50 Cent posted about a 'year of abstinence.' Voluntary celibacy is a very real trend.

50 Cent claimed in a recent Instagram post that he's "practicing abstinence" – which many have taken as him saying he's not having sex, specifically.

"My new idea is so big, I don’t have time to be distracted I’m practicing abstinence, I have been meditating and focusing on my goals," he wrote earlier this week on the social platform. "I hope this New Year helps you excel to the next level."

Of course, he could be talking about something else or using this as a marketing ploy to promote a product. Let's not forget how Snoop Dogg caused a similar hubbub when he said he was quitting smoking. USA TODAY has reached out to reps for 50 Cent for more information.

Regardless, voluntary celibacy is very much a trend, despite society's emphasis on sex as some kind of threshold to cross. Or that if you're not having sex, you're somehow not enjoying or experiencing life to its fullest or most pleasurable.

In reality, choosing boundaries can be empowering for those who want to exhibit agency over their bodies and relationships. Sexual empowerment advocate and writer Amanda McCracken explains, "There's just as much power in saying no as yes."

Why some people choose to not have sex

Sex researcher Candice Hargons previously told USA TODAY there are many known benefits of a healthy sex life. But saying no can also offer similar perks. Some may opt for abstinence because they're fed up with hookup culture and crave an emotional connection. Others may use the opportunity for mindfulness and reflection. 

"The pros of celibacy can include the ability to build a romantic relationship with someone without the pressure of sex, the ability to focus on other important parts more readily, and even spiritual growth and alignment for one with religious values," says Hargons, an associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky.

Sex experts clarify there's no "right or wrong" way to be abstinent. McCracken, for example, explained she dated and was "intimate" with numerous men during an abstinence journey of her own, but she refrained from sex. This experience led her to find a "healthy and irreplaceable" romance with her husband.

"We learned to have intimacy and build that connection without sexual intercourse," she says, adding that it allowed them to better "listen to each other and be present and aware of each other's needs."

Celibacy not 'inherently better or worse'

When abstinence is a choice, it "can really be an amazing experience," according to Cate Mackenzie, a psychosexual therapist and couples counselor. Just as it's OK to want casual hookups, it can also empowering to remove yourself from a culture that pressures people to be sexually active. 

But Hargons emphasized that shaming individuals into abstinence with religious purity culture can have adverse effects, including ignorance about safe sex as well as sexual trauma.

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Of course, healthy sexuality looks different for everyone, and no preference is superior. And if you do choose to have sex, there isn't a magical perfect cadence for every relationship.

"Celibacy isn't an inherently better or worse sexual option than other options," Hargons says. "Sexual wellness and empowerment is about deciding what works for you and your partner… as long as the root of the abstinence isn't shame or guilt."

Contributing: Jenna Ryu

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