So it’s been a while…

Last week, I celebrated 2 years of living an alcohol-free life. GO ME!

My 2nd Adversary or my Soberversary! I'm not a huge fan of the word sober, but I'm starting to be okay with it over time. I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD NOT DRINK, but I no longer drink now, and I love it. Finally, I have the life I always wanted. I'm living in the now!

Many things are happening to me, and it can be overwhelming at times! I have started a new course to become certified as a Christian Mental Health Coach, and I'm really excited about it! I'm volunteering in an Alcohol-Free Group, working my regular job, and trying to get my website and coaching business up and running while balancing family life. That sounds like a lot, and I'm okay with it all. I have been told no more unless I cut something out by my husband.

I'm learning that I have to have a schedule and stick to it and be flexible. Routines are essential, but again you have to be flexible. I have been rigid in the past with morning routines. If the morning doesn't go as planned, I have a meltdown and ruin the rest of my day. It is actually pretty sad!

I have gotten pretty good at managing emotions, but I had one of my meltdowns (there were other factors) a couple of months ago because I couldn't do my morning routine like I wanted to. I'm a bit of a control freak - even when I think I'm not. I spiraled because I tried to control my emotions instead of letting them flow in and through me. I was rigid and snapped at my family, left in a flurry. I got in my car and started on my way, only to get a mile away to pull over and start crying because I was horrible to all those around me. I was also being horrible to myself. Beating myself up with negative self-talk.

Good news, I took a deep breath and recognized that I was not in the right frame of mind. So I apologized and journaled about all I was feeling and how I could do better the next time. But, most importantly, I gave myself grace and compassion. I'm a Christian, and I know how to extend compassion to others like Christ did for me, but I really don't give compassion to myself. I'm working on this daily.

I also started doing a lot of personal development in 2020 when I quit drinking. I have read so many books about how the brain works and why it works the way it does. It really is quite fascinating. I have learned that you have to change your mindset to change your life. That mindset change can be about a habit you want to change, like cutting back on alcohol or quitting it, or it could be creating a new morning routine that includes an exercise program and meditation.

You have to change your mindset with knowledge. Years ago, I started working out because I knew that I felt healthier physically and mentally when I exercised. There is a saying, "if you rest, you will rust." Another phrase is, "move it or lose it." A body in motion stays in motion, and it is true! I decided to be an active person, so I stayed active. I made exercise a priority, and I also had a positive mindset.

You have to have a mindset change because if it isn't, you go into a behavior change with the attitude of "I have to do this because I'm fat or the doctor says I have to." The new habit will not take hold.

I have made many positive changes in my life, and the two that have been the most prominent are exercising and now living alcohol-free for two years. Has it been easy? Nope. But has it been that hard? At first, yes, but not now. Nothing worthwhile is easy!

So, the next significant habit change will be sugar and processed food. I'm learning again, gaining knowledge reading, and getting fired up again about what we call food that is nothing more than processed chemicals.

I'm now starting the book Metabolical by Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL. Stay tuned… more change is coming!

(Almost forgot…Soon Matt and I are going to be launching a new podcast about our Alcohol Free Marriage!)