{"id":94471,"date":"2018-02-08T11:04:56","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T16:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=94471\/"},"modified":"2018-02-08T11:06:51","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T16:06:51","slug":"going-clear-not-scientology-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/fr\/journal\/going-clear-not-scientology-kind\/","title":{"rendered":"Going Clear (and Not the Scientology Kind)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Practice with Mary Beth in O’ahu!<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\n

Most of us have been there: Drawn curtains darkening the bedroom, pulsing headache, and an empty promise to ourselves that \u201clast night was the last time I\u2019ll ever drink.<\/em>\u201d But let\u2019s be real\u2014it\u2019s far more the social norm to drink than to abstain, and many of us may often find ourselves playing this scenario on repeat.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get us wrong. After a killer day doing SUP yoga (at Wanderlust O\u2019ahu<\/a>, for example) we\u2019re certainly not ANTI savoring a craft beer while watching the Hawaiian sunset. But the glass is tipping (pun intended): Sobriety is starting to gain in momentum, particularly in our community. This is certainly true for Mary Beth LaRue<\/a>, who found herself thriving both on and off the mat after embracing an alcohol-free lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Removing Substances from the Picture<\/h3>\n

As for many of us, alcohol was always present in Mary Beth\u2019s life. From a couple of glasses of wine in the bathtub disguised as \u201cself-care\u201d to a night out dancing, booze presented itself as a non-negotiable frenemy <\/em>that always paired well with hangovers, a lack of awareness, and a less-than-present state than Mary Beth wanted for herself. Alcohol, she says, kept her small. Its nasty side effects didn\u2019t align with who she wanted to be in the world.<\/p>\n

While an increasing number of individuals<\/a> are stepping away from alcohol and finding alternative routes to forge connections with others, it can be challenging to cut the initial ties to substances. Each road to sobriety is unique. Whether it is through movement and breath\u2014or finding mindful events and communities like Wanderlust that encourage intentional lifestyle choices\u2014it may not be easy. An important step on the journey is to honor yourself for choosing to dive deeper. And then work to enjoy the space of presence and awareness that going clear<\/em> provides.<\/p>\n

Intentionally Create Your Life and Relationships<\/h3>\n

Maybe you chose to start 2018 with Dry January, or you\u2019ve decided to completely cut booze<\/a> from the picture for good. Regardless of where you are at, the space and opportunities that come from going clear can majorly shift your perspective of self and your surroundings.<\/p>\n

Sobriety, Mary Beth says, allowed her to step into a place of creation rather than reaction. From being featured on the cover of Yoga Journal<\/em> to fostering a beautiful baby boy with her husband, Mary Beth\u2019s life went from black and white to technicolor when she made the empowering personal decision to cut out alcohol. As Mary Beth found, ridding the mind and body of alcohol expands your time in so many ways. With sobriety, you are the master of your days and can sculpt them without the dark cloud of a hangover\u2014or even a slight mental fuzz\u2014holding you back. That morning yoga class<\/a> you always miss? Not today! That deep conversation you had with your partner last night? Remembered and stored in the memory vault.<\/p>\n

But OK. Let\u2019s be real. It\u2019s not easy to have a night out without drinking. So just what does sobriety mean for your social life? Here\u2019s the thing: While sipping a cocktail on the dance floor may seem necessary to get your groove on, alcohol can actually separate<\/em> us from our true nature and hold us back from stepping into our full presence and power.<\/p>\n

Here are some ideas to make a booze-free night<\/a> a bit easier:<\/p>\n