That's an interesting line of thought. It's at the same time very simple, in the sense that it can be expressed clearly and concisely, and one of the most profound personal realisations there is.
I feel similarly, although not explicitly in terms of using physical substances (so maybe this is a bit of a thread derail). I've always kept myself away from those drugs that I know I would like too much, aside from ecstasy - I could handle that one just fine whilst really enjoying it. Alcohol I used to have issues with, but a health scare made me give up for three months (which I doubted I could achieve) and I never went back to boozing in the same way afterwards. I use patterns of behaviour, wasting time, in the same way - sometimes involving substances to dull unruly thought, sometimes not. I'm tired of yoking myself to the same old ways of avoiding difficult feelings - sometimes while at the same time deluding myself that I'm emotionally open, and that there aren't parts of me that I keep tightly locked away.
As you say, it's when you get tired and bored of yourself that change occurs. Doesn't really matter what anyone else urges you to do (although some people can have persuasive ways of phrasing the urge), it requires you to come to that point where you're a bit sick of yourself, and a bit sick of returning to making the same choices which don't really work.