Locus of Control: The Secret Weapon in Your Alcohol Recovery

Ever felt like life is just happening to you? Like you're stuck in a cycle, powerless against cravings, triggers, or bad decisions? That’s where locus of control comes in—a concept that could change the way you approach recovery forever.

What is Locus of Control?

Locus of control is basically how you see the world in terms of control and responsibility. There are two types:

• External Locus of Control: You believe that life happens to you. Your drinking is because of stress, other people, bad luck, or circumstances beyond your control.
• Internal Locus of Control: You believe that, while life throws challenges your way, you control how you respond. Your choices shape your future, no matter what’s happened before.

Why This Matters in Recovery

When your drinking spirals, it’s easy to blame outside factors. "My job is stressful." "My family doesn’t understand me." "I’ve been through trauma." And while these things may be true, thinking this way keeps you stuck. If your drinking is always caused by something external, then how can you ever take charge of it?

Recovery requires shifting to an internal locus of control. It means saying:
✔️ I can’t control my past, but I can control how I move forward.
✔️ I decide what I put in my body.
✔️ I have the power to build new habits, no matter how hard it feels.

How to Shift to an Internal Locus of Control in Recovery

1. Recognize Your Choices (Even in the Small Stuff)

Everything you do is a choice. The moment you wake up, you’re choosing how you’ll approach the day. If you start noticing the little choices—getting out of bed, reaching for water instead of alcohol, taking a deep breath instead of reacting—you begin to see how much power you actually have.

2. Drop the Victim Mindset

Bad things have happened. Maybe you’ve been hurt, abandoned, or let down. That’s real. But staying in a victim mindset keeps you drinking. The moment you stop waiting for someone to save you and realize you are your own rescue plan, everything shifts.

3. Own Your Past Without Letting It Define You

You’re not responsible for what’s happened to you, but you are responsible for how you respond. Your past doesn’t have to dictate your future. The fact that you’re reading this right now means you’re already taking back control.

4. Use 'I Choose' Language

Instead of:
❌ “I can’t drink because I’m in recovery.”
Try:
✔️ “I choose not to drink because I want a better life.”

Instead of:
❌ “I have to go to a meeting.”
Try:
✔️ “I choose to go to a meeting because it helps me stay strong.”

Language matters. The more you remind yourself that you are making the choices, the more empowered you’ll feel.

5. Set Goals & Track Your Wins

When you start seeing progress—whether it’s one day sober or handling a tough situation without drinking—you reinforce the belief that you are in charge of your recovery. Small wins add up. Keep track of them and remind yourself daily: I am in control.

Final Thought: You Have More Power Than You Think

Shifting to an internal locus of control doesn’t happen overnight. But the more you practice, the stronger it gets. And once you fully own your choices, your recovery becomes unstoppable.

You are not powerless. You are not doomed to fail. You are in control.

Now, what will you choose today?