S1-E10 | Liz was a 'Grey Area' Drinker who realised alcohol was damaging her relationships and life

The Crucible:Conversations for the Curious

Highlight

One Sunday, Liz made a decision to push away a wine glass, igniting an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, challenging societal norms and redefining her identity beyond alcohol's grip.

Summary

Liz shares her journey of awakening and sobriety, which began with a simple decision to stop drinking. She reflects on her drinking habits, the role alcohol played in her life, and the challenges she faced in confronting her relationship with alcohol. Liz emphasises the importance of belief and beginning the process of transformation and the support she found in online communities like Soberistas. She also highlights the significance of facing and unravelling limiting beliefs and engaging in deep inner work.
Choosing your hard: Liz and Hamish discuss the challenges of alcohol addiction and the mental and physical toll it takes. Liz shares her experience of the mental energy and constant internal dialogue that came with trying to control her drinking. They also discuss the impact of sobriety on relationships with family and friends and the need for connection and support in the recovery process. Liz shares the importance of self-honesty, awareness, and finding a tribe to support and celebrate strength.
Liz Folan and Hamish discuss the importance of self-compassion and reframing our stories. Liz emphasises the power of self-compassion in overcoming shame and self-judgment. She encourages listeners to let go of shame and embrace self-acceptance, reminding them that they did the best they could with the tools they had at the time.
She also highlights the significance of positive psychology and recommends the VIA The Character Strengths - https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths-via/ in creating a new narrative for ourselves. She highlights the importance of self-awareness, challenging negative thoughts, and practising gratitude.

About Liz

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sunrisesobriety
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-folan-380a88a/
Rise Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7wdlJ9YA01JAXFiKPqCYVX?si=250d64032a364a61

Takeaways

• Making the decision to stop drinking can lead to a transformative journey of awakening and self-discovery.
• Belief in oneself and the beginning of the journey are crucial steps in the process of change.
• Finding support in online communities and connecting with others who have similar experiences can be empowering and helpful in maintaining sobriety.
• Confronting and unravelling limiting beliefs and engaging in deep inner work is essential in the process of transformation.
• Choosing the hard path of sobriety can lead to personal growth and a more meaningful life. Choosing to quit drinking is hard work, but so is the constant struggle and negative consequences of alcohol addiction.
• Sobriety requires mental energy and a shift in identity, but it also brings clarity, authenticity, and the ability to truly connect with others.
• Recovery is a journey that requires self-honesty, awareness, and finding a supportive community or tribe.
• Shame and self-blame are counterproductive and should be replaced with self-compassion and a focus on personal growth and strength.
• The opposite of addiction is connection, and seeking support from others who have gone through similar experiences is crucial in the recovery process. Developing self-compassion is crucial in overcoming shame and self-judgment.
• Reframing our stories and accepting that we did the best we could with the tools we had at the time can lead to self-acceptance and personal growth.
• Positive psychology and tools like the VIA character strength survey can help us create a new narrative for ourselves.
• Practicing self-awareness, challenging negative thoughts, and cultivating gratitude are powerful tools for personal transformation.
• Sobriety can be seen as a superpower that brings authenticity and clarity to one's life.

Sound Bites

• "My Awakening is My Sobriety"
• "Believing + Beginning = Becoming"
• "Choosing your hard, but it makes sense because it was hard."
• "Here's your hangover. Moderation does not work."
• "You really wonder, don't you? You wonder what it was all about."
• "Developing self-compassion and reframing our stories is key to overcoming shame and self-judgment."
• "The VIA character strength survey helps us create a new narrative for ourselves and embrace our defining characteristics."
• "By challenging negative thoughts and cultivating gratitude, we can create new neural pathways and overcome limiting beliefs."

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Awakening and Sobriety: A Story of Self-Discovery

06:48 Navigating Social Influences and Cultural Norms

20:26 Belief, Beginning, and Becoming: The Path to Transformation

33:20 Choosing Your 'Hard': Embracing Life's Challenges

35:15 Navigating Alcohol Addiction and Relationships

37:32 The Journey to Sobriety: Self-Compassion and Community Support

41:32 Authenticity and Self-Awareness in Recovery

48:38 Moderation does not work

01:03:35 The Power of Self-Compassion and Positive Psychology

01:05:02 Empowering Through Character Strengths and Sobriety

01:09:49 The Transformative Practice of Gratitude and Reflection