5 Mantras to tell yourself when you want a glass of wine

It’s been another long, hard day. Nothing went right and you are exhausted. It’s 5pm and you can’t wait to open a bottle of wine to help you forget about it all. Or maybe you had a great day. You killed it at the office, your kids are fast asleep, and you want to celebrate with some much needed ‘me time’ by having a few glasses of vino.

One thing I’ve learned from over twenty years of drinking is that there is always going to be a reason to have a glass of wine. Once you’ve trodden those trusty neuropathways a few times, your brain is wired for the reward.  

If you are considering ditching the booze, a mantra may help you make a decision your future self will thank you for later!

What Is A Mantra?

The online Cambridge Dictionary defines mantra as (especially in Hinduism and Buddhism) a word or sound that is believed to have a special spiritual power or a word or phrase that is often repeated and expresses a particular strong belief.

 A personal mantra can be repeated as an aid to meditation, prayer, or motivation. A mantra can help you change behaviours by bringing a new way of thinking to light.

 Here are five mantras to help you say no to that next glass of wine.

Nothing changes until you decide

What a beautiful reminder and mantra. A few years ago, I heard this spoken by one of Oprah’s Super Soul guests, and I’ve never forgotten the phrase. You have the chance to change the course of your life by changing the course of your night. Small changes add up. You can change by making the decision to do so. You need to start somewhere. Nothing changes until YOU decide.

Let the light in

When my daughter was a baby, I would open her blackout curtains after her nap and loudly sing, ‘Let the light in, let the light in’ (with a hip shimmy or two). I now use this mantra regularly. With a decision, am I choosing to let the light in or am I doing something that brings darkness or misalignment into my life? Is drinking that glass of wine bringing light into your life? Maybe there’s a better way to invite light into your night so that you don’t feel so groggy in the morning.

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. (Lucille Ball)

An easy one to remember is to Love yourself first. When you love yourself first, it’s easier to make better decisions that truly emanate from a place of love. Instead of having a glass of wine, how else can you show yourself some self-love and support?

Never question the decision

Holly Whitaker’s tattoo simply states the letters NQTD, which stands for: Never Question The Decision. When you’ve made the decision to quit drinking, you’ve made the decision to quit drinking. Don’t question it, your mind is made up. It’s no longer a decision to be made which can be a relief if you’re someone who obsesses over decision making. Never questioning it makes it much easier than debating the decision over and over.

Hit the pause button

After losing my second pregnancy, I went to therapy. I was drinking too much and angry and anxious about everything. My therapist suggested a pause button. It can be something tangible that you can hold in your hands (instead of a glass of wine), or even a visible freckle or mole, or piece of jewelry. My pause button is a small G tattoo that I have on my arm. It’s a reminder of what’s important. Think about what your pause button can be, even if it’s just saying it out loud before you unconsciously make a decision without even thinking about it.

At the end of the day, find something that works for you

There is no wrong mantra or right way to implement one into your life. Implementing change is hard, especially if you’ve been using alcohol as a coping mechanism or reward. These are just some suggestions to get you thinking about what personal mantra might work for you in your life. I hope these mantras can help you find a different way of relaxing or celebrating. Wishing you light and love in your evenings ahead.

About The Author

Ariel Ng Bourbonnais is a writer, sober-yoga-teaching mama, and infertility awareness advocate. After struggling with years of infertility, Ariel realized the benefits of a regular yoga practice, writing, and finding humour during hard times. She is a published author of Through, Not Around - Stories of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Dundurn Press). She has been regularly practising yoga since 2014, completing 240 hours of teacher training in 2021. https://yogawithariel.cloudstudios.com/