Why Change Is Harder Than Intention EP 62

Drinking, stress, and the nervous system’s role in the stop/start cycle...On January 1, 2019, I told myself I was done drinking.By January 4, I said fuck it and drank.In this episode, I share the truth about the year my drinking quietly became a problem I couldn’t ignore, not through a dramatic rock bottom, but through a slow erosion of self-trust, safety, and standards.I talk honestly about drinking every night, blackouts, and making decisions I wouldn’t make sober. About grief, stress, and why willpower alone kept me stuck in a stop/start cycle for years. And about the moment I realized alcohol wasn’t the real craving, relief was.This conversation isn’t just about drinking.It’s about why change is so hard to sustain, even when we want it bad.I explore:Why the stop/start cycle is so common, especially for womenHow stress and the nervous system shape our capacity for changeWhy we default to comfort and familiarity, even when it hurtsWhy “just don’t drink” fails without regulation and supportWhat actually changed when I quit drinking in January 2020, and why it finally heldOur nervous systems are wired for survival, not success.So real change doesn’t come from trying harder, it comes from feeling safe enough to stay.If you’re navigating change of any kind, drinking, boundaries, relationships, work, or rest, this episode is an invitation to understand yourself with more compassion and less blame.Looking for somewhere to have conversations like this?Every Wednesday at 8 PM EST, I host a free community call for women who are sober, alcohol-free, or questioning their relationship with alcohol. We talk about the stuff that comes with choosing to live differently... the rebuilding, the relationships, the identity shifts, the hard days, and figuring out what you actually want your life to look like now.You don't need to have it all figured out, and you don't need to be a certain number of days, months or years alcohol-free. Come listen, share, connect, and be around other women who get it.Join us for free → https://thedeliberateone.com/the-deliberate-community🔁 Ongoing support: The Deliberate Practice — a steady rhythm of nervous system regulation, breathwork, and integration.Explore everything at thedeliberateone.com Connect on Instagram @thedeliberateoneIf this episode supported you, you can buy me a coffee here