One single mom’s attempt at Dry January…
Day 6… and 7…
Oops! I tried to write last night, but I was soooo tired! So I went to bed instead and I slept like a baby!! Thank the gods my sleep is back!!
Day 6 was a good one. Another great conversation with coworkers about not drinking. I love that I get to work with people who are real and know how to be vulnerable. Hearing a grown man admit that he can’t drink alcohol without overconsuming and it being a problem for him; therefore, he just doesn’t drink at all. Sharing that his addictions started at a young age and the courageous lessons he learned from them. I swear, being human is the best thing ever!
I love being vulnerable and I love when other people open up about their insecurities and struggles, too. Because we all have ’em, whether you are willing to admit it or not.
That’s the funny thing about insecurities, we all have them and most of the time we all hide them. Why is that? What if we all felt ok with being vulnerable around others and sharing what we think is our weakness, our darkness, our insecurities? What if it was just commonplace to talk about the good stuff and the bad? No biggie! I think if that were the case, we’d find world peace real quick. For real! Acknowledging our weaknesses and accepting them as part of who we are? Holding space for others to do the same? Yes, please!! It would certainly wipe out a shit ton of negativity real quick and we might be shocked to learn that our perceived weaknesses may be seen as courageous to others! I vote we all start sharing freely what we feel are our shittiest flaws and see what happens. After all, harboring our insecurities only creates more insecurities. Sharing them makes them disappear, or at least more bearable.
This reminds me of one of the most basic principles of Ayurveda. “Like attracts like, opposites create balance.” If you find that you have too much of something in your life, seek out the opposite and start to incorporate more of that to create balance. The best way for me to explain this is with examples.
Like attracts like
- When you start repeating the same action, say sleeping in late, and you repeat it over and over, it becomes a habit. A routine. A part of you. Like attracts like.
- When you’re feeling stressed from a daily routine (shitty job, anyone?), then the anxiety kicks in and you feel overwhelmed. Day after day, you have the same routine causing the same unfortunate stress and anxiety. Like attracts like.
Opposites create balance
- Waking up earlier would create balance in the scenario of habitually sleeping in. Doesn’t mean you have to wake up early every day, but finding balance will help you feel less groggy and end the cycle.
- Adding a relaxing self-care technique or meditation to your daily routine will help counteract the stress and anxiety. And it might even make you realize that the routine that is stressing you out in the first place is not good for you!
Our bodies naturally gravitate towards balance. Think about it. When it’s cold outside, you don’t want to go out in shorts and flip flops or eat popsicles and ice cream. No way! You bundle up to stay warm before going out and eat a warm meal. These instincts keep your body in balance with nature. When you have too much of something, you balance it by incorporating the opposite.
So, wait a minute. When I have too much of something in my life (ahem, alcohol), it’s because like attracts like (daily drinking attracts more daily drinking)? And if I want to create balance, I add the opposite? No daily drinking?
Wow. Can it really be that simple?
Yes, I know that alcohol is an addictive substance and I know it’s not always easy to give up an addiction, but for me personally, when I observe my drinking “problem” through the lens of this Ayurvedic principle, it makes more sense why I felt the need to drink every single day, and more importantly, it gives me hope that if I incorporate the opposite into my life, I will be able to create the balance I desire.
