THE SOBER CLUB
Janey Lee Grace We live in a world where the hustle and bustle can often leave us feeling isolated, especially when
we embark on the challenging path of behaviour change. But what if I told you that connection, that invisible thread linking us to others, is the unsung hero in our quest for transformation? In the words of Johann Hari, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety; the opposite of addiction is connection.
JANEY LEE GRACE COLUMNIST
the phenomenon of looking back favourably on negative experiences. In other words when temptation hits, or we’re feeling anxious, or stressed, we tend to look back with rose coloured specs at the ‘lovely glass of sauvignon’ that seemed to lift our spirits’ and before we know it we’re back down the booze elevator. It’s important to put tools in place to ensure that we are realistic, that we also recall the horror of waking up somewhere we don’t remember going to bed, of texting something we’d never say when sober,
of feeling terrible, hungover and ashamed, and remind ourselves that in fact, this is worth pushing through, and life is better without the booze. Having others to remind of that helps too! What about the science around connection? Research has shown that individuals with a robust support system are 65% more likely to successfully make positive changes in their lives. It’s not just about setting goals; it’s about who’s cheering you on from the side-lines.
In Johann’s TED Talk that struck a chord with so many, he reminded us that connection is the key to overcoming challenges. Addiction or not, the need for human connection is woven into the fabric of our existence. It’s not a weakness; it’s a fundamental part of being human. One of the problems of deciding on ditching the booze, or any behaviour change, is that we all have a tendency towards FAB – sadly it isn’t in fact ‘fab’, its Fading Affect Bias,
Hola Sober
HS
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