First, I lost 12 pounds — so that’s cool.
Though that’s not a DIRECT result of cutting out alcohol.
Instead…we’ll, here’s my real drinking story.
It all started at college when drinking was a social lubricant; it was fun.
Then it went to: “It’s been a rough week and I want to relax — so I’ll have a drink.”
From there it proceeded to: I’m feeling tired and stressed and who cares why, I just don’t want to be thinking so much…a drink will help.
Or maybe it was just this nagging feeling, a kind of itch that I couldn’t scratch…and a drink will help.
Of course, at this point, it’s starting to take a few more drinks to achieve the desired result.
And then comes: I just need to shut off my brain and turn off my thoughts. Get me a DRINK.
And then I would be at peace.
My mind would stop running.
All was quiet.
Then one day, it hit me: I had ROMANTICIZED THE SHIT out of drinking.
if I continue down this path, I will never live up to my potential.
And frankly, that scared the shit out of me.
I didn’t think of it as rock bottom. But then rock bottom is just another way of saying you’ve finally decided to stop digging.
So how did I go about breaking my drinking habit/coping mechanism?
Well what I’ve been doing for 33 days now is:
Meditation
This greatly quieted my mind and relieved me from a lot of anxiety I didn’t know I even had, because I’d grown so accustomed to it. By meditating, I can still move quickly, but without losing my center.
Journaling
I write in the morning when I wake, and before heading to bed at night. By getting my thoughts out of my head and onto paper, the rumination stops. Call it a “brain dump.” It helps me find answers to questions that previously befuddled me; brings clarity to my day; and helps me create action steps that align with my true purpose.
Tea
After a long day, a comforting cup of tea, instead of a glass of wine or beer has become my new ritual.
Of course it hasn’t been 100% easy. I’ve had concerns.
After all, every single social activity of mine involved alcohol. If I’m the only sober one in the bar…
How will I have a good time?
How will I communicate on “a deep level?”
Will I view friends differently if I’m not inebriated?
But all those concerns were secondary to what I really wanted. Which is to:
FEEL MORE
BE MORE
SEE MORE
DO MORE
BE A BETTER…
HUSBAND
SON
GRANDSON
COUSIN
NEPHEW
COACH
TRAINER
FRIEND
And alcohol took away my ability to do all the above fully.
What I really wanted was to connect with people and feel comfortable being who I am.
But alcohol SUPPRESSED MY REAL SELF. Which means that when I was drinking, I wasn’t really connecting with anyone, including myself.
I love the quote: “You don’t have to be more than you are; just all that you are”
If I want to inspire and impact others, I need to be “all that I am”
Which means navigating life’s challenges and feeling all my feelings even when they feel awful. Feelings, I’ve learned, are gifts. Welcome them.
One’s physical state is a reflection of one mental state. As I started to appreciate who I am, I started eating and exercising in a way that felt good on all fronts..
And I…
Lost weight
Felt less stress and anxiety, and more mental clarity.
I also…
Was NOT hung-over on Sunday.
Saved a ton of money that would have been spent on alcohol
AND I’VE JUST FELT BETTER.
If your challenge is food rather than alcohol, what I’ve said still holds.
The answers for which you seek can be found be aligning yourself with your own truth.
If I can help you create change in your life, please reach out.
With strength, harmony and vision,
Galen
