Your journey through sobriety is a testament to your resilience. Keep going; you are stronger than you think.

Struggle was part of my story until I took things seriously and worked a sober program. Being sober and having a program are two different things. I could put together a little sobriety but went back to substances because I failed to create a new life in sobriety better than my life in addiction. Part of that was embracing my struggles.

One guy I mentored, Sam, had a tumultuous, chaotic life. His journey was a testament to the unnoticed strength that lies within. For years, alcohol was Sam's refuge from life's storms. He opened up to me and realized his story wasn’t that different from mine—both of us had significant struggles and often felt like giving up.

One evening, Sam had a lousy bender, got dumped by his girlfriend, and someone stole his bicycle (he lived in the city). Walking home that evening in the rain, he decided to change. With resilience, we both embarked on the journey together, navigating through the turbulence of withdrawal, the weight of past mistakes, and the fragility of rebuilding broken relationships. The struggles kept coming in and coming in - it didn’t seem like they would stop.

Each day was a battle, but Sam uncovered layers of himself with each struggle. He found strength in vulnerability, wisdom in mistakes, and joy in small victories. The journey was arduous, but after 90 days sober, Sam was more self-aware, compassionate, and alive.

As with Sam and myself, we learned struggle is not just an obstacle but a crucible for growth. We often fail to appreciate our struggles, seeing them only as impediments. However, it is through these very struggles that we forge our most vital selves. In recognizing the value of our struggles, we understand that they are not just hurdles to overcome but essential paths leading us to where we need to be.

* For Sober coaching with Justin, click here.

** To buy Daily Sober, click here.