A Mindful Month
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I cut out alcohol for one month leading up to my birthday 🥂 Here’s what I learned:
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(Disclaimer: What I’m saying does not apply to situations involving addiction or substance abuse.)
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I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching over the last few months, as I know many of us have. Lots of working on myself. Meditation. Therapy.
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I was feeling compelled to gain as much clarity as possible so that I could finally shed some persistent limiting beliefs and low-self worth behaviours.
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Cutting out wine for a month seemed like a smart option to achieve that clarity. A symbolic gesture more than anything. One month with nothing fogging my thoughts. A bracketed timeframe to knuckle down.
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In addition to the search for clarity, I also went in with a secondary intention:
To NOTICE. I wanted to get curious and pay attention whenever I found myself REALLY wanting a glass of wine. I wanted to see if there was a pattern.
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There was.
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Every single time I almost reached for a glass, it was because I was feeling...
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Angry.
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Sadness I could handle. Under-stimulation was no big deal. Work stress not so much.
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But anger.
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Oh man.
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It makes sense: I’m super uncomfortable with anger.
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I’m not a yeller.
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I’m a SEETHER.
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I’m a take-it-all-in-silence-and-pack-that-resentment-extra-tight-until-you-don’t-feel-it.
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I’d never realized how often I was using a totally innocent glass of wine to assist in that process.
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The stuffing down.
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The numbing.
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This same behaviour was playing out in more ways than I knew.
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That’s the takeaway.
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This one month made it extra clear that my task right now is to:
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EXPRESS, even when I want to lock up.
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STAY OPEN even when I feel like closing.
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TAKE UP MORE SPACE even when I want to shrink.
If you’re considering cutting something out of your life (whether a food, a person, a behaviour), here’s my recommendation:
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✨Set an intention.
✨Get curious.
✨Stay mindful.
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You might just be amazed at what you find. ✌️