The Upgrade is The Drink Archetype™ that associates alcohol with elevating your experience.
Over time, this archetype teaches the brain that positive emotions are lacking without an external reward. The Upgrade often leverages the fear of missing out against your resolve to drink less.
The key to working with this archetype is learning to distinguish between wanting and liking so you stop stealing your capacity to enjoy the present.
HOW THIS ARCHETYPE WORKS
The brain associates alcohol with elevating your experiences.
Drinking makes everything—the meal, the celebration, the sunset—a little bit better.
This archetype commonly appears when seeking out the best life has to offer.
The Upgrade tends to show up when:
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- Preparing, cooking, and enjoying a meal.
- Celebrations, special occasions, vacations, and travel.
- Seeking out rare, unique, or high-end experiences.
- Identifying as an expert in your drink of choice.
When The Upgrade is activated, saying no interferes with your desire for things to feel special, making it hard to abstain or moderate.
THE MINDSET TRAP
“Things just don’t feel as special without a drink.”
Rather than elevating what you’re doing, alcohol hijacks your focus and distracts from the specialness all around you.
WHAT YOUR BRAIN LEARNS
The specific thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with The Upgrade create a learned behavior that influences how much and how often you drink.
The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less outlines what you need to practice thinking, feeling, and doing instead to combat The Upgrade archetype.
Common Obstacles
The Upgrade often uses the fear of missing out to sabotage rules, drink plans, and Dry Januarys.
Keep in mind, not all obstacles will apply to everyone with this archetype:
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- You find yourself making exceptions because there’s something to celebrate.
- You don’t want to restrict yourself when traveling or vacationing.
- You love cooking, but it’s less pleasurable without a drink.
- You don’t want to miss out on the full luxury experience.
- When scanning the non-alcoholic options, you think, “There’s nothing fun for me.”
- You feel like you’re “sitting at the kids’ table” if you’re not drinking.
- You like knowing about certain drinks and advising others on what to order.
- You’re embarrassed or annoyed when someone says, “I could make you a Shirley Temple.”
- You feel awkward when toasting with water.
THE DEEPER DESIRE
Willpower and discipline often fall short because they ignore the subconscious desire behind reaching for a drink.
Learn about The Upgrade’s deeper desire in The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less and why it’s the hidden key to success.
The Perspective Shift
“As soon as I decide something is lacking without a drink, I steal my capacity for enjoyment.”
The Fix
If you want to drink less, you have to do more than say “No!” to your cravings. You must dismantle the beliefs associated with The Upgrade that lead to giving in.
Get the specific exercises for The Upgrade archetype inside The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less.
The Superpowers
Letting go of The Upgrade will reveal more of life’s pleasures.
Here are some of the superpowers waiting to be unlocked:
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- Discovering how to make any moment feel special.
- Consuming less and enjoying more.
- Tapping into easy-to-miss moments of pleasure in regular life.
- Finding more joy and happiness simply by redirecting your attention.
- Spending more time on lasting pleasures that light you up.
LEARN MORE
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Discover how your primary and secondary drink types influence how much and how often you drink.
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