The Shift That Made It EASY to Quit Coke (After 50 Years)

For decades, I drank McDonald’s Coke daily.

It wasn’t just a beverage, it was a ritual, a comfort, a part of who I was.

And every attempt to quit came with a familiar narrative of scarcity and deprivation:

‍

“Why shouldn’t I get to enjoy what I love?”

“I’ve earned it.”

“It’s one of my few vices.”

‍

There was entitlement. 

Rationalization.

‍

As the William Hurt character in The Big Chill said:

‍

“I don't know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations.”

That voice, my Coke-Lover Entitled Persona, was strong. 

And it always won.

‍

But something shifted.

I started listening to a different voice.

The part of me that honors my body.

The one that’s carried me through 62 years of life, leadership, family, and finish lines.

‍

When that identity took the lead, everything changed.

I wasn’t giving something up.

I was listening. Respecting. Realigning.

Since then: No caffeine. No cravings. No white-knuckling it.

‍

In coaching, I often say: Behavior follows identity.

When you shift who you believe yourself to be, the actions take care of themselves.

‍

This post isn’t really about Coke.

It’s about alignment.

‍

Where in your life are you trying to force change, when what’s really needed is a new identity?

‍

If you're in a personal or leadership transition and want help finding that new alignment, send me a message.

‍

Sometimes the real shift starts with the right conversation.