The thing that most people tend to ignore about addiction is that it simply feels good. It’s not popular, nor in most cases appropriate, to acknowledge why people get addicted to things. Whether it’s weakness, stress, influence, or just plain, good old-fashioned self-indulgence, addiction is a plague in our society. Unfortunately, it comes in many forms.
On the surface, the majority of people feel like they can’t relate to addicts, or addictive behavior. The truth is if you pull back the curtain on any human being, you’re liable to find some kind of addiction or addictive quality. This is simply human nature. Only a select few are willing to admit that addiction affects us all. When we take this perspective on addiction it’s much easier for us as a society to sympathize with the addict and their respective struggles.
But what about sobriety? What does it mean to walk away from something that is ultimately bad for you? In many ways, sobriety is like a divorce. As a person who is experienced in dealing with both subjects, I know that this rings true.
When you fall in love, sometimes you feel like nothing the person does can be wrong, bad, or unhealthy. You believe that what they do is always in your best interest. If you delve deep into the heart of the matter, you’ll find that if you’re married to the wrong person, it could lead you down a path of destruction.
When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that hindsight is 20/20. This essentially means that when you look back on an incident, or in your life, you can look at it objectively. Because you have the advantage of examining it from all sides, you begin to see things that you didn’t see when you were in that particular situation. This is particularly true when it comes to divorce…and when it comes to being sober.
When something or someone looks and feels good to you, you don’t think about the consequences, or the ultimate hurt or harm they could be doing to you. If you are blessed enough to discover that the “marriage” in and of itself is toxic to you your spirit and your growth, “divorcing yourself” from that addiction can change your life.
Many of us are dealing with toxic behaviors because we are dealing with self-esteem issues that we have not reconciled in our hearts. But when we become sober, we become brutally honest with ourselves. Where able to make amends to those we have wronged. This includes our family, friends, ourselves, and most importantly our relationship with God.
It’s hard to admit that we’ve been big suckers at one point or another in our lives. If you live on this earth, you will have had an experience with someone or something that takes advantage of you in a weak moment. I come from a long line of addicts in all shapes sizes and forms. They are relatives that I can’t stand to be around if they are inebriated. But on the other hand, those same relatives are the most enjoyable people to be around when they’re sober and fully functioning.
Being sober means divorcing yourself from several things. You have to divorce yourself from the thing that is keeping you addicted (pornography, sex, drugs, attention), you also must be willing to divorce yourself from your pride and arrogance.
Pride goes before a fall. There’s nothing wrong with falling, however, being sober allows you to get up, and understand the reasons you fell in the first place. I don’t want you to think that I’m saying it’s easy to get sober. Far from it! I know how difficult it can be. However, I also know how rewarding it can be to be in control of your own destiny with a clear head, as well as a healthy spirit. Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who have had experience when it comes to regaining sobriety. When you file for divorce, you usually get a lawyer. When you’re fighting for your old sobriety, there is nothing wrong with finding help.
Divorcing your addictions will give you a new lease on life. It will allow you to move forward with conviction unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Love it, live it, embrace it! Enjoy it all that God has laid out before you, and be ready to share your triumphs with all who may need to hear them.