Ever notice how sometimes choosing not to drink feels less like a positive choice and more like self-punishment? Maybe the commitment was clear in your mind - tonight, no drinks. But then you watch someone order that dirty martini while you sit with your water, and suddenly saying no feels like you're punishing yourself. That familiar tension rises up: the part of you that wants to stick to your word battling against the part that feels resentful. If not drinking feels like punishment, you're not alone. Listen in this week to discover why you might be relying on virtue as a way to decline a drink, the reason self-punishment doesn't work, and what to do instead to create lasting change. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/442
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441: When the Label Doesn't Fit
Have you ever wondered if you need to wear a certain label to get help with your drinking? Maybe you've thought, “I'm not really an alcoholic, but I don't feel like a normal drinker either.” You're not alone. This in-between space can feel incredibly isolating, especially when it seems like the only options are to identify as an alcoholic or keep struggling in silence. But what if the labels we've been told are essential to recovery are actually optional? What if they're doing more harm than good? Tune in this week to discover why labels create a false black-and-white view of drinking problems when the reality exists on a spectrum. Whether you've struggled with labels or you're just curious about a different approach to changing your drinking habits, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on what's possible. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/441
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440: Awkwardness, Alcohol, and the Connector/Mask Trap
Most people have that one memory that makes them cringe - the party where they said the wrong thing, the meeting where they stumbled over their words, or when a simple "no thanks" to a drink turned into the most awkward moment of the night. You spend so much energy trying to avoid these uncomfortable situations, building elaborate strategies to never feel that squirmy sensation again. But what if this avoidance actually makes social situations harder, especially when you're trying to change your drinking habits? Tune in this week to learn how awkwardness impacts your ability to say no to a drink, why the Connector and Mask archetypes struggle most with this, and a simple reframe that transforms awkwardness from proof that something's wrong with you into a normal part of being human. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/440
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439: Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Safe Swap or Slippery Slope
Have you ever stood in front of the growing selection of non-alcoholic beverages and wondered if they're a smart choice or a slippery slope? Non-alcoholic drinks are everywhere now: fancy mocktails at restaurants, craft NA beers at the grocery store, entire shops dedicated to alcohol-free spirits. But beneath the surface of this booming market lies a deeper question that many people wrestle with: are these drinks helping you move forward, or are they keeping you stuck in old patterns? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. Tune in this week as Adriana Cloud joins me to dig into the archetypes most connected to non-alcoholic drinks, and explore how to approach these beverages with curiosity rather than rules. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/439
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438: When It Feels Easier to Pour the Drink
When you're standing in your kitchen with a craving, there's a moment where pouring the drink feels like the path of least resistance. The familiar routine beckons - no thinking required, no uncomfortable feelings to navigate, just the well-worn neural pathway that promises immediate relief. But what if that sense of ease is actually an illusion? Tune in this week as Adriana Cloud joins me to explore the hidden effort that comes with drinking on autopilot, and why the "easier" choice often creates more work on the back end. Most importantly, you'll understand why putting effort into change now saves you from the exhausting cycle of shame, self-pity, and mental obsession that comes from staying on the familiar path. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/438
Tired of breaking your promise to go easy on the drinks tonight? You know your nightly habit isn’t great for your health or waistline, but it’s so hard to say no.
Sound familiar? Then you need Rachel. She knows what it’s like to be fed up with your drinking, worried about judgment from others, and turned off by approaches that focus on a higher power instead of brain science.
Learn the exact steps she used to change her relationship with alcohol. Discover how the brain works, the real reason you crave a drink, the key to changing your desire, and how to decide what’s right for you.
Create a life that is fun, spontaneous, relaxing, and, most importantly, pleasurable (no buzz necessary).
For her latest free class, visit linktr.ee/rachelhart or check out rachelhart.com for show notes and more.
Listen to Take a Break from Drinking, Miracle Mentality with Tim Storey (Motivation, Self Help, and Mental Health) and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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