Letting go of old ideas is a process of unlearning habitual thinking. Yesterday, we took our dogs to the vet where a young woman at the counter casually mentioned she wished her water bottle was full of alcohol. That used to be my mindset. I constantly wanted to escape, never grateful for the present moment. Unlearning took more than removing alcohol; I got to change the way I think. Instead of chasing temporary relief, looking away, I walk into the fear, sometimes trembling even.

I joined a vestibular support group yesterday that was exactly what I needed. Hearing from others with the same disability helped to ease some of my despair. One woman battled this disorder for 20 years before finally getting a diagnosis last month. Her resilience was inspiring because I only had to live 3 years in the dark. Another person, newly learning that this disability is permanent, was desperately trying to hold on to her old life, resisting acceptance. I get it. How do you accept something that doctors struggle to diagnose. Just like alcoholism, recovery only begins with acceptance.

My old way of thinking was like trying to keep a hot air balloon afloat. Alcohol was the fuel I depended on to lift me up, but over time, no amount of it could keep me from sinking. There was a hole in the balloon. Now, I have new ways to rise through connection, support, and a shift in my thinking. I got to patch the holes in the balloon and learn to steady it without burning so much fuel. I’m actually navigating my way through life and no longer drifting aimlessly.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.

Visit my Etsy shop, Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

#LettingGo #MindsetShift #HealingJourney #SelfDiscovery #Resilience #RecoveryWins #SupportMatters #GratitudePractice #EmbracingChange #InnerStrength