How do our thoughts influence our ability to create lasting change?

Overcoming automatic negative thoughts begins with understanding how they shape our behaviors and emotions. In this episode, Coach Sam helps Marion navigate triggers around holiday memories and past trauma, while Coach Mike guides Maria through breaking free from her lifelong pattern of negative self-talk. Both guests struggle with how their thoughts fuel their drinking behaviors—Marion with holiday-related trauma that previously led to heavy drinking, and Maria with the "failure" narrative that pulls her back into old patterns. Through these powerful coaching conversations, we witness how identifying and questioning habitual negative thinking creates the foundation for sustainable change.

In Marion's Session:

Processing trauma around Christmas and her father's death

Learning to feel proud of caring for her father during difficult times

Moving beyond the memory of a traumatic assault

Understanding how trauma memories can trigger drinking behaviors

Discovering that self-worth is inherent, not earned

The difference between intellectual understanding and embodied knowing

Overcoming automatic negative thoughts by seeing them as memories, not reality

Finding presence and contentment by not numbing emotions

Approaching painful memories with self-compassion

Recognizing that healing comes from wisdom, not just intellectual effort

and other topics…

In Maria's Session:

Identifying habitual negative thoughts like "I'm a failure" and "I'm not good enough"

Understanding how negative thinking fuels drinking behaviors

Learning the ACT technique for overcoming automatic negative thoughts

Questioning whether negative beliefs are actually true

Seeing how thoughts exist to protect us, not punish us

Breaking the cycle of negative thoughts → difficult emotions → unwanted behaviors

Moving from black-and-white thinking to nuanced perspectives

Recognizing that thoughts are "just strings of words" with meaning we assign

The power of neutralizing thoughts rather than forcing positivity

Developing mental resilience by questioning habitual thought patterns

and more…

Sam Goldfinch is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach, and the founder of Rebel Spirituality and the Rebel Spirituality podcast. He also co-hosts the Present & Sober podcast with Ellie Crowe. Having lived nine years alcohol-free, Sam will show you how to live your best life and uncover the truth of YOU before and beyond your conditioning.

Learn more about Coach Sam: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/sam-goldfinch/

Mike Shennan is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. He was a long-time social drinker, and his drinking habits increased in his forties due to various life events. However, he has been alcohol-free since February 23, 2018. By sharing his personal experiences and using techniques from This Naked Mind, Mike supports clients who feel their drinking habits have grown as they age, helping them regain control and create a healthier relationship with alcohol.

Learn more about Coach Mike: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/mike-shennan/

Related Episodes:

EP 512: Reader Question - How do you get comfortable with your own mind? - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-512-reader-question-how-do-you-get-comfortable-with-your-own-mind/

EP 438: Reader Question – How do you survive the holidays without alcohol? - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-512-reader-question-how-do-you-get-comfortable-with-your-own-mind/

EP 616: Reader’s Question – Getting Past Emotional Drinking Triggers - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-616-readers-question-getting-past-emotional-drinking-triggers/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!