When I was a little girl, I had an old security blanket – frayed edges, faded colors and all. I wore it everywhere, from the breakfast table to backyard adventures. It was my comfort, my shield against the world of the unknown.

I still remember the night before the first day of school – with my grandmother by my side, I folded it up and hid it in the trunk under the bed.

That childhood memory it reminds me of our journey that we have to give up alcohol. Just like I folded up my security blanket, walking away from alcohol isn’t just about putting something away, it’s about embracing something new.

People often call recovery sobriety, but I’d like to call it expansion.

Beyond traditional recovery: Why recovery is more than a return to normalcy

Unlike recovery, which often suggests going back to a previous state, expanding sobriety means growing forward into something new.

With sobriety, we don’t just return to a pre-drinking state; we reach a post-drinking state. Giving up alcohol is a kind of change that is akin to a young child letting go of a parent’s hand to explore, a young adult leaving home for college, or a person moving on from a long-term relationship that no longer agree

These are not a return to what once was, but an expansion into what can be. They represent brave steps away from comfort and familiarity and into the unknown, all in search of something possible and new.

The nature of expansion: Embrace your growth in recovery

Just as leaves reach for sunlight, birds migrate to warmer climates, and the universe itself is constantly expanding, we too have an innate desire to grow. The first thing toddlers do when they learn to walk is to explore. This drive—to expand from who we are to who we might become—defines the journey to sobriety.

Even neuroscience supports this perspective. When we form new habits, replace old thought patterns, or find healthier ways to cope, our brains don’t erase old neural pathways; they build new ones on top of them. Instead of erasing old habits, our brains add new, healthier pathways by creating resistance. In sobriety, we do not turn back; we are progressing.

Brain growth in recovery: A new post-drinking structure

Research shows that over years of sobriety, our brains actually grow.

A study published in the Public Library of Science in 2013 found that while long-term substance use can reduce gray matter volume in certain regions of the prefrontal cortex, this volume doesn’t just “return to normal” after abstinence. After six to 12 months of sobriety, gray matter volume begins to not only normalize, but even increase beyond the baseline levels found in those who have never struggled with dependence.

Why? This brain growth probably reflects that as we learn to overcome substance use, we create new neural structures to cope and resistance in our brains. The brain becomes more elaborate, flexible and resilient – ​​showing, in real terms, that we are not just returning to who we were, but evolving into something more.

Embracing Discomfort: Pushing Beyond Your Comfort Zone in Recovery

Of course, like any growth, moving away from alcohol comes with its own set of challenges. As Tony Robbins says, “All growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Along this journey, you will encounter many firsts – moments that push you beyond comfort and closer to something new:

• The first night of sleep without the familiar, alcohol-induced sleep.
• The first evening of relaxation without a glass of wine in hand.
• First time ordering a non-alcoholic drink in a restaurant.
• First sober birthday celebration.
• First date night without alcohol.

There will be many “firsts”. But every step beyond comfort brings with it a reward.

Finding your unique prize on the road to recovery

You might be wondering – what is that reward?

I can’t tell you exactly what it is because it’s unique to each of us. I’m here to help you discover your unique prize – the one waiting for you on the other side of your comfort zone. It’s such a significant reward that the growth is worth every moment of discomfort.

Every step you take beyond comfort brings you closer to your own powerful sobriety story. If you are ready to turn these small steps into meaningful and lasting changes, consult me Reimagine the sobriety experience.