#121 Reconnected AF

In this episode, I invite you into Day 1 of my three-day end-of-January Alcohol Reset, where I share the “third way” of being around alcohol—beyond the old binary of either “miserably sober” or “happily drinking with constant regret.” Speaking from both my professional training and my lived experience, I talk about how I went from a chaotic, booze-fuelled life to a genuinely take-it-or-leave-it relationship with alcohol, where it now has no emotional pull and feels about as interesting as a cheese sandwich. I walk you through why this unique time of year—especially here in Australia, with kids going back to school and summer socialising still in full swing—is actually a powerful moment to pause and reflect before the rest of the year sweeps you away. Rather than pushing you to “just stop drinking,” I introduce the concept of the Pause: taking a break from taking a break, staying curious, and using your current drinking as valuable data instead of a reason to beat yourself up. We explore how self-trust, self-awareness, and self-compassion sit at the heart of sustainable change. I share stories from my own life—from wild nights in London media culture to exhausted contract work, neurodivergent parenting, and those 3am shame spirals—to show you that the real issue isn’t alcohol itself, but why we’re using it. You’ll hear how I now live happily alcohol-free by choice, while still holding space for a million different ways to be around alcohol for others. If you’ve ever felt like alcohol is your reward, your way to decompress, your “me time,” or simply something that has more control over you than you’d like—this episode will help you feel less alone, more understood, and much better equipped to start changing your relationship with alcohol in a kind, non-judgmental way. Key Takeaways (from Emma) I don’t teach “quit or fail”; I teach a third way of being with alcohol that’s based on curiosity, not willpower or white-knuckling. A take-it-or-leave-it relationship with alcohol is possible—where booze has no pull, no drama, and becomes a genuine non-issue. The real problem usually isn’t alcohol itself; it’s the underlying needs we’re trying to meet—stress relief, social ease, escape, rest, sensory regulation, or “me time.” The Pause means taking a break from taking a break: you can keep drinking while you learn, observe, and gather data about your patterns instead of attacking yourself. Beating ourselves up (“I’m weak, I have no willpower”) doesn’t create change; it just dysregulates our nervous system and makes us more likely to drink again. Everything shifts on the other side of awareness: noticing when you first think about alcohol, your rituals, how it tastes and feels, and the true after-effects. My awareness worksheets help you track your thoughts, feelings, routines, and the aftermath of drinking with a non-judgmental, “Martian researcher” mindset. Self-compassion is the antidote to shame and the heart of sustainable change:- Self-kindness instead of self-attack- Common humanity (“I’m not the only one who struggles like this”)- Mindfulness instead of catastrophising and over-identifying with every feeling Many of us drink because being inside our own heads feels like an abusive relationship; the work is to become a soft place to land for ourselves. You do not have to stop drinking to start this work. If you’ve already stopped, great—stay stopped. If you haven’t, you’re still in exactly the right place. My Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment builds on these ideas in a small, trauma-informed, neuro-affirming group, helping you move from “stuck in the cycle” to genuine freedom and choice around alcohol. 👉The 3-Day End of Jan Alcohol Reset - Reconnect · Rewire · RiseFREE - My Back to School Gift To You27th-29th January 2026Live on zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82540254435 or in Midlife AF Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AmoBDBtzB/  or at 6 PM Melbourne - AEDT To join live register here https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/3-day-reset Once registered you can access the replays, resources and work books in the RESET Hub link is here https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/jan-3-day-reset-hub 👉The Link For the 30 Day Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment - Starting Monday Feb 2nd 2026 is:  https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/the_great_aussie_alcohol_experiment Special RESET Discount Codes for the Feb 2nd edition of the 30 Day Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment - Live - Gives you $200 off the Upfront Price or $50 off each payment from the 4 * monthly Payment Plan instalments. Full price with RESET discount is $797 (normally $997) 👉Discount Link open until End Of Play Friday 29th Jan:. Special link to get this price is:  https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/offers/CUotwFPz?coupon_code=RESET Payment plan is $247 * 4 monthly payments (normally $297)  👉Discount Link open until End Of Play Friday 29th Jan.Special link to get this price is:: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/offers/NCHNReNL/checkout?coupon_code=RESETPP