiness, joy, and freedom to me. Feelings that I never deeply had before I discovered sobriety.
Happy that I can now choose just where I want to go next. When in the madness of active alcoholism, I had no choices once I picked up that first drink. I chose the drink and then the drink chose everything that I did after that.
Joyous because no matter what is going on around or to me, physically or emotionally, I can make intelligent decisions. Even if I make the wrong decision, I am not a bad person. I am only one who should try something else next time.
Free because I am no longer under the influence of a mind-altering substance.
This does not mean that I am pleased when I or anyone else suffers a loss, pain, disease, injury, or separation from others. It does mean that I will do the right thing under the circumstances.
How do I know that I will do the right thing under adverse circumstances? Because I have done more than stopped drinking. I have immersed myself into this tremendous new way of life called sobriety.
How do I know that this change has been brought about because of sobriety? Because, when I finally stopped drinking, I was advised by wiser heads than mine, that now the work begins.
These wiser heads said that I must change whatever is negative in my life. Not knowing how to do this change, I was quickly told that I would not be alone. And they were with me throughout the growing process.
These wiser heads became my sponsors and then, because we worked together, became my friends. What a concept! I had no real friends when in the madness. Only drinking companions and people who feared me.
My sponsors let me know in no uncertain terms that “I get drunk. We stay sober!” Making the changes in my life that needed to be made was easier when I didn’t have to do it all alone.
The simplest way that I can think of describing how to work my program of sobriety is to continually do the next right thing 24/7/365.
How was I to know if what I was doing was the right thing? I had discovered that I have a Higher Power that I now choose to call God. All I had to do was say the shortened version of the AA 3rd Step, “God, help me.” Then let Him!
Then, if it FELT right it WAS right. If there was any apprehension at all, I should step back and reconsider. Then go right back to “God, help me!” And He will!
The first part of the question from the topic is Is Sobriety Enough? My answer is YES. Why? Because true sobriety is the driver for a life full of happiness, joy, and freedom. This covers it all. So sobriety IS enough because continually doing the next right thing is all that you need. Thank you, God!
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