The Journey to Decaf: A Personal Story
The decision to focus on decaffeinated coffee is a personal one, shaped by my own experiences and a journey of self-discovery that took years to unfold.
Like most people, I've had my share of ups and downs, moments of triumph mixed with periods of struggle, shaping the habits and behaviors I’ve carried for years.
My background and years of teaching in the fitness industry have been a blessing and have shaped my life while giving me the opportunity to help others achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals. I've competed in many events, led hundreds of seminars, and spoken to men and women about mindset and how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. However, 12 months ago, I found myself constantly thinking about what the next phase would look like for me and how I was going to tackle it.
The Patterns We Build
Some of the most challenging times in my life left a lasting impact and behaviors I carried for years without even realizing it. During those difficult seasons, it's remarkably easy to seek distractions. Anything to keep us moving forward, anything to avoid sitting with the uncomfortable feelings we're trying not to confront.
For me, those distractions took many forms, evolving as I grew older. Some were more reckless when I was younger, while others seemed healthy, at least on the surface, which made them even more deceptive because they were socially acceptable, even praised.
I threw myself into school, pursued multiple degrees, and worked hard to climb the career ladder. I pushed my limits in the gym, turning fitness into another form of performance rather than genuine self-care.
I drank a lot of coffee, cup after cup, day after day, using caffeine as fuel to maintain a pace that was ultimately unsustainable.
All of it was a way to keep moving forward, to stay busy enough that I didn't have to stop and examine what was really going on inside.
When the Wheels Come Off
For a long time, these patterns served me. Or so I thought. Eventually, though, the consequences caught up with me. Life began to unravel, and I was forced to stop and take a hard look at the story I was living. Success built on avoidance is like a house built on sand.
The very habits I thought were helping me succeed were actually holding me back from the life I truly wanted.
The Work of Self-Discovery
Over the past few years, I’ve devoted a lot of time to self-discovery. I’ve spent time reflecting on my past, my patterns, and the subconscious narratives I was living by.
I began to recognize the subconscious narratives I was living by and the stories I'd absorbed from childhood, from society, from my own misinterpretations of what success and happiness looked like.
Facing the Fear
Fear played a major role in my story: fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being liked. But at its core, it was fear of being alone. That fear drove so many of my decisions, often without me even realizing it.
When I finally recognized that pattern, something shifted. I started to get curious about what life could look like if I faced that fear head-on instead of running from it. What would happen if I stopped trying to outrun my own discomfort?
So, I leaned into the discomfort in ways that felt both terrifying and necessary. I left my stable, well-paying job that others envied but that had become a golden cage. I created space in my life for the first time in years. I sat with my feelings instead of immediately trying to fix or escape them. I tried to listen, to understand, and eventually, to let go.
It wasn't easy. The fear came roaring back almost immediately. Within days of leaving my job, I was having conversations about contract work, second-guessing my decision, and questioning not just my choice but my entire identity. Who was I if I wasn't constantly producing, achieving, climbing the next mountain?
The anxiety was overwhelming. My nervous system, accustomed to workplace pressures and constant stimulation, didn't know how to handle the sudden stillness. And drinking cups of caffeine wasn't helping. If anything, it was making things worse, keeping me wired and restless, amplifying my anxiety when what I needed was calm and clarity.
The Moment of Change
I knew I had to make a change. The realization hit me one morning as I sat with my third cup of coffee before 10 AM, heart racing, mind spinning with thoughts that went nowhere productive. This coffee wasn't fuel for my best life, it was fuel for my anxiety.
That was the moment: I let go of caffeine and switched to decaf, expecting it to be a temporary sacrifice while I figured out my next steps. But something interesting happened. As the caffeine left my system, something changed, not just in my body, but in my mind. The constant low-level buzz of stimulation quieted, and I could finally hear myself think.
The Birth of an Idea
As I slowed down, rested, and reflected, an idea began to take shape: What if decaf could be something better? What if we could bring it out of the shadows and make it something people actually enjoyed?
What if choosing decaf wasn't about giving something up, but about choosing something better for you, something that fits with an intentional way of living? Unbuzzed. Unbothered.
That idea continued to resonate deeply with me, especially in conversations with close friends who were on their own journeys of slowing down and reassessing what truly mattered. We kept coming back to the same truth: life is an incredible adventure, a challenge worth embracing, but it’s also important to slow down, connect, and share the journey.
The Deeper Purpose
That’s why I chose to focus on decaf. It’s not just about the coffee. It’s about creating space to reflect, to reconnect, and to savor life’s moments.
To savor life's moments without the constant need for artificial stimulation.
