January 31, 2025 • 27 mins
Discover a transformative path to reclaim your evenings with purpose and joy, as we challenge the common crutch of alcohol dependency many women face. Through faith and creativity, explore why evenings can often be the most challenging time, leading to reliance on that nightly glass of alcohol.
Together, we'll explore bold strategies designed to break these cycles, offering you the tools to build healthier routines and a more peaceful life.
This episode offers a compassionate companion on your journey toward alcohol freedom, providing support, inspiration, and the assurance that you're never alone.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Catholic Sobriety Podcast, the
go-to resource for women seekingto have a deeper understanding
of the role alcohol plays intheir lives, women who are
looking to drink less or not atall for any reason.
I am your host, christi Walker.
I'm a wife, mom and ajoy-filled Catholic, and I am
(00:22):
the Catholic Sobriety Coach, andI am so glad you're here Today.
We're talking about somethingthat so many of us wrestle with.
I want to talk about somecommon reasons why women turn to
alcohol in the evenings.
Of course, we think about it alot as a stress release.
(00:47):
So after a long day filled withresponsibilities of work,
caregiving, managing a householdor whatever else we need to do,
you know we use alcohol as aquick fix to decompress and
relieve stress.
Relieve stress.
(01:08):
Alcohol can become a way ofpressing pause on the endless
to-do list or numbing the weightof it all, even if we know it's
only temporary.
And then a lot of women turn toalcohol in the evenings because
they're lonely.
Evenings can sometimes feelisolating, especially for women
who live alone or are navigatingdifferent seasons in their life
(01:31):
, where certain relationshipsfeel distant, such as after
children grow up or moving to anew place.
Or, you know, you're retired,there's just certain life
changes that can have us feelinglonely, because the people who
we used to spend a lot of timewith may not be there anymore.
(01:53):
So a glass of wine for thosewomen may feel like a comfort.
And then, of course, there'sboredom.
Without having meaningfulevening rituals or hobbies,
boredom can leave a void andmany of us turn to alcohol to
fill that void.
It feels like an activity andan easy thing to turn to when it
(02:19):
seems like there's nothing elseto do.
And then, of course, there'ssocial influence.
Many women drink in theevenings because they want to be
included in the social norms.
Whether it's a zoom happy hour,a mom's night out or couples
unwinding together, alcohol canbecome a fixture in those shared
(02:42):
moments.
And then there's the habitualroutines.
Patterns are powerful and manyreach for alcohol simply because
it's part of their nightlyroutine.
I cannot tell you how manywomen I talk to will say I drank
a glass of wine and, quitehonestly, I don't even know why
(03:03):
I did it.
I didn't even need it, but Ijust felt like I was supposed to
do it, and that is because it'sjust part of the routine.
So a lot of the work that I dois disrupting that routine so
that they can develop newroutines and healthier habits.
And then people turn to alcoholbecause they have trouble
(03:27):
sleeping.
So alcohol is often seen as away to fall asleep faster, and
it does do the trick for that.
Unfortunately, it will oftendisrupt your sleep in the long
run.
You definitely do not get thequality sleep that you do when
you are not drinking, andoftentimes women who drink
(03:49):
before bed will sometimes thinkthey have insomnia, but really
it's their body processing thealcohol that is waking them up.
And then, of course, many of ususe alcohol to self-medicate for
emotional discomfort.
We drink to cope with feelingsof sadness, anxiety, unresolved
(04:09):
emotional struggles, butunfortunately, alcohol offers a
temporary solution for a muchdeeper pain.
If you don't address the sourceof the pain, then it's just
going to keep coming back.
And then, of course, there'sthe cultural messaging, from
(04:34):
memes about mommy wine tocommercials romanticizing
alcohol, don't forget thoseinfluencers are all reinforcing
the idea that drinking isacceptable, encouraged and even
necessary to be a good mother,which I will tell you is
completely false.
Okay, so now that we've talkedabout why women turn to alcohol
(05:00):
in the evenings, let's talkabout some ways to combat that.
And here's the good news thereare so many creative and even
faith-inspired ways that you canbreak free from those cravings
and reclaim your evenings.
And, trust me, these ideas willnot only disrupt the habit, but
(05:22):
will just bring you more joyand purpose and peace and have
you feeling much more present inyour life.
So we are going to be exploring20 fresh strategies that are
going to help you curb thosecravings, and I would guess that
some of these may surprise you.
I tried to come up with someout-of-the-box ideas for you to
(05:47):
do, and then I also wanted toapproach some of them from our
faith perspective.
I hope that these willencourage you and help you on
your journey as you look toreduce or eliminate alcohol from
your life.
So our first strategy is aboutcreating a sacred evening space,
(06:11):
think a cozy little cornerwhere you can pray, journal or
simply be.
Still, add a candle, maybe animage of Our Lady or your
favorite saint, your rosary,your Bible, and keep in mind
this isn't just a place to sit.
(06:31):
This is your space to meet God,carve out this time to reflect
and invite His peace into yourheart.
Now I've heard of women justtaking a corner in their bedroom
, putting out a few pillows, orsetting up like just a little
table or altar, their prayerspace.
(06:54):
I've also heard of prayerclosets.
Whatever works for you and yourspace, do that.
For me, this can sometimes looklike simply lighting a candle
and reflecting on where I sawGod present in my day.
It doesn't have to be elaborate, it doesn't have to be time
(07:15):
consuming.
It just has to be meaningfuland something that you look
forward to.
The next one is to take a cleanslate shower.
I've heard this from a fewother coaches and, quite
honestly, this is a practicalbut powerful strategy, and when
(07:35):
I heard it, it reminded me ofwhen my kids were little.
Sometimes, if they were havinga really bad day, they were very
emotionally dysregulated orsomething, and nothing was
calming them down.
Nothing was helping.
I would ask them do you want totake a bath?
Do you want to have a bubblebath?
(07:56):
And they would tearfully nodtheir head yes and take a bath.
And I will tell you everysingle time they came out a
happier child, their emotionswere regulated and it was just
like the water and being in thebubbles just washed away their
(08:20):
stress.
And that can be the same foryou, too, if you are like me, I
don't particularly like baths.
If you like baths, take them,but I like showers, and when
that warm water hits your head,there's just something about
that that just kind of iscalming, like the noise of the
(08:44):
water hitting the floor of theshower.
All of that can just be sosoothing and just can help take
away those cravings and even thetemptation itself.
If you want, you can buy like aspecial, like evening soap, or
use essential oils like just putthem at the bottom of your
(09:07):
shower and just make it like aluxurious experience.
This next one is probably notgoing to surprise you, since I
am a Catholic coach, but prayingthe rosary with intention can
be very powerful.
You can turn your cravings intoan opportunity to pray.
You know all those times whenpeople tell you something and
(09:32):
you're like, oh yeah, I'll prayfor you.
Or maybe you have a prayerjournal that's a mile long with
names.
This is the perfect opportunityto get outside of yourself and
focus on serving and praying forothers.
You could do something assimple as praying a decade of
(09:54):
the rosary for your ownintentions, the intentions of
your children, your family orall those that you promise to
pray for.
You can offer it for strength,perseverance or strengthening of
your spiritual gifts and anoutpouring of God's grace that
can help you resist the cravings.
(10:14):
Another thing I love to dowhile praying the rosary is
walking around my home or yardwhile praying.
It's a motion of moving my body, getting some of that exercise,
some fresh air, but also justpraying the perimeter of my home
(10:37):
or praying for my familymembers in that home.
The next is to explore someunusual flavor combinations.
So if you are actually cravingthe ritual of drinking like your
habit is what you're craving,not necessarily the alcohol this
(10:58):
is a great time to explore somequirky new beverages like
kombucha herbal infusions, likekombucha herbal infusions, some
(11:25):
non-alcoholic wines, spirits.
I used a margarita mix and Iused some zero-proof tequila and
just a little bit of herbalinfusions in it and it was so
good.
I loved it.
I thought it was really good.
(11:46):
I even had like salt on the rimand I made it look really
pretty with a slice of lime onthe side.
I actually have.
If you go to my Instagram feed,you'll see the little video of
it.
I am not a mocktail makerexpert, anything like that, but
I wanted to share it with myaudience there so you can go
(12:08):
take a look there too, if youwant.
Another suggestion is to spendtime connecting with your patron
saint.
If you don't have a patronsaint, then maybe this is a good
time to explore some saints.
One of my friends, belindaMooney, wrote a book called
Praying with the Saints.
It's 365 days of saints, and Ilove it because each day is a
(12:35):
different saint that you canlearn about.
There's usually a prayer thatgoes along with it, but setting
aside time to learn more abouttheir life, their struggles and
their victories time to learnmore about their life, their
struggles and their victories,and then, if you want, you can
even reflect on the ways theyhave inspired you, by reading
about their life, to grow closerto Christ.
(12:57):
What did you find admirableabout them that you would also
like to inspire to?
Number six is to sing along tosacred music or praise and
worship music.
Sometimes all you need is agood song to lift your heart.
I've heard it said that singingis like praying twice, and I
(13:20):
completely believe that.
What I have done, that Iabsolutely turn to often, is I
created a pray list.
I actually named it Come HolySpirit, and I just filled it
with all of my favorite likepump me up Holy Spirit music
(13:40):
that I love to sing along with.
It's such a great way torelease tension my mind and most
of all and just praise the Lordwith all my heart, with all my
soul and all my might.
But then, of course, there aretimes when I want something
quieter, like be thou, my visionis so beautiful.
(14:02):
It's impossible not to feelstrengthened by those lyrics.
You can find it on youtube.
You can find all differentversions, so just whatever music
you love that fills you up andconnects you to the lord.
I invite you to really tap intothat and use it in those
(14:24):
moments, especially if you'refeeling alone, if you're feeling
like God is far from you canjust be a great way to open
yourself up and allow God justto pour into you.
Number seven is something that Ialso do all the time.
So I keep a little bit of holywater by me almost all the time
(14:48):
when I'm at home and I bless myhome, I bless my children's room
.
When I'm having a tough time, Iwill bless myself and I just
ask God for grace.
You can do this when a cravingcreeps in.
Have that holy water there, orsome blessed salt, or both, and
(15:10):
when a craving creeps in, usethose sacramentals to bless
yourself and ask the Lord forthe strength to resist the
craving.
Number eight is to kind of playwith the lighting and change the
mood of your space.
So if your space feels dull oruninspiring, just try changing
(15:33):
the lighting by adding somestring lights.
Or use color a lamp to create acalming environment.
Soft blues are great for peace.
Warm golden tones for comfort.
Blues are great for peace, warmgolden tones for comfort.
It's just amazing how a simpleshift in atmosphere can redirect
(15:54):
your focus, which can actuallyhelp you fight those cravings.
Number nine is to write lettersto God or even to your cravings.
Journaling can be such ahealing practice and when a
craving feels overwhelming, youcan try writing to God about it.
Or, if you want to get evenmore creative, write a breakup
(16:20):
letter to your cravings and tellyour craving why you're moving
on Like dear craving.
We've been together a long time, but you are no longer helping
me and I'm choosing joy.
I'm choosing freedom, andyou'll be surprised at how
liberating this feels.
(16:40):
If you've ever felt likealcohol was both your best
friend and your worst enemy,then check out episode 76,
friend or Frenemy.
Are you in a Toxic Relationshipwith Alcohol.
Okay, this one's one that Ifound online and I thought it
sounded fun.
So what you do is you set atimer for one minute and find
(17:03):
five objects in your home thatbring you joy or remind you of a
blessing.
Gratitude, in this case, willshift your focus, and you can
again do this when you have acraving and just think okay,
guess what time it is, I'm notgoing to grab a drink.
(17:24):
This is gratitude object hunttime, and just try it out.
Who knows what you'll find.
Maybe you'll find some of yourkids' old photos or your
grandmother's rosary, or youknow.
Just anything else that is areminder of God's goodness and
love, of God's goodness and love.
(17:52):
Number 11 is to take anintentional evening walk with
prayer.
So moving your body is a greatway to shift your mindset, but
making it a walking prayer iseven more powerful.
Recite the Jesus prayer or saya mental litany as you're
walking.
This is also a great time ifyou want to start a novena and
then you can say it as you walk.
(18:14):
It is simple and it'srestorative.
Number 12 is to reflect on thesacrifice at Jesus.
Look up at the crucifix.
Look at the crucifix that youhave in your home.
I'm sure you have one or many,and it can be such a comfort to
(18:40):
look at that image.
Reflecting on his strength willinspire you to surrender your
smaller struggles into his hands.
Number 13 is to fast.
Fasting is one of my favoritethings.
If you look at your decision toreduce or eliminate alcohol as
(19:06):
an opportunity for fasting, anact of offering to god, that
will be so much more powerful inhelping you resist the craving,
and then you can dedicate thatoffering to someone in need or
use it as a way to spirituallystrengthen your will against
(19:31):
alcohol, alcohol.
Number 14 is to create a newevening ritual.
Evenings are special.
Turn them into something newthat energizes your soul.
If you think evenings areboring, if they seem to drag on,
create a ritual that you lookforward to, whether that's
(19:52):
sipping on herbal tea, readingscripture, Whether that's
sipping on herbal tea, readingscripture, creating a gratitude
list, doing a hobby that youlove painting, reading, drawing,
playing games with your spouse.
Choose things that you lookforward to.
Number 15 is one of myfavorites and something we do a
(20:19):
lot around here, and that is tolaugh it out.
Sometimes the best medicine islaughter.
So if that means watching afunny video or sharing a fun
memory or moment with a lovedone.
Do it Because laughter not onlylightens your mood, it starts
to weaken those cravings.
Number 16 is try cold exposure.
(20:43):
So this one, I know, is goingto sound crazy, but briefly
splashing your face with coldwater can calm your body and
bring you in to the presentmoment.
It jolts your senses andactually curb a craving.
I know people that do coldplunges I don't, but I hear that
(21:05):
they can be very beneficial.
So if you want to do that andif you've checked with your
doctor and it's okay for you todo that, then that might be
something that would be helpful.
My husband currently doingExodus 90 and cold showers are
part of that, and I've heard youshouldn't apply the cold water
(21:26):
to your head first becausethat's dangerous or something.
But getting in a cold shower,it doesn't have to be ice cold
like his is.
But getting in a cold shower itdoesn't have to be ice cold
like his is, but getting in acool ish shower again has the
same effect of jolting yoursenses.
Number 17th is talking about anew evening ritual which is to
(21:49):
make fake faith-based art so youcan take a calming activity
like drawing, bible journaling,lettering Bible verses.
Engaging your hands and mindwith something purposeful can be
so helpful in curbing cravings.
Number 18 is to practice thenightly examine, so you can end
(22:14):
your day with St Ignatius'sexamine, which isa short
reflection, where you call tomind where you felt God, where
you struggled and what you'regrateful for.
So you can journal about this.
And this can be a great way tobring closure to the day and
(22:36):
hope for tomorrow.
Number 19 I mentioned already,but that is to start a novena.
So if you are cravingpersistence, dedicate nine days
by asking for intercession.
Saint Augustine is one of myfavorites.
He is a wonderful choice forresisting temptation, and Saint
(22:59):
Monica, his mother, is a modelof unwavering prayer.
I am also a huge fan of theNovena to the Holy Spirit.
I've actually included it in mysacred sobriety lab.
It's like the very first thingthat happens in my course, and
each day we pray for a differentgift or fruit of the Holy
(23:21):
Spirit.
And number 20, you've made it isto use scripture as a shield.
Keep those verses close to yourheart.
Recite Psalm 34.
Taste and see that the Lord isgood.
Or Philippians 4, aboutgrounding yourself in joy and
(23:42):
the hope that God brings.
Knowing scripture, steepingyourself in scripture, can help
root out the lies of the enemy,combat our own insecurities and
help us realize that we have aloving Father in heaven who
loves us, sees us, knows us andwants us free.
(24:07):
Who knows you, sees you, lovesyou and wants you free.
So there you have it 20creative, faith-filled
strategies to curb eveningalcohol cravings.
Now remember, as I always say,this is about progress, not
(24:28):
perfection.
So every time you choose one ofthese ideas, just know that you
are taking a step towardfreedom and peace.
You are building those muscles.
You're building your sobermuscles.
My challenge for you now is totry one out tonight and let me
know what you did and how itwent.
(24:48):
You can always reach out to meon Instagram at the Catholic
Sobriety Coach, or you can clickthat, send a text button that
is in the show notes and let meknow.
Until then, know that I'mpraying for you and that the
Lord is walking beside you inevery moment.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Catholic Sobriety
(25:09):
Podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this episodeand I would invite you to share
it with a friend who might alsoget value from it as well, and
make sure you subscribe so youdon't miss a thing.
I am the Catholic SobrietyCoach, and if you would like to
learn how to work with me orlearn more about the coaching
(25:31):
that I offer, visit my website,thecatholicsobrietycoachcom.
Follow me on Instagram at theCatholic Sobriety Coach.
I look forward to speaking toyou next time.
And remember I am here for you,I am praying for you.
(25:52):
You are not alone.
Welcome to the Catholic Sobriety Podcast, the
go-to resource for women seekingto have a deeper understanding
of the role alcohol plays intheir lives, women who are
looking to drink less or not atall for any reason.
I am your host, christi Walker.
I'm a wife, mom and ajoy-filled Catholic, and I am
(00:22):
the Catholic Sobriety Coach, andI am so glad you're here Today.
We're talking about somethingthat so many of us wrestle with.
I want to talk about somecommon reasons why women turn to
alcohol in the evenings.
Of course, we think about it alot as a stress release.
(00:47):
So after a long day filled withresponsibilities of work,
caregiving, managing a householdor whatever else we need to do,
you know we use alcohol as aquick fix to decompress and
relieve stress.
Relieve stress.
(01:08):
Alcohol can become a way ofpressing pause on the endless
to-do list or numbing the weightof it all, even if we know it's
only temporary.
And then a lot of women turn toalcohol in the evenings because
they're lonely.
Evenings can sometimes feelisolating, especially for women
who live alone or are navigatingdifferent seasons in their life
(01:31):
, where certain relationshipsfeel distant, such as after
children grow up or moving to anew place.
Or, you know, you're retired,there's just certain life
changes that can have us feelinglonely, because the people who
we used to spend a lot of timewith may not be there anymore.
(01:53):
So a glass of wine for thosewomen may feel like a comfort.
And then, of course, there'sboredom.
Without having meaningfulevening rituals or hobbies,
boredom can leave a void andmany of us turn to alcohol to
fill that void.
It feels like an activity andan easy thing to turn to when it
(02:19):
seems like there's nothing elseto do.
And then, of course, there'ssocial influence.
Many women drink in theevenings because they want to be
included in the social norms.
Whether it's a zoom happy hour,a mom's night out or couples
unwinding together, alcohol canbecome a fixture in those shared
(02:42):
moments.
And then there's the habitualroutines.
Patterns are powerful and manyreach for alcohol simply because
it's part of their nightlyroutine.
I cannot tell you how manywomen I talk to will say I drank
a glass of wine and, quitehonestly, I don't even know why
(03:03):
I did it.
I didn't even need it, but Ijust felt like I was supposed to
do it, and that is because it'sjust part of the routine.
So a lot of the work that I dois disrupting that routine so
that they can develop newroutines and healthier habits.
And then people turn to alcoholbecause they have trouble
(03:27):
sleeping.
So alcohol is often seen as away to fall asleep faster, and
it does do the trick for that.
Unfortunately, it will oftendisrupt your sleep in the long
run.
You definitely do not get thequality sleep that you do when
you are not drinking, andoftentimes women who drink
(03:49):
before bed will sometimes thinkthey have insomnia, but really
it's their body processing thealcohol that is waking them up.
And then, of course, many of ususe alcohol to self-medicate for
emotional discomfort.
We drink to cope with feelingsof sadness, anxiety, unresolved
(04:09):
emotional struggles, butunfortunately, alcohol offers a
temporary solution for a muchdeeper pain.
If you don't address the sourceof the pain, then it's just
going to keep coming back.
And then, of course, there'sthe cultural messaging, from
(04:34):
memes about mommy wine tocommercials romanticizing
alcohol, don't forget thoseinfluencers are all reinforcing
the idea that drinking isacceptable, encouraged and even
necessary to be a good mother,which I will tell you is
completely false.
Okay, so now that we've talkedabout why women turn to alcohol
(05:00):
in the evenings, let's talkabout some ways to combat that.
And here's the good news thereare so many creative and even
faith-inspired ways that you canbreak free from those cravings
and reclaim your evenings.
And, trust me, these ideas willnot only disrupt the habit, but
(05:22):
will just bring you more joyand purpose and peace and have
you feeling much more present inyour life.
So we are going to be exploring20 fresh strategies that are
going to help you curb thosecravings, and I would guess that
some of these may surprise you.
I tried to come up with someout-of-the-box ideas for you to
(05:47):
do, and then I also wanted toapproach some of them from our
faith perspective.
I hope that these willencourage you and help you on
your journey as you look toreduce or eliminate alcohol from
your life.
So our first strategy is aboutcreating a sacred evening space,
(06:11):
think a cozy little cornerwhere you can pray, journal or
simply be.
Still, add a candle, maybe animage of Our Lady or your
favorite saint, your rosary,your Bible, and keep in mind
this isn't just a place to sit.
(06:31):
This is your space to meet God,carve out this time to reflect
and invite His peace into yourheart.
Now I've heard of women justtaking a corner in their bedroom
, putting out a few pillows, orsetting up like just a little
table or altar, their prayerspace.
(06:54):
I've also heard of prayerclosets.
Whatever works for you and yourspace, do that.
For me, this can sometimes looklike simply lighting a candle
and reflecting on where I sawGod present in my day.
It doesn't have to be elaborate, it doesn't have to be time
(07:15):
consuming.
It just has to be meaningfuland something that you look
forward to.
The next one is to take a cleanslate shower.
I've heard this from a fewother coaches and, quite
honestly, this is a practicalbut powerful strategy, and when
(07:35):
I heard it, it reminded me ofwhen my kids were little.
Sometimes, if they were havinga really bad day, they were very
emotionally dysregulated orsomething, and nothing was
calming them down.
Nothing was helping.
I would ask them do you want totake a bath?
Do you want to have a bubblebath?
(07:56):
And they would tearfully nodtheir head yes and take a bath.
And I will tell you everysingle time they came out a
happier child, their emotionswere regulated and it was just
like the water and being in thebubbles just washed away their
(08:20):
stress.
And that can be the same foryou, too, if you are like me, I
don't particularly like baths.
If you like baths, take them,but I like showers, and when
that warm water hits your head,there's just something about
that that just kind of iscalming, like the noise of the
(08:44):
water hitting the floor of theshower.
All of that can just be sosoothing and just can help take
away those cravings and even thetemptation itself.
If you want, you can buy like aspecial, like evening soap, or
use essential oils like just putthem at the bottom of your
(09:07):
shower and just make it like aluxurious experience.
This next one is probably notgoing to surprise you, since I
am a Catholic coach, but prayingthe rosary with intention can
be very powerful.
You can turn your cravings intoan opportunity to pray.
You know all those times whenpeople tell you something and
(09:32):
you're like, oh yeah, I'll prayfor you.
Or maybe you have a prayerjournal that's a mile long with
names.
This is the perfect opportunityto get outside of yourself and
focus on serving and praying forothers.
You could do something assimple as praying a decade of
(09:54):
the rosary for your ownintentions, the intentions of
your children, your family orall those that you promise to
pray for.
You can offer it for strength,perseverance or strengthening of
your spiritual gifts and anoutpouring of God's grace that
can help you resist the cravings.
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Another thing I love to dowhile praying the rosary is
walking around my home or yardwhile praying.
It's a motion of moving my body, getting some of that exercise,
some fresh air, but also justpraying the perimeter of my home
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or praying for my familymembers in that home.
The next is to explore someunusual flavor combinations.
So if you are actually cravingthe ritual of drinking like your
habit is what you're craving,not necessarily the alcohol this
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is a great time to explore somequirky new beverages like
kombucha herbal infusions, likekombucha herbal infusions, some
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non-alcoholic wines, spirits.
I used a margarita mix and Iused some zero-proof tequila and
just a little bit of herbalinfusions in it and it was so
good.
I loved it.
I thought it was really good.
(11:46):
I even had like salt on the rimand I made it look really
pretty with a slice of lime onthe side.
I actually have.
If you go to my Instagram feed,you'll see the little video of
it.
I am not a mocktail makerexpert, anything like that, but
I wanted to share it with myaudience there so you can go
(12:08):
take a look there too, if youwant.
Another suggestion is to spendtime connecting with your patron
saint.
If you don't have a patronsaint, then maybe this is a good
time to explore some saints.
One of my friends, belindaMooney, wrote a book called
Praying with the Saints.
It's 365 days of saints, and Ilove it because each day is a
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different saint that you canlearn about.
There's usually a prayer thatgoes along with it, but setting
aside time to learn more abouttheir life, their struggles and
their victories time to learnmore about their life, their
struggles and their victories,and then, if you want, you can
even reflect on the ways theyhave inspired you, by reading
about their life, to grow closerto Christ.
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What did you find admirableabout them that you would also
like to inspire to?
Number six is to sing along tosacred music or praise and
worship music.
Sometimes all you need is agood song to lift your heart.
I've heard it said that singingis like praying twice, and I
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completely believe that.
What I have done, that Iabsolutely turn to often, is I
created a pray list.
I actually named it Come HolySpirit, and I just filled it
with all of my favorite likepump me up Holy Spirit music
(13:40):
that I love to sing along with.
It's such a great way torelease tension my mind and most
of all and just praise the Lordwith all my heart, with all my
soul and all my might.
But then, of course, there aretimes when I want something
quieter, like be thou, my visionis so beautiful.
(14:02):
It's impossible not to feelstrengthened by those lyrics.
You can find it on youtube.
You can find all differentversions, so just whatever music
you love that fills you up andconnects you to the lord.
I invite you to really tap intothat and use it in those
(14:24):
moments, especially if you'refeeling alone, if you're feeling
like God is far from you canjust be a great way to open
yourself up and allow God justto pour into you.
Number seven is something that Ialso do all the time.
So I keep a little bit of holywater by me almost all the time
(14:48):
when I'm at home and I bless myhome, I bless my children's room
.
When I'm having a tough time, Iwill bless myself and I just
ask God for grace.
You can do this when a cravingcreeps in.
Have that holy water there, orsome blessed salt, or both, and
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when a craving creeps in, usethose sacramentals to bless
yourself and ask the Lord forthe strength to resist the
craving.
Number eight is to kind of playwith the lighting and change the
mood of your space.
So if your space feels dull oruninspiring, just try changing
(15:33):
the lighting by adding somestring lights.
Or use color a lamp to create acalming environment.
Soft blues are great for peace.
Warm golden tones for comfort.
Blues are great for peace, warmgolden tones for comfort.
It's just amazing how a simpleshift in atmosphere can redirect
(15:54):
your focus, which can actuallyhelp you fight those cravings.
Number nine is to write lettersto God or even to your cravings.
Journaling can be such ahealing practice and when a
craving feels overwhelming, youcan try writing to God about it.
Or, if you want to get evenmore creative, write a breakup
(16:20):
letter to your cravings and tellyour craving why you're moving
on Like dear craving.
We've been together a long time, but you are no longer helping
me and I'm choosing joy.
I'm choosing freedom, andyou'll be surprised at how
liberating this feels.
(16:40):
If you've ever felt likealcohol was both your best
friend and your worst enemy,then check out episode 76,
friend or Frenemy.
Are you in a Toxic Relationshipwith Alcohol.
Okay, this one's one that Ifound online and I thought it
sounded fun.
So what you do is you set atimer for one minute and find
(17:03):
five objects in your home thatbring you joy or remind you of a
blessing.
Gratitude, in this case, willshift your focus, and you can
again do this when you have acraving and just think okay,
guess what time it is, I'm notgoing to grab a drink.
(17:24):
This is gratitude object hunttime, and just try it out.
Who knows what you'll find.
Maybe you'll find some of yourkids' old photos or your
grandmother's rosary, or youknow.
Just anything else that is areminder of God's goodness and
love, of God's goodness and love.
(17:52):
Number 11 is to take anintentional evening walk with
prayer.
So moving your body is a greatway to shift your mindset, but
making it a walking prayer iseven more powerful.
Recite the Jesus prayer or saya mental litany as you're
walking.
This is also a great time ifyou want to start a novena and
then you can say it as you walk.
(18:14):
It is simple and it'srestorative.
Number 12 is to reflect on thesacrifice at Jesus.
Look up at the crucifix.
Look at the crucifix that youhave in your home.
I'm sure you have one or many,and it can be such a comfort to
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look at that image.
Reflecting on his strength willinspire you to surrender your
smaller struggles into his hands.
Number 13 is to fast.
Fasting is one of my favoritethings.
If you look at your decision toreduce or eliminate alcohol as
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an opportunity for fasting, anact of offering to god, that
will be so much more powerful inhelping you resist the craving,
and then you can dedicate thatoffering to someone in need or
use it as a way to spirituallystrengthen your will against
(19:31):
alcohol, alcohol.
Number 14 is to create a newevening ritual.
Evenings are special.
Turn them into something newthat energizes your soul.
If you think evenings areboring, if they seem to drag on,
create a ritual that you lookforward to, whether that's
(19:52):
sipping on herbal tea, readingscripture, Whether that's
sipping on herbal tea, readingscripture, creating a gratitude
list, doing a hobby that youlove painting, reading, drawing,
playing games with your spouse.
Choose things that you lookforward to.
Number 15 is one of myfavorites and something we do a
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lot around here, and that is tolaugh it out.
Sometimes the best medicine islaughter.
So if that means watching afunny video or sharing a fun
memory or moment with a lovedone.
Do it Because laughter not onlylightens your mood, it starts
to weaken those cravings.
Number 16 is try cold exposure.
(20:43):
So this one, I know, is goingto sound crazy, but briefly
splashing your face with coldwater can calm your body and
bring you in to the presentmoment.
It jolts your senses andactually curb a craving.
I know people that do coldplunges I don't, but I hear that
(21:05):
they can be very beneficial.
So if you want to do that andif you've checked with your
doctor and it's okay for you todo that, then that might be
something that would be helpful.
My husband currently doingExodus 90 and cold showers are
part of that, and I've heard youshouldn't apply the cold water
(21:26):
to your head first becausethat's dangerous or something.
But getting in a cold shower,it doesn't have to be ice cold
like his is.
But getting in a cold shower itdoesn't have to be ice cold
like his is, but getting in acool ish shower again has the
same effect of jolting yoursenses.
Number 17th is talking about anew evening ritual which is to
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make fake faith-based art so youcan take a calming activity
like drawing, bible journaling,lettering Bible verses.
Engaging your hands and mindwith something purposeful can be
so helpful in curbing cravings.
Number 18 is to practice thenightly examine, so you can end
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your day with St Ignatius'sexamine, which isa short
reflection, where you call tomind where you felt God, where
you struggled and what you'regrateful for.
So you can journal about this.
And this can be a great way tobring closure to the day and
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hope for tomorrow.
Number 19 I mentioned already,but that is to start a novena.
So if you are cravingpersistence, dedicate nine days
by asking for intercession.
Saint Augustine is one of myfavorites.
He is a wonderful choice forresisting temptation, and Saint
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Monica, his mother, is a modelof unwavering prayer.
I am also a huge fan of theNovena to the Holy Spirit.
I've actually included it in mysacred sobriety lab.
It's like the very first thingthat happens in my course, and
each day we pray for a differentgift or fruit of the Holy
(23:21):
Spirit.
And number 20, you've made it isto use scripture as a shield.
Keep those verses close to yourheart.
Recite Psalm 34.
Taste and see that the Lord isgood.
Or Philippians 4, aboutgrounding yourself in joy and
(23:42):
the hope that God brings.
Knowing scripture, steepingyourself in scripture, can help
root out the lies of the enemy,combat our own insecurities and
help us realize that we have aloving Father in heaven who
loves us, sees us, knows us andwants us free.
(24:07):
Who knows you, sees you, lovesyou and wants you free.
So there you have it 20creative, faith-filled
strategies to curb eveningalcohol cravings.
Now remember, as I always say,this is about progress, not
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perfection.
So every time you choose one ofthese ideas, just know that you
are taking a step towardfreedom and peace.
You are building those muscles.
You're building your sobermuscles.
My challenge for you now is totry one out tonight and let me
know what you did and how itwent.
(24:48):
You can always reach out to meon Instagram at the Catholic
Sobriety Coach, or you can clickthat, send a text button that
is in the show notes and let meknow.
Until then, know that I'mpraying for you and that the
Lord is walking beside you inevery moment.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Catholic Sobriety
(25:09):
Podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this episodeand I would invite you to share
it with a friend who might alsoget value from it as well, and
make sure you subscribe so youdon't miss a thing.
I am the Catholic SobrietyCoach, and if you would like to
learn how to work with me orlearn more about the coaching
(25:31):
that I offer, visit my website,thecatholicsobrietycoachcom.
Follow me on Instagram at theCatholic Sobriety Coach.
I look forward to speaking toyou next time.
And remember I am here for you,I am praying for you.
(25:52):
You are not alone.
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