How One Book Changed My Life: From Addiction and Depression to Hope and Growth

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

How One Book Changed My Life: From Addiction and Depression to Hope and Growth

If you had met me a couple of years ago, you probably wouldn’t have recognized me as the person I am today.

Back then, I was drowning in addiction.

Drinking almost every day. Smoking like a chimney. I did everything to numb feelings I didn’t even want to face.

Depression had me in a chokehold.

I was stuck in this cycle of trying to feel better, but I was only making things worse.

I didn’t see a way out, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure I deserved one.

Then, one random day, everything changed. This is how one book changed my Life

It wasn’t some big event or life-altering moment. It was just me stumbling across a book at my local library that shifted everything for me.

Now mind you, I wasn’t looking for it, and it wasn’t looking for me, but somehow, that book ended up in my hands, and my life hasn’t been the same since.

The book was Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown. (I’ll be honest—I almost didn’t read it because the cover looked corny, but it was a 7-day loan, so I figured, hey, “Why not?”).

I wasn’t a big reader at the time, but I started flipping through it out of boredom. The first few pages hit me like a punch in the gut. It was like the author was talking directly to me, calling me out on my excuses, my self-doubt, and the way I was running from my problems instead of facing them.

One of the first lessons I learned from the book was this: you’re not stuck unless you choose to be.

That blew my mind because I had spent so much time blaming my situation—my childhood, my environment, my pain—for why I couldn’t change.

But the book made me realize that while those things were real and valid, they didn’t have to define me forever.

I could choose something different.

The book also talked about habits and how they shape your life. It made me see how my drinking and smoking weren’t just bad habits—they were coping mechanisms.

I wasn’t dealing with my emotions; I was burying them.

That realization hurt, but it was the first step toward change.

I didn’t go cold turkey overnight, but rather I started to make small shifts. Instead of drinking to deal with stress, I’d go for a walk or write down what I was feeling.

Instead of smoking, I’d breathe deeply and remind myself why I wanted to quit.

The book taught me that change isn’t about being perfect—it’s about progress, having the courage to stand alone and being true to oneself.

Another thing it taught me was the importance of self-worth.

I didn’t think much of myself back then.

I figured I was just a screw-up who wasn’t going to amount to much. But the book challenged me to see myself differently.

It asked, “What if you’re more than your mistakes? What if you’re worth fighting for?” That question stuck with me, and slowly, I started to believe it.

Over time, I began building healthier routines.

I read more books, spent less time with people who pulled me down, and started journaling my thoughts.

It wasn’t easy, and I still had days where I messed up. But the difference was, I didn’t stay down.

The book taught me to forgive myself and keep moving forward.

Now, a couple of years later, I’m not perfect, but I’m proud of the man I’m becoming. I don’t drink anymore, I’ve quit smoking, and my depression is something I manage instead of letting it control me. That book lit a fire in me, but I had to do the work to keep it burning.

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• Healing What You Can’t Erase:Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out by Christopher Cook

If you’re in a dark place right now, I want you to know something: you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. Change is possible, even if it feels out of reach.

Sometimes, all it takes is one small step—a book, a conversation, a moment of clarity—to get you started.

For me, that step was picking up a random book that ended up saving my life. For you, it might be something different, but trust me: your life can change, too.

Just take that first step.