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Sean Kanan best known from his role on The Bold and the Beautiful opened up about his sobriety journey after nearly five years in an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE along with his wife Michele Kanan. Sean acknowledged his wife Michele offered candid heartfelt words that served as a turning point to motivate him toward sobriety. Sean known for portraying Deacon Sharpe who also faces issues with alcohol in The Bold and the Beautiful from 2000 described the personal transformation caused by Michele's heartfelt plea.
Michele told Sean 'I have put my heart and everything into this relationship please tell me that I didn’t back the wrong horse'. Sean stated these words impacted him "like a lightning bolt". Sean stated the sky parted the moment he heard Michele’s statement indicating a true pivotal point towards making important life altering changes. Sean had numerous failed past attempts at maintaining sobriety before this pivotal point.
Sean described fear and love as core motivational drivers saying his biggest motivation was his intense Fear of losing Michele the woman he loved the most. Sean said he needed to make important changes due to his profound fear while at the same time he acknowledged his immense love for his wife Michele served as the ultimate influence needed to stay true to his path to continued sobriety. Sean's love and respect for Michele created deep seated positive changes.
Michele clarified she never provided any form of ultimatums but rather offered Sean a safe space so he could be open and honestly examine his behaviors and take the required actions toward a sober life. She provided a loving safe space and allowed her partner Sean to create positive shifts in behaviors. She has been the greatest champion for Sean Kanan’s ongoing health and wellbeing. Michele stated "this is our life together and its going to be painful and you're going to watch me slowly die because I love you" "we’re in it together the ball is in your court" this shows an act of deep love. Michele stated her relationship works with good communication and immense respect and care.
Michele has intuitively always known what approach worked with her partner stating you don’t get positive results by confronting her husband or providing negative responses when he required space to examine problems. Michele understood positive reinforcement along with supportive space to think were essential components to helping him maintain his commitments toward his sobriety Michele chose a long term approach understanding this would not be a fast or simple fix with constant support, her husband Sean would successfully move through his addiction problems . She utilized specific understanding to influence Sean to maintain focus on health.
The Cobra Kai star Sean explained his lasting sobriety produced ‘a profound effect on his life' and it has also shown him valuable insights and he doesn't miss alcohol. Sean explained that he no longer is white knuckling this new path but has found lasting joy. Sean states somebody said to me ‘would you give up one thing to have everything’. He was speaking about finally stopping drinking that caused him to have everything in his life, he has given up this one thing to find ultimate and ongoing joy in his life. He emphasized that now he has "everything" in life he had to give up one aspect of his past behaviors to truly live a life in line with his values.
Sean shared the significant importance his relationship with the almighty as important component to him in his ongoing path of sobriety stating that “God had something fundamentally removed from him that he never thought could be removed”. He further shared Michele's deep love as a key factor that helped him remain grounded during his ongoing changes. Sean and Michelle's spiritual life was greatly strengthened by their ongoing commitment to sobriety that helped them come out of a difficult chapter and have new growth within themselves and in the process they are further strengthened each other and their love. The bond created between Sean and Michelle is stronger due to their unwavering commitment to positive growth in the journey.
Sean and Michelle released their book together “ Way of the Cobra Couples ” on October 8 which is focused on providing insights on marriage and personal development. This book gives readers tools needed to develop and cultivate mindset philosophy and well tested techniques needed to build positive relationships in their own lives. This book provides strategies from Michelle and Sean that will allow them to seek lasting happiness through communication and honesty while cultivating meaningful connections that have been successful in their own lives together. PEOPLE magazine promotes many different kinds of stories of hope like Michelle and Sean’s through media .
Michelle explained when she met Sean both individuals faced difficult times but both did not attempt to minimize what occurred and tried to be completely transparent from beginning. Both Michelle and Sean were willing to be honest about all the challenges at the start of relationship. Michelle describes both trudged through tough situations as they learned together along the way which eventually strengthened their connections with honesty. Michelle stated their relationship functions best through communication and respect demonstrating immense care for one another. This level of honest communication and transparency is what Michelle accredits the overall success for building the long lasting loving relationship between herself and Sean. She also expressed with time their overall connections grew creating an overall more solid pairing after experiencing hardship together as one unit of individuals .