Ep 80 - Many people reach a point where they want to change, yet find themselves stuck in the same patterns. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Rose Ann Forte explores the critical gap between willingness and true readiness—and why understanding that gap can change everything.

Drawing from both personal experience and her work with clients, Rose Ann explains why repeated attempts to quit often lead to frustration and shame. She reframes the struggle through both Scripture and neuroscience, showing how patterns form in the brain and why this does not mean you are broken—it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

Through powerful biblical insight, including John 8:34, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 4:15, this episode reveals that transformation is not a single decision but a refining process. Just like testing gold or running clinical trials, real change requires repeated testing, awareness, and intentional practice over time.

Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of hope, a deeper understanding of their patterns, and a practical pathway forward—one that removes shame and replaces it with clarity, truth, and the possibility of lasting freedom.

In this episode, Rose Ann Forte addresses a common but often misunderstood experience: wanting to quit a habit or behavior but not being able to follow through consistently. She explores the difference between willingness and readiness, and why recognizing this distinction can remove shame and accelerate real change.

Through a combination of biblical truth and neuroscience, Rose Ann explains how repeated behaviors create neural pathways, why relapse does not mean failure, and how preparation—not just action—is the key to lasting transformation.

Key Topics Covered:

• The difference between desire and readiness
• Why repeated attempts to quit are part of the process
• The role of neural pathways in habit formation
• "Psychological slavery" and John 8:34
• Romans 12:2 and the refining process of transformation
• The Transtheoretical Model of Change
• Why action alone doesn't work for most people
• The three keys: awareness, exposing the lie, and choosing a new path

Key Scriptures:

• John 8:34
• Romans 12:2
• 1 Timothy 4:15

Core Takeaways:

• Wanting to change is not the same as being ready to change
• Your brain is not broken—it is operating as designed
• Transformation requires testing, practice, and repetition
• Shame delays progress; awareness accelerates it
• Preparation is the foundation for lasting change

Reflection Questions:

1. What if going back to the pattern isn't a failure, but evidence of how your brain has been trained?
2. What is the repeated thought or belief that shows up right before the behavior?
3. If this pattern disappeared, what would you truly want your life to look like?

Resources Mentioned:

• Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol: https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm
• Choose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today

• Recommended Resources and Links
• Choose Freedom Program and Resources - https://www.choosefreedom.today
• The Plans He Has for Me Devotional - https://amzn.to/42Y3E40
• Transformed by His Promises Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ
• Podcast Episodes with Dr. David Jenkins (Stages of Change) Part 1 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190 Part 2 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480