When you act in alignment with your values you're being the REAL YOU. And being the real you feels good. And when you feel good you're less likely to reach for a drink to make you feel good.

You might think that sobriety simply means you don't drink alcohol. Any definition will say something along the lines of “living a life free of drug or alcohol use.”

The fact is, sobriety is a lot more than not ingesting a substance. It's a way of being. It's a lifestyle built on uncovering and managing your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional STUFF.

It might sound daunting but, let me tell you it's pretty great.

I don't know about you but if I can't do something perfectly (or close to it), I'm not interested. Unless the process of getting better at it is fun.

This includes quitting drinking and, let's be honest, trying to get better at that isn't fun (at least in the beginning).

So how do you stick with something you're not perfect at and isn't fun in the beginning?

Willpower is a finite resource. Meaning you only have so much in a day. You have a limited reserve and, once you run out, you'll most likely lose control.

When it comes to the monumental achievement of quitting drinking, unfortunately, willpower alone is not going to get you there.

Drinking alcohol decreases REM sleep and sleep quality, increases sleep disruptions, + contributes to sleep apnea, heavy snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Of the many benefits of not drinking, I'd have to say that getting a night of good sleep is in the top 3. Good sleep improves your mood, helps you think more clearly, and get along better with the people in your life.

Here's the deal. You are where you are and you can't force yourself to be where you're not. That being said, things got SO. MUCH. EASIER. for me when I picked a lane with my drinking.

If you're a moderate drinker life is full of highs and lows. There's the anticipation of drinking, the high from the dopamine dump of that first drink, and the physical and emotional low you experience following a night of drinking before your brain and body return to homeostasis.

When you're a non-drinker you spend a lot more time in that homeostasis space. In the beginning, what might feel like boredom is the absence of chaos and a beautiful sense of peace.

VULNERABILITY is defined as the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed.

Why am I talking about vulnerability and what does it have to do with sobriety? So much. And if you're not interested in sobriety, this is still some good stuff to know.

And when I say the first week I mean my LAST first week. The week I finally said “uncle”. The week I gave up, picked a date, put a plan in place + finished my last bottle of wine.

This isn't a guide or an instruction. This is just me sharing with you how I spent my (last) first week without alcohol.

Drinking alcohol decreases REM sleep and sleep quality, increases sleep disruptions, + contributes to sleep apnea, heavy snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Of the many benefits of not drinking, I'd have to say that getting a night of good sleep is in the top 3. Good sleep improves your mood, helps you think more clearly, and get along better with the people in your life. Highly recommend 🙌

I don't belong to AA and I don't identify as an alcoholic but I DO believe in the importance of privacy. I also believe it's a damn shame that this COMMON ISSUE of over-consuming an addictive substance because SOCIETY TELLS US TO, has to be kept a secret. Here are a few thoughts on ANONYMITY.

Are you a moderate drinker? If you are, that's great! I'm not. Well, I was. And then I wasn't. And then I TRIED to be…and now I'm not. Here are a few thoughts on drinking in MODERATION.

Getting sober is uncomfortable. It can be downright painful. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Growth happens in showing up for, and moving through, the uncomfortable. Here are my thoughts on growth through discomfort.

There's no question - your mind + body will thank you for not drinking over the holidays. But, how do you do it??? Do you want to feel festive but don't know how without a cocktail? Do you have FOMO on the holiday fun? Here are my thoughts on navigating the holidays without drinking.

This is the question that popped into my head when I started seriously contemplating quitting drinking. What will they say about me? Will they think I'm an alcoholic? Will they think I'm not fun anymore? What do I say when they ask why I'm not drinking?

If you're contemplating quitting drinking, or taking a break and wondering “What will people think?” - Here are my thoughts.

I don’t think anyone ever really WANTS to stop drinking. Who wakes up one day and says “I would LOVE to stop drinking?” I didn’t. We may feel like we NEED to quit drinking or would be better off if we did - so we decide we SHOULD. So how do you turn that SHOULD into a WANT? The trick is to change your mindset, and doing that requires effort.

Lots of non-drinkers out there live with drinkers. It can work. The key is asking for the support you need in the home and setting clear boundaries.

When I started my sober journey I wanted to know EXACTLY how to stop drinking. I looked for the playbook for a long time. And what I discovered is that there isn't a playbook. The path to sobriety is different for everyone. I will tell you, though, how it happened for me. Here are a few thoughts on exactly how I got sober.

According to SAMSHA.gov research shows that parents are the #1 reason young people decide not to drink. So, start talking to your children about alcohol before they start drinking—as early as 9 years old. Even if it doesn't seem like it, they really do hear you.

Do you ever get the idea that life would be better without alcohol but then think, “There’s no way I can quit drinking FOREVER”?