Sobriety is usually used in reference to some of the biggest vices out there like booze, drugs, and sex. But did you know it also applies to something everyone on the planet does on a daily basis? Something so widespread that everyone from your grandma to your boss does it. I’m talking about having emotions.
There might not be a 30-day chip for it just yet, but getting emotionally sober could be the hotness. Therapist Rachel Fintzy Woods says it’s all about “learning to deal with the uncomfortable feelings, thoughts, and behaviors” and being able to sit with those negative thoughts without turning to an unhealthy way to cope. That’s why achieving emotional sobriety is usually one of the first steps for people getting off drugs and alcohol, but it’s something that everyone should strive for too.
Here’s some of the tenants of emotional sobriety:
- Control.The first thing you have to understand is that we may not be in control over what happens to us, but we are in control of how we respond to it.
- Always Looking Forward.Emotional sobriety means living in the present and pushing thoughts about the past or the future away. Learn from past mistakes and take each day as a new opportunity.
- Impulse Control.Regulate behavior instead of giving into compulsive urges or self-destructive patterns. Instead of self-harm, make conscious and mindful decisions regarding how to respond to situations at hand.
- Prioritizing.To maintain being emotionally sober, you’ll need to effectively balance your “shoulds” and “want tos” and use your time and energy appropriately to avoid being maxed out at the end of the day. The most important bit is knowing when to say “no.”
Get more tips on how to achieve emotional sobrietyHERE.
Source:Life Hacker