Summary

The article discusses how alcohol perpetuates a scam by creating problems it pretends to solve, trapping individuals in a cycle of dependency and diminished life quality, as highlighted by author Alex Becker.

Abstract

The author reflects on the manipulative nature of alcohol, emphasizing that it ensnares users by creating the illusion of benefits while actually causing the problems it claims to alleviate. This realization is crucial for those considering quitting alcohol, as it sheds light on the psychological trap set by the substance. The article references self-improvement author Alex Becker, who illustrates how alcohol limits individuals to a "lower form of fun" and becomes a "jailer" rather than a savior. The narrative includes personal anecdotes about the author's journey from alcohol dependency to enjoying life without it, including social events like a wedding sober. The piece encourages readers to break free from alcohol's grip to experience a more fulfilling life, suggesting that the initial difficulty of abstaining is outweighed by the long-term benefits and genuine enjoyment of activities without alcohol.

Opinions

Alcohol is portrayed as a manipulative substance that creates a dependency cycle, offering a facade of benefits while actually limiting one's potential for true enjoyment and success in life.
The author, James Julian, shares his own experience of how alcohol went from being an occasional indulgence to a coping mechanism for depression and boredom, illustrating the insidious nature of alcohol dependency.
Alex Becker's perspective is highlighted, suggesting that alcohol addiction prevents people from engaging in more meaningful and enjoyable activities, such as pursuing martial arts or building a successful business.
The article conveys that the initial discomfort of sobriety is a small price to pay for the freedom and richness of a life unshackled from alcohol, with the author recounting a positive experience at a wedding without alcohol.
There is an encouragement for readers to commit to sobriety and recognize that alcohol is not a necessity for fun or social interaction, but rather an obstacle to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
The author expresses gratitude to readers and promotes his other works, as well as a piece by Paul Goodman, indicating a community of writers reflecting on sobriety and its impact on life.
The article subtly promotes an AI service, ZAI.chat, as a cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4), suggesting its relevance or usefulness to readers interested in AI technology.

Awesome author perfectly revealed 1 of alcohol’s main SCAMs

I’ve done a ton of reading and writing about quitting alcohol over the past year and a half, and sometimes I think I’ve seen it all.

But every once in a while, someone comes up with a new way or word to describe either alcohol’s scammy, manipulative nature or the wonderful life you experience after quitting and I take note.

Recently, I’ve written about:

While it’s great to reflect on all the gains you realize after you ditch booze for good, it’s also important to stay cognizant of the various traps that alcohol sets to draw you back in.

One of my favorite self-improvement authors did just that recently, describing perfectly the trap that keeps people locked in the alcohol cage long after they realize they need to get out.

Let me tell you about it.

Alcohol puts you in a mental cage. (Licensed under the Unsplash+ License)

Alcohol’s main scam revealed

The author’s name is Alex Becker, and I’ve written about his work before in my piece called “One underrated and inspiring book to read if you absolutely hate your job”.

The book, The 10 Pillars of Wealth (affiliate link) played a big role in informing my current approach to business and life.

Becker also has a YouTube channel where he frequently touches on optimizing your behavior for productivity and business success.

Recently he posted a great video about all the advantages that come with quitting alcohol … and all the scams it uses to keep you locked in.

Here’s how Becker described the main one in a very effective way:

You’re not getting any benefits from drinking.

Every problem you think you’re solving is actually a problem that was created by alcohol.

Every ‘benefit’ you’re getting is a facade and the benefit you’re seeking — for example, fun — you can find in such higher levels without alcohol.

What it’s done is it’s made you limit yourself to a cheap, facade-like, chemical, much much lower form of (fun) … because you’re using alcohol to cope.

Now (fun is) easier to get.

And because it’s easier to get, you’re actually robbing yourself of all the true fun in life.

I guarantee you, getting your blue belt or black belt in Jiu Jutsu like I’m trying to go for right now, I guarantee you building a really successful company, I guarantee you joining social groups of people you actually share interests with … you’re going to get more fun doing that.

But you don’t do it because you’re addicted to alcohol and it won’t let you have fun without it.

Fun is everywhere in the world, but alcohol holds you back and goes, ‘no, no, no, no, no, you’ll never have fun, you’ll never have a social life without me. Don’t.

‘Go, go, make yourself drunk for me, make yourself fat for me, throw away your goals and successes.’

And then the second you go out there, you make yourself look like an idiot, and then you get a few hours of fun, you get a few hours outside the cage, and then alcohol grabs you, it reels you back in and throws you back in and makes you suffer for a few days and laughs at you.

You’ve confused yourself into thinking that your jailer is your savior.

It isn’t. It’s your jailer.

It’s time to free yourself from alcohol

Isn’t this the way it always goes?

I remember when I started drinking on weekends at university:

First, it was fun, it was an occasion
Then I started drinking after work to cope with depression
Then I started drinking because I was bored

At that point, alcohol had me in the cage.

Everything in life turned grey, and alcohol was the only way to inject some color.

As Becker described, alcohol became my jailer.

But it tricked me into believing it was my friend because I would feel so much better when it let me out of the cage.

Think back to when you were a kid. Or even when you were an adult before you started drinking all the time.

You didn’t need alcohol to find life interesting.

You didn’t need alcohol to laugh or talk to people or to enjoy activities.

Back in 2019, I had my first long, multi-month stint without alcohol.

About 3 weeks into that run, at which point I was safely through the psychological withdrawals, I had to go to a wedding.

In the past, I would have dreaded the idea of attending such an event without booze.

Yet this time, I actually enjoyed it.

I know, I was shocked too.

I chatted, I ate good food, I even danced with my kids stone sober.

And the best part: I was able to drive my family home at the end of the night.

So, next time you’re out of the cage, why not commit to staying in the yard a bit longer?

Eventually, a door opens in that barbed wire fence that leads to a much better life.

It’ll be hard at first, but the further you get away from it, the harder it is for alcohol to grab you and throw you back in.

Friends, thanks so much for taking the time to read today! If you enjoyed this piece, please clap, let me know in the comments, and support my work directly for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee a month (cancel any time)!

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Looking for something else to read? I really enjoyed this Paul Goodman piece about how one of his friends still has a problem with his sobriety.