I joined AA about 1.5 years ago. Love the program but still looking for my peace of mind, still have ups and downs. I relapsed few times during this time, mostly because of traveling or being just bored.
Really can’t understand why some people can maintain continuous sobriety and some people just don’t.
I think it’s mostly about to be completely honest with yourself.
Your thoughts friends?
I don't understand either... I've been on both sides... I wanted to quit for years... I've never gotten past a couple of months... then I went to a program... nothing special, just a 30-day stay with some counseling and activities sessions.. and I'm done... I have 13 months as of TODAY... I have no wants for it... even the idea of the smell or taste makes me nauseous... I don't really understand... but I'm happy 
Awesome yoga the way... I wish... I'm as flexible as a metal rod...lol
Its in my faith and humbleness that my complete honesty and pure surrender of my will to the calling of God that keeps me sober. With that grace that God brings is the absolute only reason i will never drink again. After 30 years of being an alcoholic I've tried countless times to be sober. Until i gave myself to my higher power utterly on my knees and just surrendered in tears God answered my prayers and calling. To answer your question about why some people relapse and some dont I believe is deeply rooted in their intentions and humility. For we are all avatars in this world . People that are truly alcoholic they cannot do this by themselves. Its the madness before the first drink that gets them everytime.
Have you heard of Alan Carr's quit drinking without willpower? That book helped me to change my mindset, realizing that there's no benefit to drinking alcohol, that perceived benefits are illusions.
In my years of sobriety I’m often perplexed by this also, I’ve seen people go to meetings all the time and work hard, wanting to get sober then relapse. My story is after my first meeting I’ve never had to drink again this far, idk 
can I ask if you have a sponcor and have completed the 12 steps of recovery?
In my opinion, Life is full of ups and downs whether we are sober or not. Sobriety for me makes the down time more manageable since I stay sober one day at a time and know the down will eventually pass. I find volunteering at local theatre venues or social organizations (whatever you enjoy doing), and exercising to be excellent sober activities so I never feel bored. I also have a circle of great friends with whom I spend sober time.
13 months, that’s awesome!!!
I have heard, but didn’t read. I will! Thank you
Thank you. I need to add more service work, I think it might help. I have a lot of yoga, it doesn’t keep me sober
I do have a sponsor, but we haven’t finish all 12 steps yet.
I did the same thing for many years. I was a chronic relapser until i changed my tactics and did was i was told to do. I got a sponsor and started doing service work. It helped me gwt out of my own head and meet more people that wantes what i wanted, to stay sober and be happy. Doing service work lead to speaking in meetings, chairing meetings, speaking in front of groups and more service work wgich i truly believe has kept me sober. And it's brought me happiness and freedom.
I really believe that there is something for everyone in 12 step work. Addict or not I believe incorporating the steps into your life is like following a map to freedom.
For me, step 1 was very easy. I had known for many years that I was powerless over alcohol and that my life was not manageable. But I did not have any idea what to do with this information.
Steps 2 and 3 were hard because I was not convinced that I was not the center of the universe. Not to say I was without empathy, as long as it did not infringe upon me in any way. Same with the choices other people made. I really did not understand why anyone would choose something that inconvenienced me. I was that selfish and I didn’t even know it. But once I became convinced to “give it a try”, it was the nudge I needed. This tiny notion that other people could make choices that were best for themselves, and that that was not a direct assault on my life.
4 and 5 were huge. When I cleaned house to my sponsor without judgement and learned that we had done similar dumb shït, I could sleep at night. The crazy racing brain went away. This is really when my compulsion to drink vanished. I had nothing left to drink over.
6 and 7 were like 2 and 3. I have faith and became willing.
8 and 9 were transcendental for me like 4 and 5. I got to repair some relationships I had damaged. And that felt so good. It was scary for sure, but it never went as badly as I was certain it would. I truly felt free once the amends started rolling.
10, 11 and 12 are the steps that keep us connected. They keep us growing. And they are so simple. And a huge part of that for me is meditation in the morning and yoga in the evening. My yoga is really centering and grounding. I certainly admire your strength and balance in your practice but it is not possible or necessary to compare what we do. 
Meditation and yoga enable me to check in with myself. To evaluate my day. To find peace and to let go of all that which is not mine to control. Sprinkle in the humility needed to admit fault and correct my behavior in the moment and I’m feeling good.
And then comes being of service. Sponsoring newcomers. Holding my service position which happens to be on the correctional facility committee. And consciously being a better person in all aspects of my life. To my dad and brother. To my kids. To my ex-wife. To my employer and employees. And to all the other relationships I have.
So what was the question again? you are doing the work. This isn’t something we will ever finish. Something we get to work on every day. And something we can see and feel results with. We can see, feel and share our results and growth with all we contact with.
Seems to me you already know the answer. Rigorous honesty. Travel and being bored? Or is it not being honest about powerlessness? I suggest you work through the steps again being honest, fearless and thorough.
I hear you a lot about your steps. Especially first 7 steps
I never reach further . Last time I relapsed when we just finished step 8, again because of traveling. Now we started again from step 1..
Thanks Matt. Absolutely it’s true. I think that dishonestly - that was a problem. That’s really important for sobriety
Your welcome. I’ve been there. Btw reading this thread.
Remember there are 12 steps for a reason. I practice/live all twelve on a daily basis. Not perfectly by any means, but all 12 just the same. Only working some of the steps led me back to drinking several times.
When you're feeling weird, reach out to AA friends, plain and simple. Skip prayer (it fails like nothing else when we really need it) and go right to the source, another alcohol addict.
Working the steps is great, a good tool. But contrary to what alot of people say, not every alcoholic is a scud bottom, selfish derelict. Going along with the group and admitting this if you're not such isn't doing you any favors. The steps help us to rectify some of the character defaults we have, the things we revert to when we feel cornered or weak or whatever our triggers are.
Feel weird? Feel triggered? Call a drunk and get sorted out. Your peace of mind and serenity are yours to create. Don't wait for "white light" moments, probably never gonna happen. What probably WILL happen is that you will have a combination of I'm really tried of dealing with the consequences/I like the feeling of being clear headed/things are better/I don't have to do what everyone else is doing to enjoy life.
You're into your health, obviously. So, be into it, all the way.
Live long and prosper.
Amen
With me until I wanted it MORE than anything it didn't work, I had to hit my rock bottom...
I got sober working the steps with a sponsor. I had peace of mind. I remember thinking how good it felt to be completely honest.
After a few years I met someone. Got married. Life was great! Stopped working the steps. Stopped calling my sponsor. Stopped keeping my regular meeting schedule.
Thankfully, I didn’t drink, but I surely lost any peace. Marriage failed.
I dove right back into meetings and things are getting better.
