I began forming my stigma in my pre teens. I thought alcohol use was not only cool but a symbol of maturity and manhood. over the years I lead myself to believe that drinking was NEEDED to be classy and sophisticated, to appear well to do, needed to help me sleep, help me celebrate, allow me to relax in public, fight anxiety et etc. in time I came to not only belief this stigma with my whole heart but to actually defend it vigorously. Nothing was going to challenge my dear belief system! any restaurant that didn't serve alcohol was 'not a real restaurant' etc etc.
so after many years and incredible contemplation I look at this stigma based on twisted logic and watch it fall apart into the tiny pieces of garbage that it's actually made of. it has failed the test of scrutiny and truth. An elaborate lie that became a belief system is now gone. I feel a sense of emptiness and a bit of agoraphobia. Fortunately there are many positive things I can use that mental real estate for.
Did I quit alcohol or did my belief system simply fall apart?
food for thought.
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