By Mary Reid

When we over-drink, we feel shame. Too often we let that shame convince us that we are horrible people when that is far from the truth. We are not our drinking problem; we are people who have a problem that we are working to resolve.

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are still good people and there is no better way to do this than to do something good for someone else.

To use this tool, all you have to do is to do one positive thing for someone else. It can be a stranger on a continent on the other side of the world, or it can be someone sitting next to you right now. It can cost money, or it can cost time. Sometimes the only cost is a kind word. It may not make a noticeable change in our drinking habits, but it will remind us that we are so much more than our problem; that we are worth fighting for.

You don’t have to be feeling shame to display this skill;, it will make you feel better about yourself anytime you use it. Practice as much as you want: the world will thank you.