Living Sober Sucks, But Living Drunk Sucks More.

Logically, after almost 11 years of complete sobriety this shouldn't still suck. But many thoughts and emotions aren't founded on logic. The title may sound a little dark, but I wanted to share this. I hear from a lot of people who feel the same way. I think it's okay to feel this way. And even though I illogically feel that it still sucks, I know for certain that my life is factually far better as a non-drinker. I hope you find this podcast interesting. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Most of the attention is usually placed on the person doing the recovering. But the unsung hero is the person or people doing the supporting. The supporter plays an extremely important role in the success of a recovery effort. What’s the best way to offer support? I offer a few ideas in this podcast. Please check it out. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

I believe that most people have the best of intentions on doing “something” someday, and many even believe their own bullshit, but they never do it. I don’t think that people are liars or lazy; life is busy and you’ve got plenty of things to do already. Sticking with “what is” can be easier (but less gratifying), than making changes. It’s natural to avoid difficult changes and nobody likes failure. But someday is right NOW. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

We all lead busy lives, but have you ever thought about the difference between Good Busy and Bad Busy? Many of us invest too much of our valuable time into the act of being Bad Busy. Have a listen to this podcast to hear the difference between the two. I hope this podcast motivates you to avoid getting involved and overwhelmed by Bad Busy and start focusing your time and your life on being Good Busy. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Do you need to take a test, fill out a questionnaire or consult a therapist to determine if your drinking behavior is problematic? I don’t think it's necessary. You may not have a "genuine" heavy drinking problem, but your drinking habit may be distracting you from getting the most out of your time and your life. Please listen to this brief podcast and decide for yourself. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Is it a good idea to lie to someone when they first sober up? Should you tell them that this will be the best thing they ever do or should you tell them, "I don't know how this will turn out?" You don't want to deflate their effort, but you don't want to outright lie and give them false expectations. This podcast will give you some ideas of how to address these tough questions. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Your mind is quite capable of finding a reason to drink or do drugs. Temptations exist every day. Temptations aren’t bad, taking action on those temptations is bad. You can’t always control life, but YOU CAN control many temptations from ever presenting themselves. What is really at the root of temptation? Have a listen to this podcast and decide if you agree with me. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

What is the ultimate power trip for you? Is it driving fast? Being in control of other people? Running a business? I personally feel that the ultimate power trip is self-control, and it's something you can experience every day, multiple times a day. You can have total control over substances, but that's providing you have the self-control to NOT put a substance into your bloodstream. The only time you become powerless to a substance is AFTER you've willingly ingested it. I give an example by comparing laxatives to alcohol. Once either one is in your stomach you have no control over what it will do to your bodily functions. Please check out this podcast. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

This is often a curious question to ask yourself. We all want something, but does getting what we want bring about the happiness we so desire? I believe that there are better questions to ask such as, "Why do you want something and what do you hope the end result will bring about?" Do you really want to live completely sober and what do you want out of sobriety? What do think the results of sobriety will be? It's important to ask "Why" you want something and "What outcome" you're hoping for. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

The best way to get you feeling better about yourself is to help someone else. Every day you have opportunities to help other people and doing so will help YOU feel better with your sobriety. A big part of living a normal life as a non-drinker is by NOT always being focused on being a non-drinker. When you help other people you will think more about them and less about having to stay sober. Helping other people will get you thinking about other subjects than always thinking and talking about sobriety. Please take the time to check out this podcast. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Two people can witness the exact same thing but remember it in different ways. Memories change over time. Good memories are what we live for. Bad memories are meant to be avoided. But bad memories can also hold you back. Check out this podcast to discover ways to keep your memories in check. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

I believe that people don't always communicate their message as well as they think they do. Have you ever heard yourself saying, "This idiot just doesn't get it." There are a few simple ways to make sure other people understand and grasp what you’re trying to say. This podcast will offer you ideas on how to make sure that your intended message is received correctly. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

When people think about what an “alcoholic” looks like, most will visualize the stereotypical bar floozy or unshaven guy sleeping on a park bench or dozing next to a dumpster. But alcoholics come in all different shapes, colors, genders and religions, and many show no outward indication of being an alcoholic. So let me tell you about an alcoholic. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

How much would you pay yourself if you worked for you? Well you are working for YOU when you punch out, log off or leave your workplace for the day. If you were a boss, would you want to pay someone to sit around and drink? Would you pay someone to sit around and watch TV? Would you pay someone to simply sit around? You are your own boss with your own time, and your time is valuable. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

I believe that people don’t really want to quit drinking. What they REALLY WANT are the results of living sober. That’s okay. We all want results without having to do a lot of work. Again, that’s okay. Wanting the most and the best with the least amount of effort put forth is thinking in terms of efficiency. This podcast will give you ideas on how to rearrange your words so you have reasons for quitting drinking. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

I was emailed a question from someone and they were wondering if my perspective on drinking has changed through my latest years of sobriety. As I was answering this question, I not only realized that my perspective on drinking has changed but of more importance is that my perspective on living has changed. This has been one of my most read blog articles to date. Please have a listen to the podcast. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

When you stop drinking and doing drugs you’ll suddenly have unspent money in your pocket. What are you going to do with that money? How will you reward yourself? Will you be tempted to go spend it on booze or drugs and start the ravenous cycle all over again? Have a plan on what to do with all the money you’ll be saving. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Truly the best words of advice I have ever heard were, "Don't make the same mistake twice." This is applicable in business, investing, sports, relationships, life and with sobriety. But all too often this advice is taken too literally and if people "fail" at one thing they never try again. Don't shy away from failures, learn from them. True, don’t make the same mistake twice, but maybe a different approach will be successful? http://LivingSoberSucks.com

Imagine that you and I go to the gym and your goal is to lose weight, but all you do is sit there and watch ME exercise. Do you honestly believe that you’ll lose weight by just watching me and thinking about exercising? Of course not. YOU have to do the work yourself. Living sober is the same. You will have to do the work yourself. We can do it together, support and push each other along, but YOU will have to get on the treadmill and do the work. http://LivingSoberSucks.com

In this podcast I present more questions than answers. The idea behind being "anonymous" is to allow a person to be open and honest without embarrassment or public exposure. However, anonymity can also lead to dishonesty and poor behavior. Creating an "anonymous" persona may allow some people to live in a world of delusion where they can be whoever or whatever they want to be. Name disclosure may help with personal responsibility. But how about you decide for yourself? http://LivingSoberSucks.com