#38 - The Truth About “Playing It Forward”

In this episode of Midlife AF, host Emma Gilmour explores the common tactic of "playing it forward" in sobriety circles and questions its long-term effectiveness for achieving alcohol freedom. She shares her personal struggles as a parent of a neurodiverse child and highlights the societal pressures that contribute to exhaustion and burnout. Emma advocates for a shift in mindset away from using alcohol as an escape and towards embracing and listening to our own needs. She also discusses the importance of understanding the role of cravings and offers alternative approaches to address them.   Key takeaways:   The "playing it forward" tactic can be helpful in the early stages of sobriety, but it may not lead to long-term alcohol freedom. Willpower and pushing through exhaustion or distress often do more harm than good. Escaping ourselves through alcohol only perpetuates suppression and abandonment of our true selves. Listening to and acknowledging our needs is crucial for personal growth and breaking free from the cycle of alcohol fixation. Cravings are signals that need to be addressed and understood rather than suppressed or avoided. Repurposing the "wine saviour" to listen to and validate our emotions can be a healthier alternative to using alcohol as an escape. Join Emma as she challenges the notion of escaping oneself and empowers midlife women to reclaim their potential.   Resources: If you didn’t join our latest round of The Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment, we’d love to hear your thoughts on why! Complete our quick survey here and help us to help even more people: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsYS_SUdukWYfvaDMMf0lsAvwNMxaTRmxKX82rDRy3ea2iJw/viewform?usp=sf_link  Emma's Awareness worksheets for people wanting to prepare prior to taking a break from drinking or reduce their drinking by being more mindful about what and why they drink https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/awareness-worksheets-opt-in Emma's 5 Day Alcohol Reset for people looking to take a quick reset https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/fivedayreset The Self-Paced Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment - join us today https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/aae  Learn more about Emma Gilmour at: www.hoperisingcoaching.com Follow Emma Gilmour on insta @hoperisingcoachingLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midlife-af-podcast/id1649673705