BTW - If you didn't already know, I'm Sarah - Drink Less; Live Better founder, best-selling author, expert speaker, life coach and, as you already know, podcast host!
We don't have to hit rock bottom, we're allowed to want something different and we can CHOOSE to improve our lives from this point onwards.
I work in the magic space where doubt, hope and action meet... oh.... and
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Transcripts
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Hello, darling heart, and welcome to the drink less, live better podcast.
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This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely, or boring.
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I'm your host, Sarah Williamson, and I decided to have a year alcohol free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back.
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With my experience and training, I now help other people with their alcohol free or drink less adventures.
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You can find out more and sign up to my 5 day drink less challenge at drink less live better.com.
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I'm here to tell you that you can relax, connect, and have fun without alcohol in your life.
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Join me here each week to find out how.
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Last week, I mentioned that my book is being published in July.
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It's still making me feel sick to say those words out loud.
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I don't know why I'm having a problem with claiming the word, the title, author, because I am already an author.
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I have loads of work published in the world.
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Maybe by next week, I'll feel more comfortable about it.
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The second theme in my book is acceptance.
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Last week, I talked about awareness and how that is often the first step along the road to making a change, and today I'd
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like to talk about what we can acknowledge or accept and therefore tolerate or not.
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Life has a funny way of not always turning out how we might envisage it.
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We often find ourselves facing situations or circumstances that don't align with our expectations, leaving us feeling frustrated, disappointed, or maybe even heartbroken.
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Things are less than ideal from time to time.
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Sometimes, the key to finding contentment lies in our ability to accept or not life's imperfections.
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The first step towards acceptance is acknowledging our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
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We can reflect on our expectations and values and find where the disconnects lie.
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It's essential to give ourselves permission to feel and express our dissatisfaction, take some time to what specifically isn't
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working for you and explore why it bothers you.
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By understanding the root of our discontentment, we can gain clarity on our desires and the gap between reality and our ideal vision.
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Choosing to drink less or have a break from alcohol is one that we may come to quite quickly or that we may have been thinking about for a while.
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In my case, it was a decision I arrived at two and a half years after thinking about it. Ah, yes. The thinking place.
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That place where we know change is coming, but we haven't quite accepted it yet. The liminal space.
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Go back and listen to episode 27 if you haven't heard it.
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In fact, go back and listen again even if you have.
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Once we've acknowledged our feelings, it's time to shift our perspective.
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Consider reframing situation and viewing it from a different angle.
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Often, what initially appears as a setback or disappointment can present an unforeseen opportunity, perhaps for growth or maybe self discovery.
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Embrace the idea that life's detours might lead to new and unexpected places.
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I came to the decision that alcohol was taking more from me emotionally, physically, and spiritually than it was giving.
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The small window of pleasure that alcohol used to give me was more and more outweighed by the negative, but accepting this was hard.
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The impact that alcohol was having on my relationships with my children and other people in my life was becoming more and more apparent.
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I would never have admitted this to you at the time. Of course, I wouldn't.
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I wanted to focus on justifying my behavior, but not anymore.
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Mostly peaceful acceptance of what went before so that I can move on today.
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I came to accept that whatever other people were thinking wasn't my business.
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I worried and worried about how my decision not to drink was going to be taken by other people, and it's only now that I can say none of that stuff matters.
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The decision is yours, and it's for you.
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Accepting you are enough of a reason might take some getting used to, but it is so worth it.
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Oh, and by the way, you are not broken.
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You might be wrestling with what you are getting ready to do next, but never ever think that you are the problem. Alcohol is the problem.
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You are okay exactly as you are, and you will be in the future.
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It helped me to remember one of the biggest obstacles to acceptance was my desire for control.
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We often cling to our expectations attempting to mold life according to our wishes.
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However, true acceptance requires letting go of the need to control every outcome.
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Understand that some things are beyond our influence and that's okay.
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Embrace the concept of surrendering to the flow of life.
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We are in control of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but very little else.
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By relinquishing control, we open ourselves up to new possibilities.
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Acceptance does become easier when we connect with others who share similar experiences or perspectives.
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Seek out supportive communities, friends, mentors, or coaches who can provide guidance and empathy during challenging times.
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Engaging in open conversations about our struggles and sharing our stories can be therapeutic and remind us that we're not alone in our journey. Remember, acceptance doesn't mean giving up.
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It means finding strength in vulnerability and forging connections that help us navigate life's uncertainties.
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Do bear in mind how far you've come.
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You are not who you were 10 years ago, and you are not who you were last month. You are changing. We all are. We're human beings. We're supposed to.
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When somebody says, you've changed, we should see it for the glorious compliment it is. Recognize how far you've come already.
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And one final point, if you are accepting of what you want to change, be it alcohol or anything else in your life, get ready
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for action because if not now, then when?
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Please check out the show notes on this or any other episode.
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You'll see the link to a hidden podcast episode to help you with your 5 PM craving cravings, and you'll be able to read about my one to one coaching program.
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You can also find the link to sign up and hear about the book launch. Thank you for listening in today.
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Come back again next week, and PS, I believe in you.
