From Avoidance to Awareness: Getting Honest with Yourself

I remember when I first began exploring my relationship with alcohol. It felt like I was avoiding a big, scary truth I wasn’t ready to face. I’d tell myself, “It’s fine, I’m okay,” while sweeping those uneasy feelings under the rug.

I would search for any evidence that would validate my drinking, even though deep down, it wasn’t what I wanted. If you’re looking to defend alcohol, you’ll always find a way.

The point is, you have to bring into the light the stories you’re telling yourself about alcohol that no longer hold true for you. Often, we’re most afraid of our own power.

If alcohol were no longer an issue—if it became irrelevant and no longer a desire—what would you have to be willing to face?

Alcohol lets us keep playing small, avoiding responsibility for the life we want, and rejecting our authentic selves.

Eventually, I decided to pause and really look at what I was feeling. That first step—from avoidance to awareness—was scary but also liberating. Suddenly, I wasn’t running anymore. I could finally be honest with myself without judgment. And in that moment, I realized honesty wasn’t something to fear; it was a pathway to freedom.

I had the choice to drink or not drink—no one was holding me to any standards but myself. When I gave myself permission to make alcohol a choice, I could simply ask myself, “Do I want this outcome anymore?” The answer was no.

If you are ready to write a new story about alcohol, grab my free guide to help you explore what it’s like to cultivate a new relationship with yourself. Follow the link here: DRINK LESS WITHOUT FEELING DEPRIVED: 6 Simple Cheat Phrases to Calm the Urge to Drink and End the Internal Battle