Day 119: July 28, 2024
What are My Thoughts Today?
The Focusing Question: “What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” - Gary Keller
I think right now my One Thing isn't alcohol (at least at the moment), but it is getting on a regular sleep schedule — going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. I need to focus my energy enough to make it happen. It has got me thinking about why The Path works – that a big component of it (in addition to letting go of shame), is knowledge. One you know the true cost of alcohol, it seems less appealing. I wonder if I focus on really learning about the impact of a regular sleep schedule if that would help to motivate me to make the changes I desire.
I think I will make my sleep schedule the main focus of the month of August... I will try to become more of an early bird. I don't even need to go that extreme, but I do need to make some changes. I can feel the different ways my current schedule is limiting me from doing what I want with my days, and it feels really similar to the ways I could finally recognize that alcohol was limiting me, once I was willing to honestly evaluate. I think I'm finally willing to do that for sleep now – to take an unflinching look.
I think the cool part about focusing on The One Thing is that it actually comes in two parts: The Big Picture and The Small Focus. The wide view of what you want to accomplish overall and the daily actions that will get you there. I think it's important for me to tie the two together, so I really stay on track with my goal. I have a habit of dividing my attention between several different projects and then feeling overwhelmed.
Even though getting up earlier and going to bed earlier is not explicitly part of my professional life, I can trust that if I focus on it with a laser beam of intention, I will see results in the other areas of my life, including my work. One thing I don't want to do is to make a "One Thing" for my personal life, and then another one for my professional life.
History would tell me that I always end up devoting more time to my professional goals than the personal ones. I would like to undo this habit. Having just one goal at a time, either personal or professional, seems like the best way forward.
It's not that I'm going to quit working while I try to get on a better sleep routine, but if I see it as my one and only main goal, I won't be attempted to divert my focus away from it when more pressing / immediate concerns arise. I gave myself permission to do this when I joined The Path.
Until I got more comfortable being AF, I had to give myself a lot of time and energy to the idea of not drinking. It felt like it was taking up a disproportionate amount of my thoughts, but I allowed it to happen because I knew I wouldn't change otherwise. And it seems to have paid off!
Obviously I'm going to keep working through The Path, but I don't think I would identify it as my One Thing anymore. I am moving into a different place, where I'm looking around and seeing what the next challenge is ahead of me. This is exciting, but again I don't want to take on more than one new challenge because I want to be able to maintain living alcohol free. That is why adjusting my sleep schedule is my ONLY priority now, so that I don't get too divided and overwhelmed.
AF Days Since May 23, 2024: 66
My Why: To have freedom from addictions, to create more space in my life, to honor my body / mind / spirit, to feel vibrant and empowered in my daily life, and to make my corner of the world a better, more peaceful, more loving & more beautiful place.
What's One Awesome Thing that Happened Yesterday because I Chose Not to Drink?
I had a CBD cocktail (sparkling water and tart cherry juice) as a new bedtime treat.
Daily Affirmations:
1) I choose to live Alcohol-Free.
2) I respect and honor myself.
3) I am worthy of love and care.
4) I give myself patience to heal.
5) I maintain healthy boundaries.
6) I have compassion for others.
7) I create beauty all around me.
