Why Alcoholics Struggle to Find the Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot: A Shower Faucet Lesson in Addiction Recovery

I checked into a hotel one night. The next morning, I had a shower. I had to adjust the faucet until the temperature was just right. At first, it was too cold, then too hot, but then I found the sweet spot.

The second morning at the same hotel, I stepped into the shower and turned the faucet to the exact right setting. I remembered the exact position from the previous morning. Within moments, I was enjoying a comfortable shower.

But a hotel shower is the only place where I demonstrate that level of precision and recall.

Finding the Sweet Spot in Sobriety and Daily Habits

In my drinking, I would blow right past the sweet spot.

If my drinking were a shower faucet, I would have twisted it all the way to the hottest setting.

And drinking was not the only area where my precision and recall failed. With appetites and habits, such as:

Smoking
Eating
Sex
Almost everything else

I could never hit the sweet spot.

Applying Program Principles to Desires, Habits, and Higher Power

But with the Program and my Higher Power, I have been able to find the sweet spot in more and more areas of my life as I apply the principles of our Program to an ever-growing number of my affairs.

With appetites and habits, applying the Program’s principles has helped me remember and find the sweet spot.

Thinking of the shower faucet as an analogy for controlling desires and drinking has another benefit: every time I take a shower, I am reminded of the Program and my Higher Power.

Books to Support Your Twelve Step Journey

If you’re looking to explore Step work, spiritual awakening, and personal transformation more deeply, check out The GEMS Series: 12-Step Shares, Notes and Thoughts. These books offer insights, reflections, and real-life recovery experience that complement the journey through the Twelve Steps.

The books in The GEMS Series: 12-Step Shares, Notes and Thoughts can be purchased through my estore or the major online book retailers. Look for GEMS, More GEMS, Still More GEMS, and More GEMS Revealed.

FAQs

What is the main message of this recovery reflection?

The main message is that recovery helps us find balance where addiction once led us into excess. The shower faucet becomes a symbol of learning how to pause, adjust, and find the sweet spot.

How does the shower faucet relate to addiction recovery?

The shower faucet represents the ability to find the right setting. In active addiction, the author could not stop at “just right,” but recovery helps develop awareness, discipline, and spiritual reliance.

What does “the sweet spot” mean in sobriety?

In sobriety, the sweet spot means a place of balance. It is the point where desires, habits, and appetites are guided by recovery principles rather than compulsion.

Why does the author mention the Program and Higher Power?

The Program and Higher Power are central to the author’s recovery. They provide guidance, strength, and a practical way to apply spiritual principles to everyday life.

Is this article only about drinking?

No. While drinking is the main example, the reflection also applies to other appetites and habits, including smoking, eating, sex, and other areas where balance can be difficult.

How can everyday moments support recovery?

Everyday moments can become reminders of recovery when we connect them to spiritual principles. In this article, taking a shower becomes a daily reminder of the Program and Higher Power.

Why is balance important in addiction recovery?

Balance is important because addiction often involves extremes. Recovery helps people become more aware of their choices and learn healthier ways to respond to desires and habits.

Who would benefit from reading this article?

Anyone interested in alcohol addiction recovery, AA-inspired reflections, spiritual growth, daily recovery practices, or addiction recovery books may find this article helpful.