Happy New Year!

Wow. I woke up this morning, obviously needed to process this wild year. So I wrote about my year and decided to turn it into this week's podcast.

My word of the year is Authentic and so why not share now? Here it is, the untold and uncut version!

This year couldn't of happened without me being alcohol-free and all of the deep work I have done up until this point. I have build years of resiliency to have been able to navigate this year as best as I possibly could.

I hope you enjoy!

Also, JOIN THE ALIVE AF! membership for the Dry January Challenge, enrollment is open until January 2nd! Don't miss!

Let's start to build your resiliency NOW!

Thanks for being here, always! Cheers to a healthy, happy, and Alive AF! 2026!

Join the Dry January Challenge and start 2026 lit up from the inside. Doors close January 2nd!
www.angelamascenik.com/dryjanuarychallenge2026

Click the link to find out how you can join The Founders Club for The Magic House in Portugal:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, Dry January, Dry January in Alive AF!, 2025 reflections

This big holiday week we’re focusing on:

This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and take care of yourself in small but powerful ways — drinking water, resting, saying no, and noticing your patterns with compassion.   

You don’t need to overly challenge yourself this week.

Staying connected with loving awareness is the best gift you could give to you!     

Sign up for the free Dry January class here: https://www.angelamascenik.com/dryjanuaryclass2026  

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, Dry January, Masterclass, small wins, holiday week

This week is a very special episode that I am so excited for you to hear. Wendy bravely shares what her journey to changing her relationship with alcohol has looked like over the past year AND what finally helped her turn a corner, so much that whenever she has an urge to drink, she thinks 'I don't want to run back the page.'

She shares what it looked like before and how much she was drinking and why.

And some very nuanced detail in HOW she works through the urge to drink that has helped her be alcohol free now for almost 3 months!

Wendy is a really good example of what is possible.

This episode will also motivate you to not give up before the gettin' gets good!

You never know when it will all come together for you, so you need to stay in the game until it does!

Thanks again Wendy for coming on the podcast.

Join the FREE Dry January Class HERE: https://www.angelamascenik.com/dryjanuaryclass2026 

Wendy will be there!!

Click the link to find out how you can join The Founders Club for The Magic House in Portugal:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle 

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, Dry January, Masterclass, don't turn back, don't want to turn back

Oh boy, I did a word of the year class and my word for 2026 is Authentic!

And I am thinking, how much more authentic can I be? And I'm kind of scared of what might happen if I do reveal more of me.. what will happen in my relationships, work, family?

Tune into this week's podcast and hear my thoughts about being scared of being authentic and why it's important to do it and practice it anyway.

I have been practicing authenticity since I started working on my drinking 8 years ago. I decided I was going to share that I struggled with alcohol, publicly. And that helped me feel more real and authentic with myself. I needed to be done pretending that everything was perfect, because that is not real.

Some people might not like it when you become the real you and share what doesn't work anymore, because it will make them be faced with their own need to take responsibility for themselves, AND THAT IS OK.

I hope you enjoy this podcast episode.

Free Dry January Class https://www.angelamascenik.com/dryjanuaryclass2026

Sarah Trapkus, Find your Word of the Year Journey: https://www.sarahtrapkus.com/signup-e3cda046-693b-45f9-b25d-ca665196d910

My podcast on Authenticity and Drinking Less https://www.angelamascenik.com/podcasts/stop-over-drinking-and-start-living/episodes/2147641475

The Magic House Retreat Center: almost full for our first 3 retreats: Grab your spot now!
 https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, Dry January, Masterclass, authentic, scared of being authentic, word of the year,

So many of us build our lives around avoiding discomfort — keeping the peace, staying comfortable, and managing our environment instead of truly living in it.

But here’s the truth: when you spend your life trying not to feel bad, you also cut off your ability to feel good.

In this episode, I explore the difference between living to avoid discomfort and living to feel alive.

I share personal reflections and how over-drinking often becomes the shortcut we use to feel a spark in a life that’s gotten too small.

When you stop numbing, your world expands. You start to feel everything again — and that’s where your aliveness, joy, and magic live.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Work with me privately by filling out an application HERE:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Click the link to find out how you can join The Founders Club for The Magic House in Portugal:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle 

Join me for a free live class and learn how to make Dry January your most peaceful, powerful reset yet:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/dryjanuaryclass2026

Get on the waitlist for my Alive AF! membership:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, avoiding discomfort, allowing discomfort, Dry January, Masterclass

In this episode, I talk about the difference between genuine positivity and emotional bypassing.

You know that moment when you tell yourself, “It could be worse” or “I should just be grateful”? While gratitude can be beautiful, using it to skip over pain can actually disconnect you from what’s real.

We’ll explore how to know when it’s time to feel your feelings — sadness, anger, loneliness, frustration — and when it’s time to shift your thinking.

True growth comes from allowing the emotion to move through you, not rushing to replace it with a “good vibe.”

You’ll learn how to recognize when positivity is helping you and when it’s actually keeping you stuck in numbing patterns — like over-drinking or over-doing, instead of creating real peace.

I also share when to share how you are feeling with other people.. it's nuanced and you will for sure want to hear this.

Join The Founders Circle and be the first to experience The Magic House in Lisbon, Portugal:
 https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle 

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, when to be positive, positivity, when not to be positive

Do you believe in synchronicities, those moments that feel too perfect to be coincidence?

In this episode, I share why I believe in what I call the Magic of the Universe, the signs, parallels, and little winks from life that show you you’re on the right path.

I tell the story of how I first began noticing these moments after I stopped drinking, how they’ve guided me ever since, and how they led me to one of the biggest leaps of my life, creating The Magic House retreat center in Lisbon, Portugal.

If you’ve ever felt like the universe was trying to get your attention, or you’ve had those goosebump moments that make you say, “you can’t make this up,” this episode will remind you that you’re not imagining it.

The signs are there, you just have to be awake enough to see them.Join The Founders Circle and be the first to experience this magic! 1/2 sold out, don't wait!
https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle 

Do You Believe in Magic by The Loving Spoonful
https://youtu.be/JnbfuAcCqpY?si=MoQ_JKLszauxwc1o

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, Magic House, magic, believe, do you believe in magic

Most of us were taught that being selfish is wrong, that putting ourselves first means we’re taking something away from others.

But what if that definition is completely backwards?

In this episode, I talk about what “selfish” really means, and why caring for yourself isn’t taking from anyone, it’s how you stop running on empty.

You’ll learn how to recognize when guilt or people pleasing is driving your choices, how to redefine selfishness as self-care, and why meeting your own needs first actually helps everyone around you.

I also share personal stories about how this lesson has shaped my own life and work.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no, resting, or putting yourself first, this episode will help you see that honoring your needs isn’t selfish — it’s essential.

Also, SIGN UP to hear about The Magic House Retreat Center!!! I am building a retreat center in Lisbon, Portugal and this week, I'm sharing all the details live on Zoom, sign up here: https://www.angelamascenik.com/retreatmagicexpands 

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, selfish, am I being selfish, Magic House

This episode explores the concept of proceeding as if it will happen.

You probably do this already.. think about selling your house in order to buy a new house.

Or creating art, or producing something at work.

Basically, the idea is that you are creating something or want something to happen.

And then you go to work to make it a reality.

Business people do this all the time. They want to open a restaurant or open up a bakery or a shop that sells retail items. They rent a space, order or make the products, buy materials, and work towards an opening date where they ASSUME it will be successful and people will come in and buy their goods.

I want you to think about Proceeding As If you are already someone who has stopped over-drinking or quit.

What decisions to you make, what actions do you take, what do you tell people?

What does that that look like what you are “proceeding as if” you have already achieved your goal of permanently changing your relationship with alcohol?

I promise you if you adapt this philosophy you will see success much sooner than you might think is possible!

Friday I reveal my Big Bold Move, where I used the proceeding as if philosophy in my own business and I can’t wait to share it with you! Make sure you are signed up HERE: www.angelamascenik.com/bigboldmove
to be the first to know!

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, proceed, proceed as if, big bold move

I walked through a park today that had a sign and some metal barracades. The sign said Taking Care Of Your Garden.

This was such a beautiful display and explanation of Boundaries.

Summer season is over, the park crew put up boundaries to allow the heavily used green space to heal and recover and be tended to so it can come back and be strong and beautiful again in a new season.

I think it's a beautiful and perfect metaphor of why we need boundaries, especially while we work on changing our relationship with alcohol.

Your internal garden needs some growth and mending and that can't keep happening if you are getting trampled on by people, alcohol, or over-doing.

Check out this week's podcast and see where your own garden needs tending.

Also, make sure you are signed up to join me LIVE for the Big Bold Move reveal! Go here: www.angelamascenik.com/bigboldmove 

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use, mental health awareness month, how to stop over-drinking, how to stop drinking so much wine, life coach for women who drink too much, use humor to drink less, drink less, where do I start, sober retreat, how to stop over-drinking, how to drink less alcohol, Am I an alcoholic?, why do I drink so much, how to feel your feelings, how to stop the cycle of drinking too much, coaching for women who want to drink less, life coach for drinking less alcohol, stop over-drinking and start living, growth, boundaries, growth needs boundaries