The Stopping

 I have heard people say that they want to stop their drinking.  So they focus on not drinking behavior.  Maybe they exercise more.  Eat a bit healthier.  Go to bed earlier.  It may work for a short time.  Why only a short time?  There is another word that rhymes with drinking.  It is “thinking.”  They did not change their thinking.  Will-power alone cannot do long-term change.  Self-will does not work because the thinking is self-centered.  For that to change you need some deeper, or spiritual solution.  The source of this solution is within you, but it is not you.  It is a power you don’t have, but is available to you if you are willing to take some steps, some advice.  From whom?  Try someone who had your drinking problem and is now rather more at peace than you are.  As individuals they are rather anonymous.  As a group they are called Alcoholics Anonymous.