In an aftercare group clients were discussing how difficult it is to change behaviors so they can stay clean and sober.

One quoted a saying that went like this: "most people would rather live with a known misery than take a chance on an unknown joy." The consensus was, as the topic went around the circle, that there's a certain amount of security in living with what we know versus facing the unknown of bringing something new into our lives.

Another mentioned an article that had recently appeared in Fast Company magazine. The title was "Change – Or Die." The article described that 9 of 10 open heart surgery patients, when told by doctors they would die if they didn't change their habits, wouldn't change.

Fear, according to the article, was not enough of a motivating factor to make them start exercising, quit smoking, and begin eating a healthy diet. The one thing that seemed to encourage change was not fear of death, but the promise of the better life they would have if they made positive changes. When patients were told they’d be able to play with their grandchildren, enjoy better sex with their wife, or be able to play sports again, then they might change.

From that statement we segued into ways addicts might continue to stay sober. Would they be able to stay sober if someone explained the positive benefits they'd enjoy if they did so? And what would those positive benefits be?

A few, who’d experienced periods of sobriety, mentioned several benefits that came when they finally had a period of abstinence. Among these were better relationships with their families, less anxiety because they weren't afraid of the law anymore, and improved health. All reaffirmed that the threat of incarceration, death, or commitment to us insane asylum, never stopped them from drinking or doing drugs.

And many were living testimonials to the fact that fear was not a deterring factor. Some had spent time in prison. Others had been in mental institutions. And a few had been in comas for more than a week because of drug and alcohol overdoses.