Sober Edge

The short answer is Yes; drinking and over drinking can become habitual. And, that's good news because we can use the work of some of our habit thought leaders to help change our behavior.

In this episode, Teri shares the habit loop identified by Charles Duhigg and how to breakdown the cue, routine, reward to create the change we desire. She also references the work of Dr. Jud Brewer who specializes in the craving brain. It's important to recognize that 'high value' activities are what help create habits. And, Teri shares how we can 'lower the value' of drinking alcohol in order to assist making it small and irrelevant.

Listen in as Teri identifies some of the ways we can break a habit and other ways that alcohol keeps us stuck in a loop. AUD is complicated - let's explore answers together.

Full Show Notes Here

How to Stop Drinking in our 50's and Beyond: Join the waitlist for this new, low-ticket, DIY course

This solo episode addresses the tricky part of self-compassion and tough love. We know beating ourselves up doesn't work but can we rely too much on self-compassion?

Hightlights include:

• How to do know if the Pause is moving you forward
• Where self-compassion can lead to self-sabotage
• Building in accountability
• How to use tough love without breaking connection

If you feel stuck in your journey to freedom, I invite you to consider how to reevalue your tools as you gain new awareness. There is never just 'one way' to get sober!

If this episode was helpful, I invite you to share it with a friend and help them find their Sober Edge!

Show Notes Here

1:1 Coaching

Rock Bottom - defined as the lowest possible level. It's fascinating to me that this is associated with drinking and even more accurately with not drinking.

The connection with 'rock bottom' and alcohol comes from the 12 step programs that suggest one must be at rock bottom in order to embrace change. I find this puzzling; where else do we wait for something to become unmanageable before we decide to take action? For example, do we wait for our car to break down before we decide to repair it? And, what is defined as 'rock bottom'? Is it enough if someone has a DUI? What if someone loses their job? If a family member suggests there is a problem, is that 'rock bottom'?

I find it much more helpful and positive to think about asking a different question: rather than ask "is my drinking bad enough for me to quit?", we can ask "Is my drinking adding enough good things that I should continue?". This takes the focus off reaching a level of behavior and puts it into the context of an empowered choice.

I share in the podcast today that I had people in life who didn't think my level of drinking, or my issue with alcohol was 'bad enough' to quit, that I didn't have a 'problem'. I am grateful that I stopped drinking before it became obvious to others that I had a 'problem' but I also recognize that the idea of needing my drinking to reach a certain level before I stopped kept me trapped for a long time. Society tells us what 'normal' drinking should look like - I now realize there is nothing 'normal' about drinking a toxic and addictive substance on a regular basis.

We now have new language to help us define our alcohol use and it doesn't have to include 'rock bottom'. Instead, we can think about AUD, alcohol use disorder and about 'gray area' drinking which allows us to explore our level of drinking on a spectrum and to make an empowered choice about how alcohol fits into our life and the impact it might be having.

Show Notes Here

Book a Discovery Call Here

Brene Brown has a chart of how to cultivate 'wholehearted' living which has always intrigued me. It reads like a 'how-to' manual of living an intentional life.

Last week I had an incredible experience of being in a place that I think embraces wholehearted living in a holistic way. I believe living authentically requires us to pay attention to true wellness: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. As I experienced this special place, I was hyper-aware that not everyone has the means or the privilege to travel to a wellness resort. So, I wanted to share my biggest takeaways from Rancho La Puerta, and how I believe we can incorporate the spirit of "the Ranch" wherever we are!

This episode invites you into the world of play, rest, movement and more. Discover how food, community and music can play a part in true wellness. Then, see how you can incorporate these pricipals of whole-istic wellness in your everyday life. The teaching of the Ranch are the essence of living an intentional life!

If you would like to be a part of our community, I invite you to check out The Sober Edge Book Club where we bring in community, play and personal growth as we explore the fun of reading together!

Show Notes Here

Book Club Here

Airports, All-Inclusive Resorts, Family Reunions; Welcome to Summer Travel.

Looking forward to vacation can be one of the highlights of summer - but travel doesn't always go as planned and the ups and downs can derail even our best intentions.

Travel while alcohol-free or sober curious can be tricky, particularly if it's early days or our first AF travel experience.

Last spring I shared an episode with my friend and fellow coach Susan Larkins all about the 5 Keys to Sober Travel. As I get ready to travel myself, I thought this would be a great episode to share again. Perhaps you missed it the first, or perhaps it's time for a reminder!

Check out the SHOW NOTES for Susan's 5 steps to help with navigating a vacation or special event AF

If you have ever heard the phrase "Have an attitude of gratitude" then this 'mini' episode is for you!

I want to help all of us explore a deeper relationship with gratitude and a better understanding of why gratitude matters. Tune in for:

• The difference between Gratitude and Thankfullness
• The science behind why Gratitude is so important
• How Gratitude and Manifesting go together

I also share how to 'lower the bar' and 'go 3 layers deep' to amplify your gratitude practice.

Finally I share the how to use a new idea, "100 Things I Love" to increase your overall satisfaction of life!

Full Show Notes HERE

My guest today, Maureen Benkovich, reinvented herself as a 'party girl' in order to hide the pain of infertility. While her friends were getting pregnant and starting families, Maureen was experiencing the trauma of multiple miscarriages and a failed adoption. In our candid conversation, Maureen recounts the moment when she decided alcohol would keep her from being the 'sad friend' that others pitied; instead, she would be 'the fun friend' who was always up for a good time.

Maureen's story is one of isolation and pain and by sharing her own darkness, she is helping other women step out from the shadows. Maureen is now alcohol-free, a certified This Naked Mind coach and is happily no longer struggling with anxiety or taking antidepressants!

Maureen Benkovich, also known as SoberFitChick is a compassionate life coach who helps individuals reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and break free from the cycle of guilt and shame.

With personal experience overcoming depression and the challenges of infertility, she knows firsthand the struggles and traps that can come with the drinking cycle. She is passionate about using her training as a TNM coach and her own journey to inspire and guide others towards lasting change.

Full Show Notes Here

Megan MacPherson has a new identity: Megan On The Wagon. Megan recently, very recently, started her alcohol free journey.

Megan was 30 when she reached a crossroads; continue down a destructive path with alcohol, or make a change. With the help of her family and loved ones, Megan decided to reach out for help.

What happened next is unique. Instead of hiding out or waiting to get comfortable with her new sobriety, Meghan began sharing her story, from Day 1 (she is now just over 100 days AF) in a blog she calls Megan On the Wagon. She realized that writing was the key to staying sober and she decided to go public.

Megan has always loved writing, so she started journaling about her first real attempt at going alcohol-free. Within a couple weeks, she decided to start a blog, Megan on the Wagon. She wanted to be open about sharing her struggle with alcohol and the freedom that quitting has brought her.

Like many of us, she is enjoying newly rekindled fun with running and biking and finding joy in physical activities. Megan also wants to continue to support other people in their journey toward freedom from alcohol and to build a career that honors her new 'on the wagon' lifestyle!

Full Show Notes Here

Follow Megan on IG @meganonthewagon

Last Call for The SELF Experience: Find out more HERE

Bonus Episode: Ignite Your Sober Spark is a live mini-series I shared with my audience last week. Because it was so well received, I wanted to share it with you in this special podcast episode. The idea for Ignite Your Sober Spark came from my desire to share some new concepts around how we grow in our after alcohol life.

When we stop drinking, everything changes. And, at first, it can feel uncomfortable, there are so many new emotions, new opportunities and changes to navigate. But, after a while, it can start to feel flat; the novelty is gone and life is just ho-hum. This can be a time where we might start to romanticize drinking, or drift back into old patterns that don't serve us.

In this recording, I share the 4 key areas we focused on to help us discover, or rediscover, our sober spark:

Day 1 - Finding Your Purpose Day 2 - Lasting Change Day 3 - Design vs. Drift Day 4 - Motivation & Momentum

I wanted to present this series to give my audience a glimpse into my signature program, The SELF Experience. There are many ways to engage in groups and many different programs, but I believe the SELF Experience is unique. It provides teaching, coaching and actionable steps to help us create an amazing life, once we don't need or want to escape from!

The SELF Experience is a 16 week program for women who are have stopped drinking and are ready to start living! It's not a done-for-you course or a bunch of pre-recorded videos. It is an immersive and interactive experience.

Full Show Notes

The SELF Experience Program

Becoming alcohol-free is a life-changing experience. And, becoming an entrepreneur is also a life-changing experience. Both of these paths can feel a bit lonely. Now, imagine becoming an business leader in the AF industry…that's my friend Karolina. Karolina Rzadkowlolska has chosen to put her passion for living an AF life into a business that celebrates the choices that are possible on the other side of drinking.

Karolina was my business coach and has become a friend and an inspiration as I continue to grow my business. One of the most inspiring things about Karolina is how she invests in herself and her success and the incredible results she has created. She is a multiple 6-figure coach, she leads retreats around the world, she is a best selling author and she retired her husband to help her run her global empire!

This conversation that Karolina and I have, which was originally recorded for her podcast Euphoric AF, is all about what can happen when alcohol-free leaders come together to change the world!

This episode may seem a bit of a departure from my usual podcast episodes but I hope it inspires you to think about how you can amplify your own voice, wherever this journey may take you!

And, if you are a sober coach or a sober influencer, I invite you to join Karolina and me for a unique experience to grow your business and band together with us as we change the world - one person and one drink at a time!

Full Show Notes Here

AF Leaders Mastermind Weekend