Walking the path of sobriety and living in recovery takes bravery and a great deal of willingness. I work with a lot of people now in my sobriety coaching practice and so many of my clients have similar fears and questions.

How do I get sober?

Where do I start?

How do I explain it to friends and family?

Does me not drinking mean I’m an alcoholic?

Be patient with yourself as you evolve. Small, healthy choices make a big difference in the long run.

When I first quit drinking I told myself I just wanted to go 30 days. It seemed small and doable to me at the time. Then someone told me there was no way I would make it. Which just lit a fire inside me. I went 30, then 60, then 90 days. And by then there was no way I was going back.

Small adjustments over time really do add up. I’m going on 8+ years now and have never felt better or happier. You gotta start somewhere. The key is to start.

You do not need a reason to stop doing things that don’t make you feel good.

If it doesn’t make you feel good, you are allowed to stop doing it. Almost all of my clients ask me how they should explain that they quit drinking to friends and family. I think the biggest thing here is to just be honest. People can’t argue with your truth.

Alcohol makes many people feel terrible whether because they are hung over or unhappy with their choices around it. No matter what – if it’s drinking, a relationship, a job or a place – if it doesn’t make you feel good or like more of you – that’s all the reason you need to distance yourself from it. And you don’t owe anyone an explanation for doing what’s best for you.

You don’t have to hold yourself hostage to who you used to be.

People ask me all the time why I don’t drink. For a while I would dance around with my answers and that worked alright. But what I found to work best is to just hit them with the truth – I used to be a cokehead. That’s why I quit drinking.

However, over time I realized that doesn’t even resonate with me anymore. The reason why I don’t drink nowadays is simply because I prefer the sober lifestyle I’ve created for myself. I’m not a cocaine connoisseur nor an addict nor an alcoholic. That’s who I used to be.

Now I’m just Carly – living life on my terms and spreading the word that this whole sobriety thing is pretty badass after all. My motto is and will always be: Sober is the new cool.

The meaning of life is to find your very own.

One of the best things I’ve learned on the journey is that I get to decide what is important to me. What I value. What I believe in. And what I stand for.

Whether you’re sober or not, figuring out what is true for you, what makes you tick and what you want to create with your life is completely up to you. This is your freedom. Don’t give it away to other people who may try to tell you what to do or how to live. The meaning of life is to find your very own.

Create a life you don’t need to escape from.

Alcohol and drugs used to be an escape for me because I wasn’t living a life I loved and I didn’t know how to process emotions or anxiety in a healthy way. When you create a life on your terms, you won’t need an escape.

I had to get clear about how I really wanted to be living and what I really wanted. And then I built my life around my values.

My advice to anyone trying to make changes is to get clear on what you want and create a life you don’t need to escape from.

Going Deeper

If you are new to sobriety, have been living a sober lifestyle or are curious how to get sober, these are some create principles to help you on your way. For more articles on Addiction & Recovery click HERE. If you would like to work with me along in your recovery journey, you can find information about Sobriety Coaching here.

Follow me on Instagram for daily tidbids like these. As always, I hope this message serves you deeply. Namaste.

Shirt: The Sober Life