Sober October: Week 2!
Week one is in the books! How are you feeling?
Have you been encountering the mental chatter of cognitive dissonance? If so, that’s normal.
Our limbic brain- the older part of our minds- is the master at seeking comfort and avoiding pain. When we get into a place of comfort and familiarity, even if it harms us, our subconscious will pull out all the tricks to keep us in that comfortable state.
Ever watched Young Frankenstein? One of my favorite scenes is when Dr. Frankenstein locks himself in a room with the monster in an attempt to connect with and calm it.
He tells his assistants not to let him out, no matter what. As soon as the door is locked and he is confronted with his creation, Frankenstein immediately pleads to be let out using all his wits and words.
Dr. Frankenstein is a good representation of how parts of your mind will trick you, plead with you, belittle you, and even threaten you to return to what was comfortable and avoid what you don’t want to face.
Speaking of monsters…
As you move through these four weeks with clarity, you will notice that things you have suppressed with alcohol come to the surface.
Don’t let this scare you. Instead, view this month as an opportunity to use your newfound energy and direct it toward the monsters you have been avoiding: all the fear, all the discomfort, all the beliefs.
Dive into them like the brave adventurer you are!
A way forward.
One way you can do that is by listening to and getting curious about your thoughts and emotions. Become aware of your inner self-talk as it relates to your mental/emotional state.
This new awareness will help you to shift your perspective and reframe what you are experiencing. You can try it with this 4-step process:
Describe it: Give it a shape, color, sensation, and location in your body.
Name it: Thoughts/emotions are fleeting; they are not who you truly are. Naming those things helps to put some space between them and you, which gives you more control. This also helps identify your sabotaging self-talk, like negative “I am” statements such as “I am sad” vs. “I feel sad.”
Identify it: What is the trigger that is causing the emotion? What and where is this coming from? This step takes a little digging. So have your shovel handy!
Change it: Changing the sentence changes the feeling. Notice the shift in perception between the thoughts “I am sad without alcohol” and “I am learning to live a joyful life without alcohol” can have on your feeling state.
What else could be said about the feeling or experience? Where else in your life are unquestioned thought patterns you can uncover, reevaluate, and check for validity?
Congratulations on getting through the first week!
Most people don’t even question alcohol’s role in their lives. But you are a badass for taking your well-being into your own hands and taking a break from alcohol.
See you next week!
