To be completely free you must become a slave to a set of rules
– Virgil
To discover the truth, take the PIG’s wager:
The PIG [the Problem of Immediate Gratification] is a mnemonic that personifies our opponent. The PIG says: “You can make whatever rules you like and you won’t follow them.” If the PIG turns out to be right, then you have to deal with the reality that you don’t know yourself and your ignorance is dangerous. Your current options are abstinence and uncontrolled drinking.
Are you brave enough to accept this wager?
If so, write your rules on a sheet of paper. They can be as simple or as complicated as you like. The only stipulation is that they be unambiguous so you can tell whether or not you adhered to them.
You are in control of your drinking . . .
as long as you continue to adhere to your rules. If you have a history of problem drinking, the PIG is always lurking, eager to resume his destructive influence on your life. A relapse after a month of moderate drinking is no less disastrous than a relapse on the first day of the wager. The PIG’s wager never ends; you remain in control as long as you continue to adhere to your rules.
What if I lose?
First, give the devil his due and accept abstinence. You can then decide whether to remain abstinent or prepare for you next wager. The fact that you thought you would perform differently than you actually did shows that you lack some essential knowledge about yourself and the causes of your actions.
- Take the Trap-Detector self test (even if you have taken it before)
- If the relapse was related to an emotional reaction, research the space between Stimulus and Response