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Dianne Waltner reflects on her transformative journeys to veganism and sobriety, the unexpected parallels between the two, and the life-changing spiritual growth these undertakings allowed.

Veganism and Sobriety: Embracing a Life of Nonviolence and Self-Compassion
From Dianne Waltner, VLCE, Main Street Vegan Academy, MainStreetVegan.com
September 2025

Image from MainStreetVegan.com. Photo credit: Dianne Waltner

Originally printed in the Main Street Vegan blog, MainStreetVegan.com.

This post is adapted from a chapter of Dianne Waltner’s memoir, Evolving into Wholeness: A Journey of Compassion, which narrates her transformative journey from working in her family’s poultry hatchery to becoming a passionate vegan activist.

March 20, 2024, I celebrated 15 years of veganism, and on July 18, 2025, I celebrated seven years of freedom from alcohol. On the surface, they may not seem to be related, however, as I reflected on my journeys to veganism and sobriety, I’ve noticed striking similarities between them. Both are often misunderstood and perceived as restrictive and requiring immense willpower. They both challenge cultural norms and are seen as saying no to pleasure and enjoyment.

Photo credit: Dianne Waltner

However, these misconceptions are far from the truth. What may seem like saying no is actually saying yes. It’s saying yes to life—to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It’s saying yes to living in alignment with values of compassion and nonviolence for all beings. It’s saying yes to loving and befriending oneself, as our compassion is incomplete without self-love.

Fear of Missing Out

When I decided to give up alcohol, I felt the same apprehension as when I chose veganism. Just as I feared missing out on familiar meals, I also feared missing the joy of drinking, and the sense of euphoria it brought. The thought of life without these products was frightening.

I have to admit that going vegan was a little challenging at first because I missed some of my familiar, favorite meals. However, it also opened my heart to compassion for all animals. I had tried to rationalize my love for some while continuing to consume others, but it never truly worked. So, it was a joy and relief to be cognitively consistent for change. And, instead of feeling deprived, I felt liberated.

In giving up alcohol, I also felt deprived at first, yearning for the ability to drink “normally.” The thought of giving it up forever was daunting. Alcohol had become a tool to suppress my feelings, often leaving me uncertain about my emotions. Whenever life became painful or challenging, I found solace in wine, temporarily forgetting everything. I eagerly anticipated that escape, feeling as though I needed and deserved it.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that being alcohol-free was also a liberating experience. Instead of missing out on drinking, I no longer had to drink. I no longer needed to spend time and effort contemplating drinking, actually drinking, and then regretting it. The guilt vanished.

Something Beyond Willpower?

Given the widespread consumption of animal products and alcohol in our society, it’s often assumed that one must possess immense “willpower” to give them up. Yes, I experienced cravings, and it was initially difficult for me to give up meat and cheese, as well as alcohol. But once I made the commitment, there was no turning back. Whenever I even considered the possibility of eating meat, dairy, or eggs, I reminded myself of the reasons behind my decision, and those products lost their appeal. I knew that nothing could taste good enough to justify the injustices in the animal agriculture industries. As an ethical choice, the temptation vanished. It was no longer an option. A clear conscience feels much better than animal products could ever taste.

Photo credit: Dianne Waltner

Stopping alcohol consumption followed a similar path. I never imagined I could give up wine. But as I became more informed about alcohol use and abuse, I realized it was even more harmful than I had assumed. And as I developed a deeper love and appreciation for myself, I decided that I no longer wanted to continue drinking poison. It became crucial for me to extend the same compassion I felt towards non-human animals towards myself. It was no longer an option.

It wasn’t exactly willpower that propelled me through this journey. It was the compassion I cultivated for myself that prevented me from self-harm. The cravings diminished once I finally reached that point.

But old habits die hard. I had become so accustomed to drinking as a coping mechanism that it took me a while to break free from that behavior. Cravings still occasionally strike, and I have to remind myself of the reasons behind my decision and the progress I’ve made.

Expansive, Not Restrictive

Instead of being restrictive, sobriety and veganism have actually been quite expansive. When I stopped consuming animal-based foods, I embarked on a culinary adventure, exploring new flavors and expanding my palate. I tried tofu and tempeh, ventured into different ethnic cuisines, and discovered a world of delectable dishes I had never encountered before. It was an exciting journey! Even during my early vegetarian days, I had various plant-based options to substitute for meat, such as TVP (textured vegetable protein), allowing me to enjoy some of my “regular” meals using plant-based alternatives.

Eliminating alcohol was also emotionally and spiritually transformative. I had long been drawn to spirituality and had felt a similar sense of cognitive dissonance as I continued to drink. I professed to be a spiritual person and was aware of the importance of self-love and compassion. But wine became more alluring than spirituality, and escape became more important than self-love.

Peace and Fulfillment

At each of these pivotal moments in my life, I had heard a persistent, yet subtle voice within. Over the years, it had guided me to adopt a vegetarian diet, quit smoking, embrace veganism, and finally, quit drinking. At each stage, it had emphasized that I could not advance spiritually until I followed its advice. I had always resisted that persistent voice of Spirit, but I knew that in the end, it had always been right. It had consistently led me to make changes that aligned with my highest and best interests. Although each of these transitions was challenging initially, they have all been invaluable in my spiritual growth and activism.

Photo credit: Dianne Waltner

As I embraced my new identity as a nondrinker, I began to experience a similar sense of peace and fulfillment that I had found as a vegan.

While I have no moral objection to drinking, I am acutely aware of how alcohol can gradually take over your life. As Samuel Johnson famously said, “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”

I believe that being alcohol-free would not be sustainable for me if I were still consuming or exploiting animals in any way. Drinking helped me to forget about all the ways in which I was contributing to animal suffering. Veganism was a crucial precursor to my sobriety. Once I embraced compassion for all sentient beings, I found the peace that made escape unnecessary.

By cultivating compassion for all beings, including myself, I was able to discover the joys of living a vegan and alcohol-free life.

By Dianne Waltner, trained and certified as a vegan lifestyle coach and educator by Main Street Vegan Academy, www.MainStreetVegan.com

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Dianne Waltner, resident of Wichita, Kansas, actively participates in her Unity Church community. She holds various certifications, including being an ordained Animal Chaplain through the Compassion Consortium, a Main Street Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator, an Animal Reiki practitioner (using the Let Animals Lead method), and a Certified Grief Educator (through the David Kessler training). Dianne facilitates an in-person animal companion loss support group at her church, in honor of her beloved feline companion, Mandi, who passed away April 15, 2024.

Photo credit: Lorrin Maughan

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Posted on All-Creatures: December 1, 2025
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