Tommy Recovery Coaching

Discovering the Hidden Joys of Sobriety

In recent years, the topic of sobriety has been explored by prominent news outlets known for their lifestyle reporting. The New York Times and Los Angeles Times are just two of the publications that have dedicated various trend pieces to the sober living movement, the “California sober” trend, mocktail bars, sober lifestyle coaching, and other topics that align with various concepts of sobriety. On internet video platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, thousands of clips and updates feature the #soberliving hashtag. These often feature personal stories, advice, celebrity news, recipes for tasty mocktails, and more. There’s another hashtag, #sobercurious, that’s more accurate because it indicates general interest from people who aren’t in recovery but who wonder if they can derive benefits from a sober lifestyle.

Sobriety as a Pleasant Surprise

The most important benefit of being sober is always unexpected. You may hear from a mentor at Alcoholics Anonymous or your recovery counselor that things will get better, and they often know this from personal experience. How good things can get will vary among individuals, but some of them get to experience personal benefits they don’t see coming, and some can be positively life-changing. 

Being pleasantly surprised by sobriety is something that happens to many recovering addicts. It’s similar to the moment of clarity that happens when you accept that only recovery can lift you from addiction, but it’s far better. Whether you’re on a journey to recovery or learning about sober living from a professional coach or Encinitas sober companion, there may come a day when you realize working through the program has paid off, and this realization could be as profound as an epiphany, or what Zen Buddhists call satori, a sudden moment of absolute enlightenment.

Living with Fewer Regrets

That pesky anxiety that accompanies hangovers (hangxiety) goes away through sober living. Your mornings are released from the dread of past embarrassments, and your choices become more thoughtful. Even when things don’t go according to plan for sober individuals, their ability to see the bigger picture and glean valuable lessons isn’t hindered.

Appreciation for the Little Things

Sober living starts with seeing the forest for the trees, particularly if you’re in recovery, but it can later guide you toward hidden treasures and other wonders you should’ve appreciated. This happens because addiction and mental health issues often dull your senses. When you’re sober, you’re more likely to find yourself appreciating certain little things in life. They may range from the taste of a delicious meal to the beauty of a sunset, but they can also encompass more sophisticated life concepts, such as rational self-acceptance.

Effortless & Genuine Confidence

If you read reviews about Weekends with Adele, the British music star’s Las Vegas residency she has been performing in since 2023, you’ll likely see writers pointing out the sheer confidence she displays when taking the stage, mingling with fans, and even cracking jokes with the delivery of a stand-up comedian. 

Adele quit drinking twice. By her own admission, she was a borderline alcoholic when she stopped the first time in her mid-20s. She was 33 the second time, but then she dealt with relapse during the COVID-19 pandemic. After working with a sober living coach, Adele released her delayed album, 30, and began preparing for her residency. During a 2023 interview with Vogue magazine, Adele declared that being sober enables her to perform in the way she always wanted to and she never guessed that sober living was what she needed to know herself.

At Sober Lifestyle Coaching, our certified and professionally trained sober companions work with clients to help them maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Our goal is to offer our clients maximum recovery support in the first fragile days or weeks of early recovery. If you’re looking for extra Encinitas addiction recovery support so you don’t risk relapse when you head into the danger zones, we’ll work with you to put together a game plan to keep you safe and sober as you accomplish your goals. Give us a call today.