Cheryl Burke Gets Candid As She Enters Her 6th Sober Year

Cheryl Burke is celebrating a new milestone in her sobriety journey. The professional dancer has been more than open about her wins and challenges since she decided to quit drinking in 2018.

She had initially told fans that she was two years sober in September 2020, crediting her father's death and her engagement to her now ex-husband, Matthew Lawrence, as the catalyst for the life-altering transformation. As she enters her sixth year of sobriety, Burke has shared some insight into her progress, including how aware she has become.

Burke did not mince any words when she took to social media over the weekend to celebrate her entrance into her sixth year of sobriety. Sharing a selfie that emphasized her natural face and freckles, the "Dancing with the Stars" alum began in her lengthy caption:

"It's been 5 years since I started my recovery journey. As I enter my 6th year sober, I have found a newfound purpose that I hadn't thought ever existed. The interesting thing about sobriety is that it's not always a perpendicular path of progression & like most things in life it comes with rough patches."

She explained that the difference sobriety made in her life was her gaining "more awareness" regarding challenges, especially seeing her loved ones, colleagues, and friends for who they truly are.

"One thing I've tried to put into practice is forgiveness & less judgment when it comes to my past actions, current feelings or my addiction. Instead of judging myself today I can say that I'm actually grateful for how I handled everything that unfolded in front of me as my body, mind & soul were just protecting me," the 39-year-old continued.

As the message progressed, Burke revealed that she was done holding onto "any heavy resentment or anger towards anyone," especially herself, "moving forward." After admitting that being sober was not easy, the "I Can Do That" star stated that going through her divorce had nearly pushed her into drinking again. However, she fought against the temptation because she knew the damage taking to the bottle could cause. Ultimately, she concluded:

"Overall, I have a life and developing relationship with self that I didn't know could exist before. And I owe that to God and to my recovery. If you have thought about entering this journey, I strongly suggest you see what it can do for you. Sending you all love. Thank you for sticking by my side these last 5 years."

Once Burke's post went live, her longtime followers and fans promptly began liking and commenting on it. "Do you know how brave, courageous & strong you are??? You are amazing & sharing your story will help others who are dealing with things in life," one person effused.

A second person commented, "You rock ?? thank you for sharing your journey so vulnerably. You've helped more people than you know," and a third chimed, "Love you gal so very proud of you! Keep the FAITH! Godspeed!" A fourth fan equally expressed, "Congratulations my love you are definitely an inspiration for me and many others."

Last month, the "Hell's Kitchen" VIP guest diner updated her Instagram fanbase on how they can learn to love themselves in a "Get Ready with Me" clip. As reported by The Blast, the Filipino American beauty's first tip was for viewers to "keep a gratitude journal" because it increased "happiness and self-esteem" over time. 

Next, she stated that people needed to spend less time scrolling through social media and focus on doing "a million other things that are more productive." "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" guest actress recommended that her fans try making eye contact with someone and having phone-free dinners so conversations can flow smoothly. 

Her third piece of advice was an emphasis on forgiving oneself and changing negative self-talk into a positive perspective. In Burke's words:

"This is still something I'm currently working on. You want to focus on your self-talk — that voice in your head- and change the perspective into a positive from a negative. Hopefully, the goal is to start to forgive others. Not for the act of, but so you don't hold on to that burden." 

Lastly, the "Dance Moms" star advocated seeking professional help, stating that going to therapy is an act of self-love and self-care.