Last Updated on March 31, 2025

Cutting back on alcohol is a huge win. Still, you might be afraid you’ll slip back into old habits. Even if mindful drinking is going well, self-doubt can appear like an annoying ghost, making you wonder if you can really trust yourself when it comes to alcohol.

This fear is common (and understandable), but it doesn’t have to cause big problems. It can help you grow!

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Clearing the Way for Better Habits

Breaking old habits isn’t only about willpower. It’s about rewiring your brain to make better choices in the future.

Imagine your drinking habits are a hiking trail that you’ve used every week for years. Even if you stop using the path and walk through the brush instead, you’ll still be able to see it. 

Forging a new path might feel weird at first: There will be a lot of dirt, and you’ll probably trip over some roots. The more you walk it, though, the more debris will fall away and the clearer the path will become. Eventually, your new route will feel totally obvious, like it was always there.

The goal isn’t to erase the old path, but to deprioritize it by repeatedly choosing the new one. Both paths still exist; you just have a new (and exciting) favorite.

How to Rebuild Self-Trust Around Alcohol

But how do you clear that new trail? It will take time and patience, but there are lots of ways to shore up your confidence when it comes to mindful drinking.

1. Prioritize Progress Over Perfection

You may think, “If I drink again, it won’t be long until I’m right back where I started.” This mindset can make you feel afraid and guilty even if nothing goes wrong. 

Instead, swap out perfection for progress. Reframe your thinking: “I’ve come a long way, and every decision I make is a chance to learn and grow.”

2. Understand What You Actually Want

Before having a drink, ask yourself what you truly want from the experience. Are you looking for relaxation? Social connection? Stress relief? Maybe you just want a smooth bridge from the work week to the weekend.

Articulating the desire that you’re associating with the drink—that is, what you really want—can help you figure out whether alcohol is the best way to get it. For example, if you determine that your genuine desire is stress relief, you might decide that a workout might provide a healthier form of that feeling than a beer would. 

This will help clarify the times you do choose to drink, too. When you opt for a drink, you’ll be able to actually enjoy it—and know why you’re enjoying it, too.

3. Build Confidence Through Small Wins

Confidence comes from proving to yourself that you can make mindful choices. Make enough good calls and you’ll develop self-efficacy, a psychological term that basically means you feel confident that you can work towards your goals.

One way to start: Plan how much you’ll drink before heading out. Then, (here’s the important part) stick to that plan. 

And make sure to celebrate each decision that aligns with your goals. These small wins will strengthen your trust in yourself. Remember: Trust isn’t something you wait for. It’s something that you can create within yourself.

Try the ‘Future You’ Experiment

For the next week, act like the version of yourself who completely trusts their own choices around alcohol. You don’t stress whether or not to drink. You know you can enjoy social situations without overthinking alcohol, and you feel in control no matter what you decide.

Before making a decision about drinking, ask, “What would the confident version of me do?” Then, follow through as if you fully embody that version of yourself. You might realize you’re already more like them than you think.

Take Control of Your Mindful Drinking Journey

Rebuilding self-trust around alcohol isn’t about never drinking again. It’s about reclaiming the power to choose when alcohol serves you. Embrace the journey, collect small wins, and remember you’re already stronger than you think.

Ready to make mindful drinking a lasting habit? Start your journey with Sunnyside’s 15-day free trial and experience how powerful small changes can be. Visit sunnyside.co to learn more.