So you’re ready to take that first step and move out of the gray area, where you’ve been stuck for years, but how? What should you do first? The question isn’t how or what, but why? Why do you want to do this? The base of a solid foundation needs to start with why. You must have a strong enough reason to want to move forward. It can’t be a wishy-washy “why”, it has to […]
When I first contemplated ending my drinking career in August 2016, I gasped at the timing. “Maybe I should wait”, I thought. After all, my BIG birthday was just around the corner in January. We had plans to go to a Caribbean island with two other couples to an all-inclusive resort where alcohol would be free-flowing. My mind started swirling as I went into panic mode. The anxiety was unbearable. How would I survive this? […]
You’re standing at the crossroads and know a decision must happen, but you’re frozen. “Why is this so hard?”, you wonder. Vulnerability, embarrassment, and shame are the reasons that prevent you from reaching out for help. That, plus a little denial mixed in. Maybe you aren’t ready to admit that you even need support. After all, you’re a professional and need to “look the part”, and conduct yourself as such. It’s too risky to let […]
You know the familiar term, “Ignorance is bliss,” right? Well, never before has that term been so accurate as it is today. As I write this blog post, it’s April 2020, the year that changed right before our eyes. It’s also Alcohol Awareness Month, a time that is set aside to talk openly about the facts of alcohol. It’s Alcohol Awareness Month! Before you close off from the topic and say, “that’s not me”, consider […]
Due to COVID-19, we are in unprecedented territory as a global community. The fear of this new reality is very real. It can be described as Predictable Uncertainty. We are most fearful when we don’t know what’s coming next. Our body is hardwired to move into a sympathetic response in our nervous system causing us to fight, flight, or freeze in unknown terror. It’s understandable. The threat is real and we should be taking this […]
A question all sober-curious drinkers dread is, “why aren’t you drinking”? The silent gulp in the throat, the spinning thoughts for a convincing response, and the deep insecurity of exposing oneself is enough reason to say screw it and give in. The societal pressure, overall acceptance, and expectation of drinking alcohol can be overwhelming to those trying to moderate or abstain. Wherever you go, there it is. As a former drinker myself, I experienced comments […]
When I first quit drinking, a friend suggested a book, The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod. This book was a game-changer and the stepping stone into the deep dive of my self-development rituals. In the book, Hal shares the benefits of a morning routine that includes: prayer/meditation, journaling, saying affirmations, visualizing, exercise, and reading. Hal also has a podcast that I listen to regularly called Achieve Your Goals. About a year ago, episode #270, Hal […]
Having a challenging childhood and attending 12 different schools in just nine years, I was that awkward kid that tried too hard to fit in. You know the type, right? I did “all the things” to get the attention and approval of others. This led to immense deflation of any possible self-worth. It was the perfect set up for what I refer to as living in the gray. I was bullied in kindergarten for being […]
Is it possible to have a healthy relationship with alcohol? How come some people can enjoy it successfully while others cannot? First, allow me to say that the words healthy and alcohol do not belong in the same sentence. There is no amount of alcohol that is considered healthy.There is, however, an invitation to get honest with where you are and an opportunity to make positive changes. Those on medications, pregnant, or experiencing anxiety, or […]
This week we have a guest blogger, Keli Maire. She is the creator of the Sober Feast and has a passion for recipes, food pairings and all things non-alcoholic. You can read more about Keli and her mission on her website, https://thesoberfeast.com/ If you’ve been looking at healthier options for non-alcoholic drinks, you might have read about adaptogens. Adaptogens are plant-based substances that are said to increase the “state of non-specific resistance” in stress.[1]It’s believed […]
© 2024 · GrayTonic
