Today a new friend told me that her doctor gave her a warning that if she keeps drinking coffee the way she does (and not sleeping), it's going to create long term health problems.
She then continued by saying "Well, its the only way I can do life now. This allows me to exist. Everyone has their poison and this is mine". And when she shared these thoughts with her doctor, he backed off.
This got me thinking about the place that I used to be in when I was fueled with caffeine. While coffee gave me energy during the day it unfortunately robbed me of my ability to go to sleep at night. I reflected on those sleepless nights and the relentless thoughts I would have as I desperately tried to fall asleep. My heightened nervous system and anxiety all kept me from peace.
I remember how hard those days used to be. Things weren't great in my marriage. I was working long hours. I always felt guilty for not being present with my kids. And I reflected on how much courage it took for me to turn the ship away from caffeine. I don't judge anyone who drinks caffeine. It's very much a part of many cultures. I will admit that I will drink a delicious chai tea latte from time to time and enjoy the boost it gives me. The real power for me is that I no longer have a dependency on stimulants and my health is thriving.
I have found that when we recognize something is hurting us, we must ask, Am I am willing to do the hard work to change this now or will I continue on with the pattern?
If the answer is YES, then the next step might be to really zero in on the COST this pattern is creating. Some examples might be:
Irritable with the people in my life
Loss of sleep
Accelerated aging
Irregular or painful bowels
Anxiety
Nervousness
Dehydration
If the COST of our actions is causing us enough pain, we will naturally start to seek out solutions.
I invite you today to courageously look at the patterns in your life that no longer serve you and simply ask, What is the COST for being stuck in these patterns? It doesn't have to be caffeine. Many of us are struggling with all sorts of things. Take a moment and reflect. Once you get clear on the COST of your actions, gently ask yourself, What are some simple things that I can do about this?
It has been said that taking small, 1% steps in a healthier direction each day can have a massive impact on our health and our lives.
What small step might that be for you today?