What is involved in 100 percent committment?

[Suni]

Following on from:
"What made you want to change badly enough?" -where mostly we all agreed that unless you had fully committed to changing you might not reach your destination I'd like to ask another question to raise awareness.
How can you be sure that you're committed a hundred percent when you make your decision to stop?
I mean what tells you that you are?
How do you know?
And how do you know if you're not?
:thanks:

[mario]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

I just knew myself suni,one morning in jan,after many years thinking i could drink like a lot of normal people,and trying to drink like them,And after years of stopping starting etc. i just woke up and said that was it,no more and i knew 100 percent that was it.i could see where i was heading and i just had to admit to myself that i could not control my drinking or actions when drunk.i took no medicine or got any doctors just locked my self away for the first 3 weeks,and up to today i am still 100 percent that i wont go back,i just know myself.

[AAthlete]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Suni, I had to admit to myself (and to others) that I was an alcoholic and that I was completely powerless over booze. For so many years I was convinced that I could control and enjoy my drinking. Ironic considering that this belief went on for years even though I drank the whole time - I still thought I could control it IF I REALLY WANTED TO. That was the thinking that I had to give up....

Even though it was incredibly hard, there was a certain liberation around 'coming out' about my alcoholism - it made it real - and from there I was able to finally progress in my sobriety.

[caysea]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hi All

Many Many Many attempts at stopping drinking. None worked because I was not willing to sacrifice the al lifestyle, Friends socializing, activities, and al as a main part of it all.Reaching the point that I knew I or someone was going to get killed brought me to the point of giving up my whole life as I knew it. I was ready and did stop socializing for the first 4 months with any one who I had a drinking association with. Basically all my friends.
Being sober became and still is the most important thing in my life.I was willing to feel uncomfortable in situations and learn to deal with it. I was willing to do what ever it took to not have a drink. Not go to the bars with my "friends" [now viewed as drinking buddies big difference]. Not go to parties knowing in the early stages of recovery I wasn't ready.

I had been involved in boating my whole life. From when I was a kid. When I retired my wife and I would travel from New England to Florida living on my boat. Along with that was an al lifestyle. When i steeped back and saw it as something that was going to threaten my recovery I sold the boat. I will still go sailing with my good friends who have supported me in recovery. Now it is to enjoy the time sailing not heading to another place to drink. I am willing to give up anything at this point that would be a trigger or treat to my recovery.

I have used exercise as MWO of al . It has become a main part of my day . It is also how I have found new friends. Exercising and working out has become like breathing to me it makes me feel that good. If you told me I had to give it up to remain sober I would. Their is nothing I wouldn't do or sacrifice to continue to live a sober life. Knowing I will sacrifice anything and stop doing anything that will threaten my recovery lets me know I am giving 100%. If i felt AA or any other program was needed I would go without a second thought.

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN LIVING A SOBER LIFE.




Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[drylifeahead]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hi there,

I had been feeling so badly, so depressed, even-suicidal, that after one particularly hard bender I woke up feeling worse than ever.
Round and round I had been going for years, and did not see the cycle ending. I woke up October 3rd, and decided I HAD to gain CONTROL of my life. I was letting AL ruin me.
I found this site I believe Oct 4th, spent the day reading, then the next 2 weeks almost always online here, and found what had been missing the other few times I had made a serious attempt to quitting.
For me it was not just white knuckling it to quit..that didn't work. Once I understood how this site worked, about the supplements and so forth, I finally had the tools to move me in the right direction.
So, I became 100% committed to totally eradicating Al from my body, still am 100% committed, and see a future wherein I will remain 100% committed.

DLA :l

[drylifeahead]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hi Caysea...

You sold your boat??

Now THAT is what I call 100% committed! Wow! :h:h

[Suni]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hello all,
Thank you all so much for your wonderful posts.
They make inspiring reading.

[KateH1]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

To me, comittment means that I do not drink, NO Excuses! It means leaving no room, no space to allow alcohol to re-enter my life. It means wanting sobriety more than anything else!

Best Wishes on your journey, Suni!

[startingover]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hi Suni, I was a mess and I wanted to die, I didnt want to be that way any more so I was prepared to do whatever it took to change that. I just knew that nothing could be any worse for me.
Good luck to you!

[momof3]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

My 100% commitment came when I realized that if I continued on the path I was on, that I would surely die. More than anything, I wanted to live a long and healthy life. I wanted to be fully present for my children and to see them grow. I wanted to regain respect for myself.

When I quit drinking, 100% commitment meant that sobriety was my first priority always. At times, it meant not going to social functions where I knew the booze would be flowing. It meant forming new friendships and redefining friendships where drinking was at the forefront. It meant saying no to business travel because I did not trust myself alone in a hotel room. It meant taking a long hard look in the mirror and coming to terms with the other ways that I needed to change.

Most of all, 100% commitment meant having FAITH that it would get better...that I would get over the daily struggle and the cravings and the feeling that I was deprived because I could not drink.

100% commitment means that with every decision I make, no matter how small, I ask myself, "Is this bringing me closer to or further away from sobriety."

M3

[Starlight Impress Forever]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

You know you are 100 % committed to sobriety when you, in all honesty, MEAN WHAT YOU SAY.

All too often, we just open our mouths and allow a load of well-intentioned dribble to come out, you know like, how we`re going to quit drinking tomorrow.......after that party.........once we`ve lost weight.........EXCUSES AD NAUSEAM!!!! I should know, like so many here, I used to be a master of such excuses, excuses which are nothing but a load of old `bollocks`. If we wholeheartedly wish to quit drinking, we won`t allow circumstances (aka life) stand in our way.

There is only one way to determine if we are indeed 100% committed to sobriety, we only have to ask ourselves, "Do I mean what I say ?" or am I merely wishful thinking.

There IS only one way out and that is the way you yourself must design. No amount of programs, pills or potions will save your drunken ass........it`s your call and yours alone. Tough words indeed, but then.......this is one tough ride. Only when you want sobriety ABOVE ALL ELSE, will you ultimately achieve it.

Star x

[Doggygirl]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

This is a great topic Suni!

For me, 100% committment means more than just what I know to be true in my head, and what I feel to be true in my heart. It also means what I DO every day to get and stay 100% committed to my sobriety.

* Sobriety is my #1 priority. EVERYTHING else is secondary. (and it's all BETTER because I keep my sobriety as my #1 priority.)
* I have changed my life style such as Caysea describes WRT exercise and for me, diet too.
* I have changed my "people, places and things" to be consistent with a 100% sober lifestyle, a bit as Momof3 described. I have no room for exceptions - that could kill me. Yes, that means there are folks under my sobriety bus. That's just the way it has to be.
* I take ACTION for my sobriety every day. That is some combination of reading / posting at MWO, attending AA meetings and working on steps, and reaching out to other alcoholics here and now more in real life through AA.

DG


This disease/affliction/obsession/whatever defies logic. If logic played a part in recovery, I would have stopped drinking when the consequences of my actions became significant - and that was many years ago. But I didn't. Despite the consquences and what any "sane" person could see, I kept right on drinking. Since I can't count on my own logic to stay sober, I need to count on outside help. You all are a part of that for me, as is AA.

[retteacher]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Suni:
-I experienced a bottom (a really humiliating experience) & decided I was going to give up my title as the Relapse Queen.
-I admitted I was an alcoholic aloud at AA meetings & to my family.
-I worked the 12 steps of AA & accepted I could not tackle my drinking problem alone.
-I stay sober on a 24 hour basis, every day being a renewal of that committment.
-I do whatever it takes to stay sober ODAT: call friends, admit I want a drink but won't have one, ask a higher power for help, keep alcohol out of my home, etc.
-I committed to working through problems & issues instead of numbing through them.
-I regard my sobriety as the most precious commodity I have.

Mary

[caysea]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Hi All
In reading the responses you can hear and feel the passion we who are having success feel. NO BS nothing will come between us and sobriety. Anyone who expects to be successful has to become passionate about a sober lifestyle. I don't think any of us thought it would be fun without al but how wrong we were. Their is a great life to be lived without al. So great to read and write in strong positive ways. Hope it is helpful to those starting out.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[july232007]

What is involved in 100 percent committment?

Great Thread,

For me it was taking a cold, hard, honest look at myself and answering the question: is this how I want to live the rest of my life? When I answered that question-- then by finding this place, choosing a screen name, and with trembling hands typing my first post, I knew I had taken a step that was in the direction of forever.

That was it and still is.

July