Framing Sobriety As Experiment Unlocks Fulfillment and Career Growth

Key Quotes

"Can I imagine the pressures that people have with drinking from their peers alone? Even if they don't want to, they're just like, okay, well, I'll have one and then it ends up being three or four because they want to make their they want to please their friends. So how do we set up our social circles so that when we do, we do want to go out and spend time with our friends, but when they're drinking or they're going out and having a few drinks, maybe we don't want to."

Jack Canfield addresses the social pressures that can lead to increased alcohol consumption, even when an individual might not want to drink. Canfield highlights how the desire to please friends can override personal intentions, leading to consuming more than intended. He poses a question about structuring social environments to accommodate differing choices regarding drinking.

"Well, for me, when I was doing my 60 days and what we recommended people in the book is to just say, you know what, I'm doing right now, I'm just doing a little, little 30-day experiment. My life to see how it works. And I'm what I'm finding is, you know, I'm waking up earlier, I'm feeling better, whatever. I'm just going to keep doing that for a while."

Jack Canfield suggests framing a period of not drinking as a temporary experiment rather than a permanent restriction. Canfield explains that this approach allows individuals to observe positive changes, such as waking up earlier and feeling better, which can then motivate them to continue the experiment. This framing avoids the perceived finality of quitting, making the decision feel more manageable.

"Donald Trump, never drank. Tom Cruise, never drank. Really? You know, we have a statistic, I can't remember all the names right now, but seven of the top 10 grossing film stars of all time, never drank."

Jack Canfield provides examples of highly successful individuals who do not drink alcohol. Canfield notes that many top-grossing film stars have abstained from drinking, suggesting a potential correlation between sobriety and high achievement. He uses these examples to counter the idea that drinking is necessary for success or a fulfilling life.

"So one of the things that does come up for people and it's a valid fear is that feelings are going to emerge and perhaps past memories are going to emerge. But if you know what to do with them when they do, which most people don't, because we're a psychologically ignorant culture, we didn't learn this stuff in school, then it's scary."

Jack Canfield acknowledges the fear that suppressed emotions and memories may surface when one stops drinking. Canfield explains that this fear is valid because many individuals lack the tools to process these emerging feelings, a gap he attributes to a lack of psychological education. He implies that having coping mechanisms is crucial for navigating this aspect of sobriety.

"Most people go into that jungle called sobriety without the tools they need. And most people can't afford the $30,000 a month to go to rehab. Most people don't want to take that time off work, especially if you're a solo entrepreneur, you can't afford it."

Jack Canfield describes sobriety as a challenging environment, likening it to a jungle without necessary survival tools. Canfield points out that many people lack the emotional or psychological tools to navigate sobriety successfully. He also highlights practical barriers, such as the high cost of rehabilitation and the inability of solo entrepreneurs to take extended time off work, which prevent access to traditional support systems.

"It's not against you, it's for me. That's a really good thing when you tell people. It's not against you, it's for me. It's not against you, it's for me. You know, when people say, can you do this? You say, no, no. And they say, well, you don't like me, whatever. I said, no, no, I'm not saying it's not against you. I'm making a decision for me right now. I'm just experimenting with this. I'll let you know how it turns out."

Jack Canfield advocates for framing personal decisions, such as abstaining from drinking, as being about self-care rather than a rejection of others. Canfield suggests that by stating "it's for me," individuals can communicate their choices without making others feel personally attacked or disliked. He emphasizes that this approach frames the decision as a personal experiment, which can be less confrontational.