Identity-based sobriety coach Nigel Jones is best known for his global movement 9KM by 9AM, but the foundation of his work began with a single decision. On this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Nigel shares how changing his identity—rather than relying on willpower—helped him stop drinking and reclaim clarity, discipline, and purpose.

Nigel grew up in Wales, where alcohol was a normal and unquestioned part of daily life. Drinking wasn’t rebellion or escape—it was simply adulthood. By fifteen, alcohol had become routine, woven seamlessly into social and professional life.

Through decades in high-powered public relations, alcohol was always present. Client dinners, celebrations, and entertainment revolved around drinking. By his fifties, the cycle was relentless—hangovers, sluggish mornings, and drinking simply to keep going.

During a drive home from his son’s first year of college, Nigel experienced a moment of clarity that shifted everything. In that conversation, he made a firm decision to stop drinking—without drama, negotiation, or hesitation.

Previous attempts to quit had felt like climbing a mountain. This time, Nigel decided he was already at the top. He wasn’t trying to become sober—he was a non-drinker. Identity came first. Action followed.

Early in sobriety, Nigel committed to walking nine kilometers every morning before 9AM. The rule was simple and non-negotiable. Over time, the habit reinforced his identity and rebuilt confidence, discipline, and physical health.

Nigel documented his journey through journaling, which later became his book 9KM by 9AM. What began as a personal practice grew into a global movement, inspiring thousands to reshape their mornings and their lives.

Nigel immersed himself in mindset work, studying NLP, hypnotherapy, and coaching. He explains that beliefs about alcohol function like software—installed early and reinforced often. Once recognized, they can be uninstalled and replaced.

Rather than battling cravings or relying on motivation, Nigel focused on identity. When the decision is final, there is no internal negotiation. Behavior naturally aligns with who you believe you are.

You do not need a dramatic bottom to change. Identity creates behavior. Consistency builds confidence. Beliefs can be reprogrammed. When the decision is final, change becomes simpler.

Nigel Jones’ story shows that sobriety is not a climb—it is a decision. By choosing identity-based sobriety, he stepped into a future self that was already waiting.

The post Episode 84: Identity-Based Sobriety and the Power of One Decision: Nigel Jones’ 9KM by 9AM Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

Sober energy healing practitioner Brigitta Dau is a woman who listened when her inner voice asked for more. In this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Brigitta shares how sobriety, Reiki, and creativity helped her rebuild her life from the inside out—and finally come home to herself.

Brigitta’s turning point did not come from a dramatic rock bottom. It came during a routine doctor’s visit when bloodwork revealed dangerously elevated liver enzymes. Sitting in that office, she heard herself say words she had never fully allowed before: “I think I need to stop drinking.”

Stopping alcohol felt like losing a coping tool. Brigitta grieved the idea of drinking, feared she would lose joy, fun, and even her marriage. Yet alongside the fear was a quiet knowing—a voice telling her there was more to life than this.

During the pandemic, Brigitta quietly joined a Sober Sis 21-Day Reset after seeing an ad online. Inside the community, she found honesty, laughter, and women speaking openly about behaviors once hidden in shame. On day twenty-two, she took her last drink.

Although Brigitta had studied Reiki while still drinking, sobriety transformed her practice. She explains Reiki as making space for energy—like opening blinds to let sunlight in. The light was always there. Sobriety simply removed the noise blocking it.

Once sober, Brigitta’s intuition sharpened. Her Reiki work deepened, and she eventually became a Reiki Master, weaving energy healing into coaching, workshops, and global group experiences focused on emotional truth and self-connection.

Creativity became another powerful healing tool. Brigitta teaches art as meditation—bypassing the thinking mind and reconnecting people with inner wisdom. She now leads creative healing workshops worldwide, blending art, energy work, and emotional exploration.

Everything Brigitta has built stems from listening—listening to fear, intuition, and truth. Sobriety cleared the space for her authentic self to emerge, revealing a joyful, connected, purpose-filled life.

Grieving alcohol is natural. Community matters more than willpower. Clarity grows when you remove what numbs you. Creativity is a healing practice. Your inner voice is always available.

Brigitta Dau’s story shows that sober energy healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who you already are and allowing the light to come back in.

The post Episode 83: Sober Energy Healing and the Courage to Answer the Inner Call: Brigitta Dau’s Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

When you hear the name Susie Streelman, you may think of curated alcohol-free travel experiences, Sober in the City events, or thoughtfully designed sober gatherings around the world. On this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Susie shares the quieter, more introspective story behind the movement—one shaped by curiosity, self-reflection, and a desire to live more lightly.

Susie grew up in a home where alcohol was absent and viewed in black-and-white terms. Drinking was associated with being a “bad person,” and as a result, she didn’t drink in high school or college. When alcohol entered her life later, it did so gently and legally, eventually settling into a steady but unremarkable pattern.

As a health-focused physical therapist, Susie never felt out of control with alcohol. But over time, the consistency of drinking began to feel heavy. It wasn’t chaos—it was fatigue. “It was never out of control,” she shared. “It was just heavy.”

Susie experimented with Dry January, Lenten breaks, and short pauses from alcohol for years. These breaks helped clear her mind temporarily but didn’t change her long-term relationship with drinking. It wasn’t until the COVID years—marked by frequent hosting, wine, and exhaustion—that she recognized a deeper weariness.

This time, Susie didn’t stop drinking to prove anything. She simply wanted life to feel lighter. Cutting back on alcohol, sugar, and hosting opened space for clarity. Finding community through Sober Sis helped sobriety take root naturally.

“I didn’t stop because life was falling apart,” she said. “I stopped because I wanted it to feel better.”

Sobriety brought an unexpected frustration. Restaurants often treated alcohol-free options as an afterthought, offering sugary substitutes rather than thoughtful experiences. Susie didn’t want replacements—she wanted intention, elegance, and inclusion.

In 2022, Susie and friends partnered with an alcohol-free spirits brand and a restaurant to create a curated non-alcoholic cocktail experience. It was thoughtful, elevated, and joyful. From there, small sober trips turned into bigger ideas.

An overnight trip to Sacramento and a weekend in Austin proved something important: alcohol-free travel could be expansive, connecting, and deeply fun. These experiences became the foundation of Sober in the City.

Susie realized avoidance wasn’t sustainable. Sobriety wasn’t about staying home—it was about living. Zero Proof Experiences was created to support sober and sober-curious people who still want to explore, gather, and celebrate without alcohol.

“If this is your lifestyle, you cannot not travel,” she explained. “You can’t not live.”

One of Susie’s most groundbreaking projects was leading the world’s first alcohol-free wine tasting tour in Germany. The experience revealed how far alcohol-free craftsmanship has evolved and strengthened her commitment to creating elevated sober experiences.

Curiosity is enough to begin. You don’t need a rock bottom. Community makes change sustainable. Alcohol-free travel is joyful and expansive. Thoughtful substitution can enhance—not diminish—experience.

Susie Streelman’s story reminds us that sobriety doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes it begins with a whisper: there has to be a lighter way. And there is.

The post Episode 82: Alcohol-Free Travel Experiences and Community: Susie Streelman’s Sober Life Rocks Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.