Someone just tried to give up coffee, without success. 

Here’s my take on that. There’s nothing wrong with coffee. However if you’re having it for the energy it gives you, I’ve found there are more effective ways to get that energy. When it comes to habits, replacing a habit is much more likely to work (feels like evolution) than removing one (feels like self-denial) 

There are 4 sources of energy (I’m talking the energy a human feels, not kWhs!) 

1. Food
2. Sleep
3. Breath
4. Knowledge/ a calm state of mind

Of these, the most unexplored and the most impactful I’ve found is the breath. 

I stopped having coffee (and other stimulants) after starting a daily practice of breathing exercises. It wasn’t even a big deal or an effort. I just found I didn’t need it. From time to time - maybe once a year I might have a coffee because I like the taste, and the aroma, and when I do, I really enjoy and savor it. But I no longer need it. I don’t crave it. 

For me, a critical pet of freedom is reducing and removing what I feel I “need”. Freedom for me means there is nothing and no one in life that has control over me. If I need, or believe I need, anything or anyone outside of myself, then I am not free. 


Anyway, the particular breathing practice I found most effective after trialling a few was SKY breathing, as taught by the Art of Living foundation. Back in 2007 I completed my training to be able to teach this technique to others, and as a volunteer in my spare time just recently completed the 100th course. I was fortunate enough to discover the technique by accident more than 20 years ago, before breathing practices were fashionable. But I just did a quick search and found that it’s now had over 100 papers published on its heath and well-being benefits.