Identifying Your “Why”

While we know there are countless reasons to pursue alcohol-free living, the intent in crafting your “why” is to identify those factors that are most important to you. Improved skin quality is certainly a perk of alcohol-free living, but it may not be motivating enough to sustain you through an unexpected craving. However, striving to show up as a more present parent for your children may be a compelling “why” to call on when you feel an urge to drink.

Another helpful exercise to hone in on your “why” is to keep “drilling down” on your chosen motivations. For example, if you begin with the “why” of improved skin as noted earlier, ask yourself why improved skin is important to you. Is it because with improved skin, your self-esteem will also improve? If good self-esteem is important, is that because high self-esteem is something that is beneficial to your mental health? In this example, a more compelling “why” than clear skin is the overall impact that avoiding alcohol has on your mental health.

As your path evolves, it is likely that your “why” will evolve as well. Early on, it’s entirely possible that your “why” may be very concrete and specific, like “because I must quit drinking to keep my job.” Over time, as cravings lessen, it may progress into more abstract motivations, like “showing others the beauty of alcohol-free living.” Just as we grow in life, so does our “why.”