How was your ANZAC Day? Was it really hard to not drink? Celebrations often start off small and can become large? I saw Police out in force this morning trying to nab everyone who is still reading high with alcohol % this morning. Also did you know that the ambo’s get twice as much calls on ANZAC Day?
Anyway, yes, my ANZAC Day was a sober one and spent cycling around Sydney with the family then at a Microsoft Support store getting my computer fixed! Most of my day (apart from the computer issues) was planned given this is key to avoiding unconscious drinking, it was a great day with the family, and I reacted according to a desired outcome. The fact that it was ANZAC Day, made no difference at all to my drinking (although note, this had not always been the case!). Why have I changed so much, it’s because my beliefs have changed, my beliefs that I need alcohol to fit in, alcohol to socialise and that ANZAC Day is about remembrance and then drinking (often excessively) alcohol.
You too can not drink on ANZAC Day, it’s a whole lot easier when you start to question your beliefs with alcohol, are they really true or is it what you have been conditioned, when you were younger, to be true. Did your parents always drink on ANZAC day?
I was thinking about the comparison of a non-drinker to a person who is vegan. A vegan will not eat animal products because of their beliefs on killing animals for human consumption. They will not alter their values on certain days of the year, at certain events or to fit into social situations. This is exactly the same as someone who chooses to not drink, the event, the day or the social pressure does not impact their beliefs. Someone who has challenged their relationship with alcohol has typically taken old, often limiting beliefs, and replaced them with what they know to be 100% true. Again, like a vegan, us non-drinkers choose to behave and respond based on a desired outcome, if we drink, there is typically a negative outcome. So, guess what, we choose to react by not drinking so we get the outcome we want, it’s like 1+1=2.
The fact that its ANZAC Day, or any other major day or celebration makes no difference at all, it’s a fixed static event that will always come around once a year, it’s how we respond to this day is what will make the difference? We can’t blame these public holidays for our hangover, our behaviors, our actions, unfortunately we are 100% responsible for how we act, we can only blame ourselves. Next year (or that next public holiday or the next major or social event) try to be more outcome focused and respond in accordance with the desired outcome you want. To make it easier to be outcome focused, I have given this a simple equation:
E + R = O
Event Response Outcome
For example:
- Event = ANZAC Day, Response = excessively drink, Outcome = Anxiety, Hungover, Tired, Stressed, ate junk, did not sleep well etc etc.
- Event = ANZAC Day, Response = Not drink (or significantly reduce) drinking, Outcome = Happy, Memories, Eat & Sleep well etc etc.
At the end of the day, the point of having a public holiday is to remember, celebrate and connect plus enjoy the day off but remember to think and act in accordance with your planned outcomes for that day, unfortunately there is no blaming ANZAC Day if we are feeling worse for wear today! Give it a go, its very possible you could have your best ANZAC Day, day off, social or work event, just by remembering your E+R=O equation!
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