I worked with the RAIN technique during my morning meditation. RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, & Non-Associate) has been an incredibly powerful tool during my sobriety journey. In combination with mindfulness meditation, it’s helped me move past my marijuana addiction. And it has empowered me to reduce my beer and alcohol drinking from 5+ nights/week to once or twice a month and not drink to excess on the occasions I do.
Zero+ ; Dime ; M: 135 ; C: 98 ; P/U: 60 ; W : 4 mi
Health R.O.S.
- Weight: 206.0
- BMI: 27.9
- Fat %: 21.2
RAIN Moves Me Past Negativity
The RAIN method has also helped my recognize and ultimately dismiss negative emotions like jealousy, envy, anger, and bitterness. It’s allowed me to release recurring thoughts and memories focused on long past mistakes and embarrassments that once haunted me incessantly. RAIN is the primary way I send Drinkie packing and keep any new negative thoughts from getting their pernicious hooks into me.
Just yesterday, an old colleague of mine posted on Facebook (or as I prefer calling it, Fakebook). He put up a professionally produced video of himself discussing the success of his new book and venture. Almost instantly, a giant wave of jealousy washed over me.
I feel compelled to mention, that this dude has never been anything but kind to me. There is absolutely no reason for me to be envious of his success. In fact, I should be super happy for him. Afterall, he’s a super smart and hardworking guy. His success doesn’t detract from my own.
So, why would I feel this rush of jealousy? Unless there’s something going on with me.
Jealousy is RAINed Away
The first step in RAIN is to stop for a moment and Recognize there’s a problem. Let’s run through the RAIN exercise I went through this morning.
R: I Recognized I was feeling envious of this gentleman’s apparent success
A: I Allowed envy to be present with me. I didn’t fight it, deny it, or try to chase it away. Nor did I make myself feel guilty about it. I just allowed it to visit with me for a little while.
I: Why allow envy to hang out and visit? One word: Interrogation. I needed to Investigate why this emotion was manifesting itself and trying to get its hooks in me. After running through a number of potential causes, I came to the realization that I was upset about my own failures to make books I had written best sellers. Turns out, as predicted, this was all about me and my perceived failures. It had nothing to do with him or his success.
N: Non-associate – After I spent some time visiting with envy/jealousy and determining from whence it came it, it was time to let it go. I told myself that I am not jealous, rather, I am experiencing a temporary and self induced state of jealousy. This emotion does not define me and I do not have to identify with it. Furthermore, I do not have to let it sink its hooks into me. Being envious of his success does nothing to boost my own. If anything it consumes valuable energy I could be using to work toward my own goals.
And like that, the emotion was gone. Envy had left the building. The whole process took less than five minutes. But, there was still more RAIN in the forecast.
Envy Leaves, Drinkie Arrives
Following a frustrating morning at work, I had the strong urge to pick up some beer on my ride home from the office. The frustrations inherent in working for a large multinational company triggered Drinkie. Sh*t is so painfully slow and laborious. No one wants to make a decision. Meetings result in little to no follow up. Customers are screaming bloody blue murder.
I hate to think that my job’s gonna drive me to drink, but it was one of those days. And it’s been one of those weeks. Insult added to injury. I knew I was better than this.
Again, RAIN rides to the rescue. I recognized the compulsive urge, allowed Drinkie to stick around for a chat, talked it out, and finally sent him on his way. I’m not an alcoholic, instead I am experiencing the urge to have some alcohol to deal with a difficult experience. Drinking is a reflex, until I no longer allow it to be. And with RAIN drinking alcohol turns from reflexive to recognized to released. All in less time than I’d wait in the McDonalds drive through for a quarter pounder meal. It may not work for everyone, but it works for me.
Thanks to RAIN, I’m on the cusp of another 11teen.
Thank you, RAIN for raining on Drinkie’s parade and making jealousy head for the hills.
