Motivation to Get Sober - 3 Deeply Transformational Benefits
by Michael Walsh
As someone who’s spent many years working directly with those in recovery from drugs and alcohol, I bear witness to a lot of struggle and pain. [updated March 2023]
BUT I also get to watch some pretty mind-blowing transformations as my clients find motivation to change their relationship to alcohol or drugs — whether choosing abstinence or moderation — reclaiming their lives.
I’ve seen people go from very precarious situations, drowning in legal and financial turmoil, fractured relationships and the likes — to launching businesses, starting families, going back to school, changing careers and traveling the world all with a new vision and lease on life. I also see higher-functioning clients consuming more alcohol than they'd like — become even more higher-functioning — without consuming alcohol ever again.
This article is about the benefits of getting sober — abstinence, sobriety, recovery and change on a grand scale!
Getting sober is damn hard work, but when you anchor yourself in the right motivation it’s a heck of a lot easier.
As Laura McKowen likes to say, it's important to find your “Bigger Yes”.
Finding something (anything!) that awakens your inner drive is the ultimate motivation to get sober (and stay sober).
Identifying a Bigger Yes is about anchoring into your heart and finding something worth fighting for. It’s about ADDING something to your life, as opposed to simply removing the drugs or alcohol. For some of my clients this is a deep desire to be a better parent, and for others it’s a newfound passion or cause that is calling their name.
If you aren’t clear on your Bigger Yes, don’t worry.
It can take time after getting sober to reconnect with yourself on this level, and that’s entirely okay!
A good place to start when you’re looking for motivation to get sober (or stay sober) is to make a simple list of the things you look forward to (or are already thankful for) in sobriety.
This simple act of focusing on the benefits goes a long way in helping you gain initial momentum and in avoiding emotional relapse once you’ve gotten sober.
I’m sure you can come up with a boatload of sobriety benefits, such as:
- Weight loss
- Better skin
- Better sleep
- Less anxiety
- Less drama
- More energy
- More savings
- No more hangovers!
This list alone provides some great motivation to get sober.
But today I want to share some of the deeper transformational benefits that sobriety has to offer – the kind that might just get your wheels turning about your Bigger Yes, and provide motivation to get sober (and stay sober) for the long haul.
Benefits to stoke your sobriety fire and find motivation to get sober, and stay sober
Personal Integrity
To me, integrity means that your thoughts, words, and actions all line up.
Living with this kind of alignment is damn near impossible when you're drinking or using drugs because these substances lower your inhibitions and make it harder to stay true to your own values.
As one of my client’s recently shared,
“No longer am I living out of integrity, meaning my actions are aligned with the essence of who I am, rather than from a place of defense and survival. No longer am I burdened with a sense of guilt for my behaviour.”
For most people, living a sober life allows for far greater inner peace.
It creates an unshakable place within you and lays a rock solid foundation for living a life you’re proud of. And it allows you to close the door on shame, regret, and chaos.
If you’re anything like me, that sounds like a pretty SOLID way to live your life.
Greater Meaning
Regardless of whether you believe in a higher power or not, I believe we all have a deep desire to live a life full of:
- Intention
- Meaning, and
- Purpose
But it can be tough to anchor into greater meaning and purpose in today’s modern world, full of constant noise and distraction, especially when you add in the regular use of a numbing-agent like drugs or alcohol.
It can almost feel like you’re floating through life half-awake, pushing away that internal voice that whispers (and sometimes screams) “there's another way to live”.
As one client shared,
“I now live my life by design. This design includes all of humanity, and how I may best be of service to myself and others, moment by moment. Whether it’s a listening ear, holding empathetic space, offering encouragement, or setting a firm boundary with an open heart, I feel I have a positive impact on the world around me.”
Sobriety offers the mental clarity necessary to get in touch with your dreams and aspirations. It provides a jumping-off point, from which you can start intentionally designing a meaningful life you love.
That’s a pretty big deal.
So, let yourself start exploring the full realm of what’s possible for you!
Deeper Connection
Like many people, when I first started contemplating sobriety, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect to other people without the social lubricant of drugs or alcohol.
I felt like being sober required giving up on a great social life.
But boy was I wrong!
Having nearly two decades of sobriety under my belt, I’m here to tell you that long-term sobriety from drugs and alcohol allows for a much deeper connection to others.
As one client shared:
“Sobriety has enabled me to be fully present in every moment. I am immersed in the joy life has to offer, thus, my life is enriched.”
Being sober allows you to be more present with other people, and this presence provides a much deeper personal connection than the surface level connection being shared over drinks.
So while it might be hard to believe at this point, at least let yourself imagine that there might be something more waiting for you around the corner. Greater connections with those you love most, new friendships and communities, and a greater sense of being fully seen, understood, and connected to others.
If that’s not motivation to get sober, I don’t know what is.
Finding motivation to get sober (or stay sober) with the help of a Recovery Coach
If you’re serious about finding motivation to get sober, or stay sober, I invite you to consider working with a Recovery Coach.
Whether you decide to meet weekly, monthly, or even just for a standalone session, coaching is a great way to amplify your motivation. It’s a safe space to unpack your thoughts and make sense of the chaos that often accompanies substance use.
If you’re interested in exploring Recovery Coaching, I offer a no-charge discovery call to anyone who has questions about their own substance use, or the substance use of a family member.
These calls are completely confidential with no pressure to make a decision before you feel entirely ready.
I’d also like to invite you to read more about my personal story here.
If you’re ready to explore the potential of working together, I’d love to chat. Michael is based in Victoria British Columbia Canada. The other Recovery Coaches on the team are based in Nanaimo, Vancouver British Columbia Calgary, Edmonton Alberta, Toronto Ontario, Montreal Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Because we all work virtually — we can work with anyone no matter what city, province or country around the world. We have clients all across Canada and the USA, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York City, Denver, Nashville, Berlin, Tel Aviv, London, Singapore and Australia.
Phone or Text: 250.896.8494
Email: Coach@MichaelWalsh.com
Chat: Start a WhatsApp chat
About the Author
Michael Walsh
When I say I’ve been there, I mean it. I am a different person now, and I am fired up about helping other people get to the place where they, too, are living better, healthier, and bigger lives.
