STRENGTH COMES FROM OVERCOMING WHAT YOU ONCE THOUGHT YOU COULD NOT ~ TODAY I CELEBRATE MY SOBER ANNIVERSARY.

I woke up extra early today with excitement coursing through my veins because I knew today was the day I get to celebrate a major, MAJOR milestone in my life and, what I can say with certainty, has been my greatest challenge to face, admit & overcome.

Today (written on May 21st, 2019) I celebrate my 2 year sobriety anniversary. I quit drinking because I, like MANY men & women, developed an addiction to alcohol. I didn’t plan for it to happen nor did I want it to happen. It snuck up slowly on me & I found myself in my late 20’s starting to question my relationship with alcohol - specifically the very terrifying question, “could I be an alcoholic?”

I had a hard time even mustering the strength to ask myself this question. It felt scary, gross & shameful. I thought to myself, “I don’t look the appearance of an alcoholic - isn’t that just what older men are who spend their nights at the local dive bar?” You can’t blame me for having that stereotype...social media, TV and movies never depict a young, affluent and successful woman as someone who develops alcoholism. Why would they? That would dramatic decrease sales now wouldn’t it?

I didn’t mention, but I almost died when I turned 29 from alcohol use. I got black-out drunk, fell down my stairs, lost consciousness, sustained a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury and lost my smell (still to this day I can’t smell anything). If this wasn’t a BIG wake up call to question my relationship with alcohol, I don’t know what would be??

As I started to look more into this disease, I learned so many shocking statistics. One that stood out is that MORE WOMEN who are presently developing alcoholism than men - and these women are not down on their luck, poor and uneducated - but the opposite. They are in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and, by societal norms, successful people with busy lives and families.

Well now, if that stat is true, why did I feel so painfully alone with my realization of my addiction? Why did I feel like something was “wrong” with me and that I must keep my internal struggles with using or not using a secret? It is because this is one of the biggest secrets running rampant in today’s society.

The truth is EVERYONE (any age, gender and background) can develop alcoholism (or any addiction for that matter). Like any lifestyle disease (type 2 diabetes, for example) it is lifestyle choice induced - and has a gradual onset overtime. Not everyone develops it but some do - some develop it when they are older but others, like me, develop it quicker & become aware of it at a much younger age.

You see, alcoholism runs deep throughout my family tree & bloodline - but the thing is, no one ever talked about it and definitely no one EVER admitted it...because admitting it is the HARDEST part. It requires putting the Ego aside and trust me, I get how hard that is.

I remember May 21, 2017 like it was yesterday. I woke up for the VERY LAST TIME with a hang-over, pit of guilt in my stomach, confusion as to how the hell did this happen again (1 drink leading to another black-out), and most importantly, A DESIRE THAT BURNED THROUGH MY HEART SO DEEP to never subject myself to this pain, regret and harm again.

This was the day, I finally took myself to my first support meeting. Oh god, let me tell you, this was the biggest ego check I have EVER had make. I waltzed my butt through that door, looking a lot different than the people in that room. Some looked homeless, most down on their luck, and only one other woman. I believe a massive part of my ego died that day because that was the day I FINALLY admitted I do have a problem, I am not different than others, and despite 2 previous attempts to get sober, I had failed.

There was something about really, REALLY admitting to my mind, heart & Soul that I can’t do this alone and I do have a problem… and it was that day (in that act TRUE SURRENDER), I experienced the BIGGEST BLESSING & MIRACLE of my life. My cravings for alcohol (which I had battled for years leading up to that day), were completed banished from my mind, consciousness and body. It was as if they never existed.

That means, following that day, I never had to “try” to not use again. The impulse itself was taken away from me. I was freed of the pain, struggle and the heartbreak that this substance brought to my life.

There once was a time when I woke up after using with an overwhelming sense of guilt, shame and confusion. My weekends were spent recovering from alcohol and this syphoned my creativity, ambition, health, vitality and inspiration from me. There was once a time, where the pinnacle of my week was drinking → then recovering (basically for 15 years).

There was no space for what I now get the privilege & honour to wake up each day to, including feeling:

Massive gratitude and appreciation for my extremely blessed life
Radical self-love & acceptance for who I am & what I have been through
Confidence and rock-sold clarity in my direction & life purpose
A mindset unshakable in that I can now achieve anything I desire
The ability to quit my corporate career (March 30, 2017) that was stifling me and my true gifts
The ability to create (out of my sheer imagination) 2 businesses, Bodycherish skincare & Christine Nicole Coaching (both purpose-driven & impactful in the world)
The ability to be of service to others - through my spiritual life and business coaching programs and mentorship, which has been the most deeply fulfilling path imaginable
The ability to earn way more money working for myself than I ever thought possible (Quarter Million Dollars to date!)
The ability to stop spending/wasting my money on stupid shit (bars, cabs, etc.) → now replaced with investing money wisely, owning 3 investment properties and having 5 tenants
Freedom to wake up each day without illness, hangover and low energy → now replaced with being in the best health & fitness of my life in my mid-30's
The freedom to travel the world (18 cities & 5 countries in 2 years), speak on stage to hundreds of women, and manifest all of my deepest desires and wildest dreams
The ability to wake up each day with ambition, creativity, excitement/passion for life & all the possibilities that await!
The ability to attract the best relationships possible (ideal friendships and true love)

Thank-you for reading and I hope this sheds light, not only on my journey, but on a topic that has stayed hidden in the shadows for far too long, for far too many, due to fear of judgement from others.

In conclusion, what I can promise myself and the world is this: I will continue to commit myself to my higher purpose in life & view it as a walking +waking miracle each day. That means I will be brave enough to be vulnerable (even when uncomfortable), I will choose forgiveness over blame, and I will decide to transmute my past pain to my very purpose & follow through with what my Soul intended me to do in this lifetime. #BOOM

PS>> If you are looking for an easy way to ELEVATE YOUR LIFE (this isn't reserved for just women with addictions but any HUMAN BEING who is open to having a pretty spectacular life in ALL AREAS), then I invite you to learn more about Elevate Your Life. More details on modules, membership site, bonuses and dozens of testimonials found right here.

Love Christine xo

Christine Nicole

Author

May 21, 2019

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STRENGTH COMES FROM OVERCOMING WHAT YOU ONCE THOUGHT YOU COULD NOT ~ TODAY I CELEBRATE MY SOBER ANNIVERSARY.

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