The Surprising Book That Inspired Me to Quit Drinking (10+ Years Sober)
One of my most-asked questions from people after they’ve read my books or seen me speak, is this:
"How did you quit drinking?"
It's a great question and one I'm happy to answer because I'm beyond grateful of the fact that I've been 100% sober for over a decade.
In my bestselling books about the power of gratitude I touch on my rock bottom moment with alcohol and my incredible recovery before moving onto the main story, which is where I address the core negative thought patterns that led me to drinking in the first place.
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears. Mine found me during a snowy Minnesota February when I was a disenchanted housewife with a big drinking problem. So it was a good thing she found me when she did. My teacher introduced me to the Gratitude Jar—the thing that ultimately turned my life into a miracle.”
—The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
But, when I’m asked this question point-blank how I finally quit drinking for good, my honest answer ALWAYS surprises people.
The truth is, I was motivated to quit drinking because of a book.
Not AA. Not rehab. Not therapy (though I support all of these for people who need them).
A book written by a man named Allen Carr called The Easy Way to Stop Drinking (which has since been republished under the name Allen Carr's Quit Drinking Without Willpower: Be a Happy Non-Drinker).
Quit Drinking Without Willpower
by Allen Carr
My Rock Bottom Story (Why I Finally Had to Stop)
If you've read my book The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles, then you know my backstory.
I've had a problem with alcohol since my teenage years, and finally hit rock bottom in my early thirties while using it to cope with postpartum depression and anxiety.
My rock bottom came after a night of extremely heavy drinking at a friend's surprise birthday party. Several friends confronted me at that party about how they felt my drinking was out of control.
Initially I was mad at them about it, but deep down I knew they were right: Alcohol was slowly ruining my life, but I felt powerless to stop.
The morning after that party, with a massive hangover, I started thinking about how I needed to quit drinking but didn't think I could.
So I slowly got out of bed, dropped to my knees, and asked for help.
The Prayer That Changed Everything
I hadn't prayed for a long time and had zero spiritual life at that point, but I knew I couldn't do it on my own. So I made a heartfelt prayer for help with my addiction.
Thankfully, my prayer was answered right away.
I got up and went into my living room and grabbed my phone, because something told me to go on Amazon and search for books about how to quit drinking.
The very first book that popped up was Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Drinking book.
I bought it, read it from cover to cover, and quit drinking as soon as I got to the end of it.
And I can finally, truly, say:
I am FREE of alcohol.
Why This Book Works When Other Methods Don't
This book was one of the BEST things to ever happen to me, and I'm grateful every morning when I wake up sober and healthy that I read it!
What makes Allen Carr's method different:
No willpower required - you don't have to fight cravings
No feeling deprived - you actually stop wanting to drink
Addresses the psychological addiction - not just the physical dependence
Works for "normal" drinkers - not just people who identify as alcoholics
You can drink during the reading period - Allen Carr encourages you to continue your normal drinking habits while working through the book, but you must be completely sober when actually reading the book itself
I still don't know exactly how this book works the magic it does to get people to quit drinking—and quit joyfully no less—but it absolutely does work for many people.
(Important note: I'm not promoting this as a "miracle cure" because there are people this may not work for, but for myself and many others, this book has been a godsend.)
The Proof Is in the Amazon Reviews
If you read through the Amazon reviews for this book, people seem downright surprised and bewildered at how easy it was for them to quit after years of struggling with alcohol.
Common themes in the reviews:
"I can't believe how easy this was"
"After years of trying everything else, this finally worked"
"I don't even miss drinking anymore"
"I wish I'd found this book sooner"
The Dinner Party Conversation That Blew My Mind
What's even more incredible is a conversation I had while out to dinner with friends about six months after I quit drinking.
I hadn't seen these friends for a while, and they noticed right away I wasn't drinking—because typically I drank a whole bottle of wine before appetizers even came out.
I told them about the book I'd read that inspired me to quit drinking. One of my friends asked, "Who's the author of that book?"
I told him it was Allen Carr, and his eyes opened in amazement. "No way!" he said.
He continued, "I read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking book a year ago and quit cold turkey. I used to be a 3-pack-a-day smoker and NEVER thought I'd stop! His book changed my life!"
We both just shook our heads and laughed at how incredible it was that we'd both quit our biggest addictions because of these books—after we had struggled for so. many. years.
Easy Way to Stop Smoking
by Allen Carr
If This Message Is for You
I wrote this post because I felt like there's someone who really needs to read this right now.
If that person is you, and you're struggling right now with an addiction to alcohol or tobacco (or both), please know there's an Easy Way to Quit that's worked for millions of people around the world.
And if you've put out your own prayer for help with an addiction—consider this your answer.
What My Sober Life Looks Like Now
I truly hope this helps someone, and please feel free to share this post with anyone you think needs to read it.
I can't begin to express how much better my life is now that I'm sober:
My relationships improved dramatically
My anxiety and depression lifted significantly
I sleep better and wake up refreshed every day
I have more energy for the things that matter
I'm present for my family in ways I never was before
I found my purpose and wrote books that help others
I experience genuine joy instead of artificial highs
My wish is for as many people as possible to experience the joy and freedom that comes from living a sober life!
The Connection Between Sobriety and Gratitude
Here's what I discovered: Once I quit drinking, I was able to see my life clearly for the first time in years. And what I saw wasn't pretty—I was depressed, anxious, and completely disconnected from any sense of purpose or joy.
That's when I found gratitude practice.
The same desperation that led me to pray for help with alcohol eventually led me to try a simple gratitude jar practice. And that practice didn't just help me stay sober—it transformed my entire life from despair to genuine miracles.
The story of that transformation became my bestselling book, The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles.
Why I'm sharing both stories:
Sobriety gave me clarity to see what wasn't working
Gratitude gave me joy to replace what alcohol used to provide
Together, they created lasting transformation that has sustained me for over a decade
The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
The next chapter of my recovery story
For anyone in recovery or seeking lasting change: This memoir shares how I went from rock bottom (drunk, depressed, and desperate) to creating a life filled with purpose, joy, and genuine miracles through daily gratitude practice.
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“I too feel like I'm in a black hole with no purpose to live. I came across this book searching for ideas on how to craft a gratitude jar. I am so thankful Josie shared her journey with us. Her words have given me hope and guidance. I see a tiny light opening in the black hole. Highly recommended!”
Resources for Your Journey
Ready to quit drinking?
Allen Carr's Quit Drinking Without Willpower - The book that changed my life
Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking - For tobacco addiction
Building a meaningful sober life:
The Gratitude Jar book - Transform your recovery with daily appreciation practice
Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal - Structured support for building new, positive habits
Remember: You are not alone in this struggle. Help is available, hope is real, and freedom is possible. ❤️
