In this episode, Ash sits down with Alcohol and Midlife Coach, Belinda Stark, who shows that it’s never too late to transform your life after making her own significant changes in her mid-50s. After running a successful fashion business for over a decade, Belinda made the bold decision to change careers, inspired by her own journey of overcoming depression, breast cancer, divorce, and a complex relationship with alcohol.

Belinda shares her personal struggles, including postnatal depression and hospitalisation after the birth of her second son, the moment she realised alcohol was no longer serving her, and how she finally found the courage to step into sobriety. She reflects on the tools that helped her along the way, the challenges of reprogramming deep-seated beliefs, and the incredible shifts she has experienced in her relationships, self-esteem, and overall happiness.

Ash and Belinda also discuss the importance of self-compassion, navigating midlife reinvention, and why it’s never too late to make a change.

The episode highlights are:

00:00 Introduction to Transformation and Resilience

02:39 Belinda Stark: A Journey of Courage

08:28 Hiding Behind the Smile: The Struggles Within

18:02 Childhood Influences and Early Habits

22:50 The Turning Point: Acknowledging Alcoholism

26:36 Facing Breast Cancer: A Life-Altering Diagnosis

30:09 Overcoming Health Challenges

33:08 The Role of Mindset in Recovery

35:16 The Journey to Sobriety Begins

39:39 Tapering vs. Cold Turkey: Finding What Works

40:59 Navigating Social Situations Sober

47:27 Tools for Sustaining Sobriety

49:02 Transforming Relationships Through Sobriety

53:44 Empowering Change in Midlife

55:53 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life

You can connect with Belinda Stark on Instagram or through her website. 

To access your free guided meditations, head to the Freebie Page on Ash’s website ⁠https://www.ashbutterss.com/free-resources⁠

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