Tip 6: Let spiritualality push to quit

I was a heavy drinker years ago. I had a father who taught me about God and spirituality; yet God and spirituality were the farthest things from my mind when I was drinking so much. So what I did at the time was put God on hold until I saw how my drinking would pan out. Drinking was much more important to me than God. I knew if I really wanted spirituality in my life it would have to be a daily thing. I also knew that I wouldn't be able to drink like I was and I wasn't willing to give that up just yet.

Then I quit drinking. I always say I never personally made the decision to quit that day; it just seemed to be the day I was going to quit. That allowed me to see how I was so ready to become a spiritual person and spend the time being with God -- whatever that entailed. I was so new to all the God stuff that I didn't know where to begin. But I knew I would be shown as I opened my heart to God.

By the way, I will always believe the day I quit drinking was somehow divine intervention. I can't say what God is. I don't know how God "works." But I do know there is something out there – and many use the word God – that helps us. After I quit, several people told me they'd been praying for me for years. Was that what did it? Ah, the mystery continues. But I haven't had a drink in more than 21 years, and I don't miss it whatsoever.

Could this be the answer for you?

Linda Joy Allan is the author of “I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars and Booze.”