Reiki: The Unlikely Ally That Helped This Ex-Soldier Kick the Bottle

From Soldier to Sobriety

Right, listen up. If you’d told the 35-year-old me, fresh out of a dozen years in the British Army, that I’d be sitting here at 57, a qualified coach, talking about how Reiki helped me finally ditch the booze, I’d have probably laughed in your face. Then I’d have offered you a pint. Probably a large one. Because for 45 bloody years, that’s what I did. I drank. And it nearly killed me.

But here we are. Eight months sober, and let me tell you, it’s been a fucking war. Not with an enemy in uniform this time, but with the insidious bastard inside my own head. And in that war, alongside sheer grit and a whole load of mental rewiring, tools like Reiki, Reiki self-healing, and meditation became my unexpected, but utterly vital, combat gear.

From Drunk Tank to Energy Work: My Unfiltered Journey

Let’s not sugarcoat it. My drinking wasn’t a social habit; it was a crutch, a coping mechanism, and eventually, a full-blown addiction. It got me through the post-Army chaos, the bad decisions, the sheer weight of life that I just didn’t know how to carry without numbing it. I was a functioning mess, telling myself I had it under control, even as my life slowly crumbled around me. I tried quitting before, plenty of times, but the mental battle was always too much. The cravings, the anxiety, the sheer emptiness when the booze wasn’t there to fill the void – it was overwhelming.

Then, eight months ago, something finally clicked. Or rather, something snapped. I was done. Absolutely, unequivocally done with living half a life, constantly hungover, constantly lying to myself and everyone around me. That day marked the start of the hardest fight of my life.

The Gritty Reality of Quitting Booze

When you quit drinking after 45 years, your body and mind go through a fucking earthquake. It’s not just the physical detox; that’s brutal enough. It’s the mental and emotional shit that surfaces. All the suppressed feelings, the anxieties, the anger, the guilt – it all comes roaring back. Your nervous system is shot to bits, your sleep is non-existent, and every fibre of your being screams for that familiar hit.

This is where the “woo-woo” stuff, as I might have once called it, actually became my lifeline. I’d been exposed to things like NLP, hypnotherapy, and even Reiki during my coaching qualifications. At the time, I saw them as tools for other people, for clients. But when I was in the trenches of my own sobriety, I started looking at everything with fresh eyes. I needed anything that could give me an edge.

How Reiki and Reiki Self-Healing Became My Secret Weapon

I know what some of you are thinking: “Reiki? Isn’t that for hippies and crystals?” And yeah, I probably thought something similar once. But strip away the fluff, and what Reiki offers is a method of channelling energy to promote healing and relaxation. It’s about getting your own body’s systems to work more efficiently. When your system is in utter turmoil from alcohol withdrawal and years of abuse, anything that brings balance is a godsend.

When I was deep in the shit, the idea of having someone “channel energy” might have seemed like a load of bollocks. But the practical application of Reiki is simple: it’s about deep relaxation, reducing stress, and helping your body find its own equilibrium. And when you’re going through withdrawal, anything that reduces stress and anxiety is a win. Studies show that Reiki can significantly reduce fatigue, relieve pain and stress, and improve quality of life, especially for those with chronic conditions. It helps calm your nervous system, reduces stress hormones, and can even improve sleep quality – all things that are utterly decimated when you stop drinking.

Reiki self-healing became even more powerful for me. It’s not just about receiving energy from someone else; it’s about learning to tap into your own inherent healing capabilities. It’s about self-care, taking responsibility for your own energetic state. I’d sit there, hands placed on myself, focusing on breathing, and just letting the energy flow. It helped release a lot of the emotional crap that was stored up, feelings of anger, resentment, and sadness that had been buried under layers of alcohol for decades. It’s like clearing out the blockages in your pipes, letting everything flow freely again. This wasn’t some magic cure, but it was a profound tool for managing the intense emotional and physical discomfort that comes with getting sober. It offered a healthier coping mechanism than reaching for a bottle.

Meditation: More Than Just Sitting Cross-Legged

Alongside Reiki, meditation became my mental gym. Again, if you picture some bloke in a flowing robe humming “Om,” you’re missing the point. For me, meditation was about re-training a mind that had been addicted to chaos and instant gratification for nearly half a century. It was about developing focus, observing the incessant chatter of my thoughts without getting dragged into them, and building mental resilience.

In the Army, we trained for physical endurance, for combat, and for operating under extreme pressure. Meditation, in a way, was the same kind of training for my mind. It taught me to pause, to breathe, and to create a tiny bit of space between a trigger (like a craving or a surge of anxiety) and my reaction. That space, however small, was where I could choose a different path instead of the old, destructive one.

Practical Meditation for a Fucked-Up Mind

I didn’t start with hour-long sessions. That would have been impossible. I started with five minutes. Just focusing on my breath. When my mind inevitably wandered (and it did, constantly, usually to thoughts of a cold pint), I’d gently bring it back. No judgment, no self-flagellation. Just back to the breath.

This simple act, repeated daily, started to rewire my brain. It helped stabilise my mood, something crucial when you’re in early recovery. It taught me patience and self-compassion, two things I’d been utterly devoid of for most of my adult life. It’s about building a solid foundation of inner peace and mental clarity, which is essential for long-term sobriety.

The Midlife Reset: Taking Back Control

Look, quitting booze was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, harder than any military exercise. But it also kick-started my entire midlife reset. It forced me to confront everything I’d been avoiding. And these tools – Reiki, Reiki self-healing, and meditation – weren’t just fluffy add-ons. They were fundamental. They helped me:

• Manage Withdrawal Symptoms: The intense anxiety, the restlessness, the disturbed sleep. Reiki provided a profound sense of calm and relaxation, easing the physical and emotional discomfort.
• Process Deep-Seated Emotions: All the trauma, the guilt, the shame that alcohol had suppressed. Reiki helped these emotions surface gently so I could actually deal with them instead of drowning them again.
• Rewire My Brain: Meditation taught me to observe my thoughts and cravings without acting on them, creating new neural pathways for healthier responses.
• Build Self-Awareness: Both practices foster a deeper connection to yourself, helping you understand your triggers and needs.
• Develop Resilience: Getting sober isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s an ongoing commitment. These tools have given me the mental and emotional armour to face life’s challenges without resorting to old habits.

If you’re in your mid-thirties, forties, or fifties, and you’re sick of the same old bullshit, sick of feeling stuck, and maybe, just maybe, you’re starting to wonder if the booze is doing more harm than good, then pay attention. You don’t have to hit rock bottom like I did to make a change. You can choose to start now.

Your Call to Action: No More Excuses

You want real change? It starts with taking bloody action. Not tomorrow, not next week. Today.

• Explore Reiki: I’m a Reiki Master and offer Reiki as a service. If you’re ready to experience it, reach out. Or look into Reiki self-healing if you want to take it into your own hands.
• Start Meditating: Download a simple meditation app. Commit to five minutes a day. Just five. No judgment. Just show up.
• Get Support: You don’t have to do this alone. I certainly didn’t. Connect with others who are on a similar path. I’ve built a community for exactly this reason. Come join us in the Midlife Reset community on Skool. It’s a place for straight talk, real support, and no bullshit.
• Follow for More Real Talk: If you want more of my unfiltered thoughts on life, sobriety, and kicking ass in your midlife, follow me on TikTok (@ian_callaghan).

This isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being better. It’s about taking back control of your life, one conscious choice at a time. It’s brutal, it’s hard, but it’s also the most rewarding journey you’ll ever embark on. Now get to it.

Fuck Motivation: How to Build Discipline Instead

Fuck Motivation: How to Build Discipline Instead

Discipline vs Motivation. Alright, listen up. If you’re still waiting for “motivation” to kick you in the arse and get you moving, you’re going to be waiting a very long time. Probably until you’re six feet under, if I’m being brutally honest. Motivation is a fickle, unreliable bastard. It’s like that mate who promises to help you move house but then bails with a dodgy excuse about a ‘bad back’ on the morning. You can’t depend on it. What you can depend on, what you need to cultivate, is how to build discipline.

I spent over twelve years in the British Army. You think we waited around for motivation to get out of our bunks at 0500 for a cold run? Fuck no. You think we were “motivated” to clean our rifles until they gleamed, or dig a trench in pouring rain? Not a chance. We did it because we had to. Because it was drilled into us. Because it was discipline. And that, my friends, is the only thing that’s ever going to get you where you want to be, especially when you’re looking for a midlife reset.

The Myth of Motivation: Why It’s Holding You Back

Motivation is a feeling, right? A burst of energy, a sudden urge to do something. It’s great for getting started, for that initial spark. But it’s temporary. It ebbs and flows like the tide. One day you’re buzzing, ready to conquer the world, the next you can’t even be arsed to get off the sofa.

I know this first-hand. Eight months ago, I quit drinking after 45 years. Forty-five fucking years. You think I was “motivated” every single day to not reach for that pint? To face the cravings, the shakes, the sheer mental battle of rewiring my entire existence? Don’t be so daft. Some days, I wanted to smash everything in sight and just surrender to the old habit. The motivation was nowhere to be seen. But the discipline? That was there. The commitment to the process, to the new rules I’d set for myself. That’s what dragged me through.

Motivation is an external force or an internal feeling that gives you a push. Discipline is the internal skill, the commitment to act consistently, regardless of how you feel. It’s about doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t want to do it. And that, my friends, is where real, lasting change happens.

Discipline: The Soldier’s Creed for Life

In the Army, discipline wasn’t about punishment; it was about survival. It was about functioning as a unit, achieving objectives, and knowing that your mates had your back because everyone was doing their job, no matter what. That ethos translates directly to your life.

When you decide you want to lose weight, start a business, learn a new skill, or finally kick a destructive habit like I did, you’ll have moments of motivation. Use them. But understand they’ll fade. When they do, discipline has to step in. It’s the engine that keeps running when the fuel light comes on.

So, how do you cultivate this unbreakable mental toughness? You don’t get it by reading fluffy self-help books or watching endless motivational videos (though I admit, some of my TikTok (@ian_callaghan) rants might kick you up the arse). You build it, brick by bloody brick.

How to Build Discipline: My No-Nonsense Guide | Discipline vs Motivation

Forget grand gestures. Discipline is built in the small, consistent actions you take every single day. It’s about creating habits that serve you, even when your emotional state is telling you to just give up.

1. Define Your Non-Negotiables (Your Orders)

What absolutely HAS to happen every day, no matter what? For me, when I quit drinking, it was: no alcohol. Simple. Non-negotiable. For you, it might be:

• 30 minutes of exercise.
• No junk food after 7 PM.
• One hour focused on your side hustle.
• Meditate for 10 minutes.

Make these clear. Write them down. These are your daily orders. Don’t make a million of them; start with 1-3.

2. Routine, Routine, Routine (Your Daily Drill)

The Army runs on routine. You know what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and why. Your life should be no different. Establish a solid morning routine and an evening wind-down. This reduces decision fatigue and builds consistency.

• Morning: Wake at the same time, hydrate, move your body, meditate.
• Evening: Plan for the next day, switch off screens, and get proper sleep.

These aren’t suggestions; they’re your daily drill. Consistency is crucial for building self-discipline, and routines help maintain that.

3. Embrace Discomfort (Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable)

This is where the rubber meets the road. Discipline means doing the hard thing. The thing you’d rather put off. The thing that makes you squirm. Lean into it.

• Cold showers: Start with 30 seconds, build up. It’s a mental battle, not just physical.
• “Just 5 minutes”: Can’t face that big project? Tell yourself you’ll just do 5 minutes. Often, that’s enough to get the momentum going. This builds the muscle of showing up.
• Mindfulness with urges: When the urge to procrastinate or indulge hits, acknowledge it, but don’t act on it. Just observe it. This is a core part of what I teach with NLP and hypnotherapy – not suppressing, but observing and detaching.

4. Remove Temptation (Secure Your Flanks)

In the Army, you secure your position. In life, you secure your environment. If you’re trying to eat better, get the junk food out of the house. If you’re trying to cut down screen time, delete social media apps from your phone or set strict timers. Don’t rely on willpower alone; make it easier to succeed.

5. Review and Adjust (After Action Report)

At the end of each day or week, do an honest review. What went well? Where did you fall short? Why? This isn’t about beating yourself up; it’s about learning and adapting. What needs to change in your ‘plan of attack’ for tomorrow? What did you learn from your fuck-ups? This continuous feedback loop is vital for growth.

6. Fuel Your Machine (Nutrition and Sleep)

You wouldn’t send a soldier into battle on an empty stomach and 2 hours of sleep, would you? Your body and mind are your most important assets. Prioritise proper nutrition – whole foods, plenty of water. Prioritise sleep – it’s not a luxury, it’s a fundamental requirement for mental clarity and willpower. This isn’t just about physical health; it directly impacts your capacity for discipline.

7. Find Your “Why” (Your Mission Objective)

While motivation is fleeting, understanding the deep, intrinsic reason why you’re doing something can provide a powerful underlying current of purpose. Why do you want this change? What’s the cost of not changing? Connect to that purpose daily. This “why” isn’t motivation; it’s the bedrock that gives your discipline meaning.

The Bottom Line

Motivation is nice when it shows up, but discipline is the consistent, relentless action that gets the job done. It’s about commitment, consistency, and showing up every single day, especially on the days you really don’t want to. It’s about training your mind, just like you’d train your body.

If you’re serious about making a change, about truly resetting your midlife, then stop chasing that fleeting spark of motivation. Learn how to build discipline instead. It won’t always be easy, but I promise you, it’s the only way to forge the life you actually want.

If you’re ready to stop faffing about and build real, lasting change, come join my Midlife Reset community on Skool. No bullshit, just proven strategies and a community of people doing the work. Let’s get to it.

Fasting: The Brutal Truth & Why It’s NOT For Everyone

Fasting: The Brutal Truth & Why It’s NOT For Everyone

Alright, listen up. If you’re here looking for some fluffy, feel-good bollocks about how fasting is the magic bullet for all your problems, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’m Ian Callaghan, 57 years old, over a decade in the British Army, and I drank for 45 bloody years before I finally kicked that demon to the curb 8 months ago. That journey, that brutal rewiring of mind and body, taught me more about discipline, resilience, and what your body can really handle than any bloody textbook ever could. I’m a qualified coach, yeah, with the bits of paper in NLP, Reiki, nutrition, meditation, and hypnotherapy, but trust me, my real qualifications are etched in the scars and triumphs of my own life.

The amount of absolute shite I see online about fasting these days, particularly on TikTok and the shiny-filtered Instagram feeds, makes my blood boil. It’s all “lose weight fast!” and “glow up with this 24-hour cleanse!” without a single mention of the actual science, the real risks, or the simple fact that fasting stresses the body. And some of you, plain and simple, should never fast. End of story. I’ve got 40 years of experience as a qualified chef and nutritional diplomas, plus the lived experience of pushing my own body to its limits and back. This ain’t some AI-produced ebook, mate. This is real.

My Journey into Fasting: Discipline Forged in Fire

I didn’t start fasting because it was trendy. I started because, after quitting the booze, I needed to completely reset my system. My body was a wasteland, my mind a fog. I needed a tool to regain control, to feel sharp again, to strip away the years of accumulated crap. The discipline I learned in the Army, that ability to push through discomfort, came in handy.

I’ve experimented with various fasting techniques myself. I started with the classic 16-8, eating all my meals within an 8-hour window. It’s a decent entry point, helps you get used to not grazing all day. Then I moved onto OMAD – One Meal A Day. That’s a different beast, requiring more mental fortitude and careful nutritional planning for that one meal.

But the real game-changer for me, the one that really pushed my boundaries and delivered profound clarity, was the 72-hour water fast. And when I say water fast, I mean water with proper sea salt and lemon. Don’t just neck plain tap water for three days and expect to feel like a superhero. You’ll deplete your electrolytes faster than a politician loses credibility. Adding a pinch of good-quality sea salt (not your bog-standard table salt) and a squeeze of fresh lemon helps maintain those crucial electrolytes and makes it far more manageable. My own experience showed me that this approach helped with mental clarity and a feeling of bodily lightness I hadn’t felt in decades. It’s not a walk in the park, though. Those first 24-48 hours can be rough, but if you push through, the mental benefits are immense.

The Hows and Whys of Fasting (From My Perspective)

So, why bother with fasting? For me, it’s about more than just shedding a few pounds, though that’s often a welcome side effect.

1. Metabolic Reset: When you stop eating, your body switches from burning glucose (sugar) to burning stored fat for energy. This is called metabolic switching, and it’s a powerful mechanism. It helps improve insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for overall health and preventing diseases like Type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest intermittent fasting can improve blood sugar management and reduce insulin resistance.
2. Autophagy: This is a big one. It’s your body’s self-cleaning process, where it removes damaged cells and recycles cellular components. Think of it as your internal waste disposal system getting a kick-start. While the long-term effects still need more research, this cellular repair mechanism is a key benefit often cited for longevity and disease prevention.
3. Mental Clarity and Focus: After the initial hunger pangs subside, I find my brain is sharper, my focus laser-like. It’s like the energy usually spent on digestion is redirected. This was particularly important for me in rebuilding my life after alcohol.
4. Discipline and Self-Control: Honestly, this is huge. Learning to tell your body “no” when it screams for food builds mental resilience. It teaches you that hunger is often just a sensation, not an emergency. That internal dialogue, that mastery over impulse, is transferable to every other area of your life.

The Definite NOs to Fasting: Don’t Be a Bloody Idiot

Right, let’s get serious. Despite the supposed benefits, fasting is not for everyone. And I mean not for everyone. If you fall into any of these categories, you should absolutely, unequivocally, avoid fasting.

• Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women: Your body is growing and nourishing another human being. It needs consistent, robust nutrition, not stress. Fasting is generally considered unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Children and Teenagers: They are still growing and developing. Restricting calories or food intake can interfere with crucial developmental processes and lead to malnutrition.
• Individuals with a History of Eating Disorders: This is a massive red flag. Fasting can quickly trigger or exacerbate disordered eating patterns, leading to serious psychological and physical harm.
• Those with Type 1 Diabetes: Your body’s insulin regulation is already compromised. Fasting can lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) or ketoacidosis.
• People with Type 2 Diabetes on Certain Medications: If you’re on insulin, sulfonylureas, or meglitinides, fasting can be extremely dangerous due to the risk of blood sugar crashes.
• Underweight Individuals or Those with Malnutrition: Fasting will only worsen your condition and can lead to severe health complications.
• Elderly Individuals (without medical supervision): As we age, our bodies become more vulnerable to stress and nutrient deficiencies. Fasting, especially prolonged fasts, should be approached with extreme caution and professional guidance.

If you’re in any of these groups, forget the social media hype. Your health is not worth the risk.

Seek Medical Advice BEFORE You Fast: No Excuses

For some people, fasting might be possible, but it absolutely requires a conversation with your doctor first. Do not, I repeat, do not embark on any significant fasting regimen without consulting a healthcare professional if you have any of the following conditions:

• Chronic Medical Conditions (even if stable): This includes high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and well-controlled Type 2 diabetes. Your doctor needs to assess if fasting is safe for you and how it might interact with your medications.
• Taking Medications that Impact Metabolism or Need to be Taken with Food: Many medications require food for proper absorption or to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Your doctor will need to advise on adjusting your medication schedule, if possible.
• History of Gout or High Uric Acid: Fasting can sometimes elevate uric acid levels, potentially triggering gout attacks.
• Active Peptic Ulcers: Fasting can exacerbate symptoms and increase the risk of complications.
• Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment: Chemo and other treatments require significant nutritional support. Fasting can hinder recovery and immune function.
• Thyroid Conditions: Fasting can impact thyroid hormone production, so discussion with your doctor is essential.

Your physician can advise you on whether it’s safe to fast, how to adjust medication doses or schedules, and how to monitor your health condition during fasting. Don’t be a hero, be smart.

The Social Media Bollox: It’s All a Load of Shite

I’m telling you now that the perfect-looking twenty-something on TikTok telling you to ‘just push through’ a 72-hour fast without mentioning electrolytes, underlying health conditions, or the very real risks is talking absolute shite. They haven’t lived enough life, haven’t seen enough of the real world, and certainly haven’t battled the demons I have, or the daily grind many of you are facing. They’re selling a fantasy, often for clicks or quick cash from some garbage supplement.

Fasting is a tool, not a magic cure. It’s a powerful tool, but like any powerful tool, it needs to be used correctly, with respect, and with an understanding of its potential dangers. It’s not about looking good for an Instagram post; it’s about optimising your health, regaining control, and building genuine resilience.

Your Next Steps: No More Faffing About

If you’re serious about taking control of your health, about making a real change in your midlife, then stop faffing about with trends and start getting real.

1. Assess Yourself Honestly: Are you in any of the “definite no” categories? If yes, then fasting is off the table. Full stop.
2. Talk to Your Doctor: If you have any underlying conditions or take medications, get professional medical advice before you even think about starting.
3. Start Small: If you’re cleared and want to explore fasting, don’t jump straight into a 72-hour water fast. Start with time-restricted eating, like 12-hour or 14-hour fasts, and see how your body responds.
4. Prioritise Nutrition: When you do eat, make it count. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods. Don’t use fasting as an excuse to binge on crap during your eating window.
5. Hydrate Properly: And I mean properly. Water, with added electrolytes (sea salt, lemon, or a good quality sugar-free electrolyte supplement), is crucial, especially during longer fasts.
6. Listen to Your Body: If you feel genuinely unwell – dizzy, severe headaches, extreme fatigue – break the fast. It’s not a competition.

This midlife reset isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about building sustainable habits, mental fortitude, and a body that serves you, not the other way around. If you’re ready to cut through the noise and get down to brass tacks, come join my community. We’re about real people, real struggles, and real wins. No bullshit, just support and actionable advice.

Join the Midlife Reset community on Skool, and let’s get to work: Midlife Reset community on Skool.

And if you want more of my unfiltered thoughts, you can find me here: TikTok (@ian_callaghan)

Let’s make some real changes.