Have A Strong Belief In Yourself

Call it faith, call it a strong belief—the name of the game is to believe in yourself. Without that, every challenge in life feels impossible. It’s not just about quitting drinking; it’s about how you approach everything in life—your career, relationships, goals, and personal growth. You need to believe that you can do hard things. You need to trust that even when it feels like you’re failing, you are still moving forward.

Some people call it positive thinking. Some call it the law of attraction, like in The Secret. Every time I watch that movie, I feel revitalized and ready to take on the world again. There’s something about the idea that what you focus on expands that really resonates. But there’s more to it than just thinking positively. It’s about making belief work for you.

The Science Behind Belief

This isn’t just wishful thinking—there’s real science behind it. Studies in psychology and neuroscience show that when you believe in yourself, your brain releases dopamine—the same neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and perseverance. That’s why when you set a goal and truly believe you can achieve it, you feel an energy shift inside you.

Researchers at Stanford University discovered something fascinating about belief. People with a “growth mindset”—those who believe they can improve—are far more likely to succeed than those who doubt themselves. In recovery, this couldn’t be more relevant. If you believe you can get sober and stay sober, your brain starts wiring itself in ways that make that belief a reality. Your mind will look for ways to help you, rather than ways to sabotage you.

Have A Strong Belief That You CAN!

Here’s the truth: if you believe you can’t do something, you won’t. But if you believe you can, suddenly, doors open. Maybe they were always there, but you were too focused on failure to see them.

Henry Ford once said it best:
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”

We all have that voice inside—the one that whispers doubt, the one that tells us we aren’t strong enough. But we also have another voice, one that speaks truth and power, if only we choose to listen to it. That voice is the one that pushes you to keep going when you want to give up, to take one more step when everything in you says you’re done.

That’s the voice that gets you sober. That’s the voice that keeps you sober.

Give Yourself Credit

It’s easy to be your own worst critic, to focus on all the things you’ve done wrong instead of recognizing how far you’ve come. But stop for a second and look at your life. Really look.

If you have a job, a home, a family, or even just the courage to keep showing up despite everything, you are already proving your strength. Life doesn’t hand out victories to people who don’t fight for them. If you’ve made it this far, you have already fought—and won—more battles than you realize.

And so it is with quitting drinking. Belief in yourself is not about ignoring the hard days or pretending it’s easy. It’s about trusting that you have what it takes to push through them. I know it isn’t easy—I’ve lived both sides of this.

I Know This Journey—Because I’ve Lived It

For 20 years, I was a drunk. For 25+ years, I’ve been sober. I know what it’s like to wake up in a haze, feeling like you’ve let yourself down again. I know what it’s like to promise that this time will be different—and then find yourself right back where you started.

But I also know what it’s like to wake up sober and feel proud. To realize that I am not my past. That every single day, I get to make a choice. And that choice is mine to make.

That’s why I started A New Sober You. Because I know what it takes to get here, and I know that if I can do it, you can, too.

Are You Ready To Quit Drinking?

If you’ve read this far, then some part of you already believes you can do it. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. Maybe it’s a small part of you, maybe it’s just a whisper—but it’s there. And that’s enough to start.

So here’s your next step.

Read this post and answer our seven questions. They’ll help you see where you are in your journey.

If someone shared this with you and you feel ready to take the next step, head over to A New Sober You. Our 66-Day “Life’s Better Sober” eBook is waiting for you. Because you deserve better. Because you ARE better.

Final Thought: Keep The Faith

Recovery is not about being perfect. It’s about progress. Some days will be easier than others, but what matters is that you keep going.

What’s one small step you can take today to believe in yourself more? Write it down. Say it out loud. Make it real.

Because at the end of the day, the difference between success and failure isn’t talent. It isn’t luck. It’s belief.

And you? You’ve got this. 💪

Sources:

Stanford University. “Growth Mindset and Enhanced Learning.” 2023. https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/teaching-guides/foundations-course-design/learning-activities/growth-mindset-and-enhanced-learning