It's Not About the Alcohol

EP 227 Minisode: The Upper Limit Problem


Listen Later

Most women don't realize how uncomfortable they are with feeling good—until things start going too well. That's when the sabotage creeps in. A snappy comment. A skipped workout. An unnecessary glass of wine.

In today's episode, Colleen breaks down the concept of the "upper limit problem" from The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks—and explains how perfectionists and people-pleasers unknowingly block joy, ease, and success by clinging to struggle.

You'll learn how your emotional thermostat gets set in childhood, why guilt and discomfort with pleasure keep you stuck, and how to reset your internal baseline so peace and happiness stop feeling unsafe.

This episode is a powerful reminder that you don't have to earn your joy. You just have to stop arguing for your limitations.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • The "upper limit problem" is a self-imposed glass ceiling that blocks success, love, and creativity.

  • Most high-achieving women are used to pain—and don't know how to tolerate feeling good.

  • Guilt is often the signal that you're expanding beyond what feels "acceptable" to others.

  • You don't need permission to feel ease, rest, or joy. You just need a new intention.

  • Emotional sobriety means letting go of the need to suffer in order to deserve what you want.

✨ What if your next breakthrough wasn't about doing more… but feeling more?

If you're ready to stop drinking just to take the edge off your own growth, then Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on:

YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

Transcript

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

It's Not About the AlcoholBy Colleen Freeland

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

122 ratings


More shows like It's Not About the Alcohol

View all
Recovery Elevator by Paul Churchill

Recovery Elevator

1,718 Listeners

Take a Break from Drinking by Rachel Hart

Take a Break from Drinking

2,586 Listeners

The mindbodygreen Podcast by mindbodygreen

The mindbodygreen Podcast

2,043 Listeners

This Naked Mind Podcast by Annie Grace

This Naked Mind Podcast

2,561 Listeners

Soberful by Veronica Valli & Chip Somers

Soberful

457 Listeners

A Sober Girls Guide Podcast by A Sober Girls Guide

A Sober Girls Guide Podcast

431 Listeners

The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women by Casey McGuire Davidson

The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women

721 Listeners

Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober by Gillian Tietz, MS, CPRC

Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

1,246 Listeners

How I quit alcohol by Danni Carr

How I quit alcohol

195 Listeners

The Sober Mom Life by Suzanne Warye

The Sober Mom Life

1,084 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,819 Listeners

Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories by Brad McLeod

Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

611 Listeners

The Stop Drinking Coach by Bardia Rezaei

The Stop Drinking Coach

497 Listeners

2 Sober Girls Podcast by Erinn + Michaela

2 Sober Girls Podcast

204 Listeners

Happiest Sober Podcast by Madeline Forrest

Happiest Sober Podcast

224 Listeners