Quitting Tea Without Willpower: The Power of Self-Awareness in Breaking Bad Habits

As someone who used to have a daily habit of drinking several cups of tea, I always knew that it wasn't the healthiest habit to have. I would often tell myself and my friends that I would quit drinking tea, but the next day I would find myself reaching for that comforting cup once again. It wasn't until I started practicing #selfawareness that I was finally able to break my habit of drinking tea and move towards healthier alternatives like plain water.

My journey towards self-awareness began after attending the International Coach Federation's ACSTH program, where I practiced 100 hours of coaching. During this time, I was introduced to the concept of the "Inner Game of Tennis," a book that focuses on the mental aspects of sports and how they relate to everyday life. One lesson that stuck with me was the idea that in order to break bad habits, we need to become more aware of how they serve us.

Here, the key thing is to become more and more aware of each passing day and hour.?

As I continued to practice self-awareness, I started to ask myself questions about my habits and actions. I would ask myself what I could do differently in certain situations and how my actions were serving me. It was during this process that I started to #selfreflection my tea addiction - How is this tea good for me when health is my first priority? How does this tea addiction fit into my first priority?

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With a focus on self-awareness, I allowed myself to become more #mindful with each passing day, without trying too hard or using #willpower. One of the first things I observed was that drinking tea before or after meals was taking away all the nutrients from my body, and it wasn't able to absorb them properly. As I continued to have this constant self-conversation while having tea at the wrong time, I started to become more aware of the negative effects that tea was having on my health. Eventually, my body started to reject tea, even when I had a hot cup in my hand. This awareness helped me break the #habit of having tea before and after meals, leading me toward a healthier lifestyle free from tea.

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Now that I was able to get rid of having tea at the wrong times, like first thing in the morning and before and after meals, it was time to stop drinking tea completely. I persevered in developing self-awareness and remained attentive to my #emotions and #thoughts. When I felt the urge to drink tea, I would #acknowledge the craving and allow myself to have a cup. However, as I continued to practice self-awareness, I began to notice that my body was starting to reject the tea. It was a gradual process, but over time, I was able to reduce my intake of tea from three or four cups a day to just one cup a day, and finally, no tea at all.

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Through this process, I gained insights into my habits and was able to better understand what triggered my cravings for tea. By paying attention to the sensations and urges that arose, I was able to replace my habit of drinking tea with water or lemon water. Over time, my body became conditioned to crave water and other healthy beverages instead of tea.

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Today, I can confidently say that I no longer have a daily habit of drinking tea. Sometimes, my mind still suggests that I have a cup, but quickly, the second thought comes – No, it has a bad taste, I don’t need it. My body naturally started rejecting tea without me having to rely on willpower. It became an automatic process.

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"Self-awareness trumps willpower”

Instead of relying on willpower, becoming more self-aware is more effective in breaking habits

In conclusion, instead of trying to quit bad habits using willpower, I could practice mindful actions by being curious about what it's like when I make bad habits and paying attention to the sensations and urges that arise. By doing so, I could gain insights into my habit and better understand what triggers it, how it serves me when no answers come about, and how it benefits my health. The process of change began.

Simply awareness of what my habit looks like worked

Over time, I could use this awareness to replace my bad habit of having tea with plain water and still feel more sustainable energy.

My related posts in self-awareness –

Exploring Letting Go of Judgments: My Journey in Mastering Natural Learning

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How ICF-ACSTH Program Helped Me Live a Conscious Life?