It’s not your fault, my friend. 💌

If you’re drinking more than you’d like to… or even just more than you used to.

Alcohol hacks into our survival mechanisms… the programming in the way back of the brain.

And this subconscious programming, coupled with our bodies’ incredible ability to process toxins [and keep us alive!] creates the perfect storm…

You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day...
Unless you're busy, then you should sit for an hour.
—Zen proverb

Ok, I know. 🙄 This often the hardest thing to do, but sincerely:

It is *precisely* when you’re feeling the busiest, the most overwhelmed and stretched-too-thin… that you should prioritize self-care and ::rest::

The irony is staggering.

And the connection between alcohol and anxiety is clear:

Ready for some good news!? 🙌💕 Your body is BUILT to HEAL! ...all you need to do is give it a chance.

Within just a few days, your body is able to flush the toxins from drinking alcohol…

And within a few weeks, the impacted chemicals, hormones, and neurotransmitters [etc] in your systems start to rebalance.

It’s really common to start making “rules” for yourself around drinking…

👉 “I’ll only have two tonight.”

👉 “Only on weekends.”

👉 “No hard liquor, I’ll just drink wine…”

When our drinking starts to creep towards a higher frequency or number 🍷🍷 🍷.. .🍷

We start to think “Huh. 🧐 …maybe time to cut back.”

The problem we then face is that…

🍹 Mocktails are specially crafted mixed drinks made to be flavorful and festive using only non-alcoholic or “zero proof” ingredients.

Personally, I love sipping on mocktails while I’m cooking in the kitchen or socializing at parties...

Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are vital for mood regulation… and our gastrointestinal tract plays a key role in the production of both.

THE BAD NEWS?
👎 Alcohol disrupts our gut. Big time.

Learn how dopamine imbalances contribute to drinking habits and how compassionate behavior‑change strategies can help you break the craving cycle. (Or what I call: The Dopamine Teeter Totter.)

My wish for you in the New Year to come: ✨ May you be the guest of honor in your own skin.

In the words of Clare Pooley:

…now, with the benefit of six months of hindsight, I just want to grab them in a big bear hug and yell "Nooooo! You're doing the hardest part over and over, without ever making it to the good bits!"

And the problem is, the longer you spend wallowing around in those early dark days of despair, the more you manage to re-enforce the idea in your subconscious that that's what sobriety is all about.

So, if that's you, then think about it like this:

Imagine you're standing in a field which you've been in for a long, long time. Initially it was beautiful - filled with wild flowers, friends, sunshine and fluffy bunnies (maybe the bunnies are a bit too much? But, hell, I'm going with it).