How To Be Sober When Everyone Else You Know Drinks
“I bet they make a big deal out of me not drinking…”
“I feel as if I’m letting other people down… What if they think I’m boring?”
If any of these thoughts sound familiar, you’re not alone.
It can be tough to be the first person in your family or friendship group to decide that you’re ditching alcohol, especially when everyone else drinks.
Maybe you’ve taken time off from drinking in the past and the response was hardly enthusiastic.
Don’t worry – I’ve got three tips to help you handle it in today’s video…
Key points:
It can be tough going first
It’s frustrating when other people give you a hard time about quitting drinking. Maybe you’re the first person in your family or friendship group to ditch alcohol and other people don’t know what to make of it. Sometimes other people are actually worried about their own drinking, so seeing you change brings some stuff up for them. Other times, they think they’re being kind by telling you that you’re fine, you don’t need to change. The good news is: this kind of pushback is usually only temporary.
Remember, you set the tone
In the video, I share Sharon’s story to illustrate how things change over time. When Sharon first came to work with me, she was anxious for other people’s support and approval. But 12 months later, when she shared her one-year milestone on Facebook, she didn’t look for that. Instead, she shared how proud she was of herself, and the response was completely different! Own the decision and be as positive as you can from the outset.
Setting you up for greatness
It takes guts to be the first person you know to quit: the first person in your friendship group, your workplace, your community… Being the one who leads the way takes a little courage, particularly when everyone else still drinks. You might feel out of your comfort zone because of it. But once you’ve done something like that, it’s amazing what else seems possible. Who knows what else you might go on to change, question or challenge in your life!
Someone else needs you
I promise you, there is someone else in your world right now who’s quietly struggling with alcohol. Someone who isn’t on your radar, because… Guess what? They’re great at hiding their drinking too. They just need someone else to go first. Someone else to show them what’s possible. So many of my clients at The Sober School are referrals from past students – women who’ve started talking about their alcohol-free lifestyle upgrade and have inspired others to take the first step to follow the same path.
Need some help to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.
