The Sober Edge Teri Patterson

Here come the holidays, ready or not!!
On the podcast today I share a few tips from my original "Navigating the Holidays Sober" guide. Tune in and then grab your copy of the guide.
Some tips include:
Make your own plans: consider going late and leaving early. You may choose to stay in a hotel vs. with family. You are in charge - and you deserve to protect your energy (and your sobriety). Escape Hatch: ideas to remove yourself if things become hard to handle. And, what to do to come back into your body. Manage your thoughts: this is key to creating a flow and ease to any event. Reminder: ask for what you want, not what you don't want. Where our attention goes, energy flows.

Each of us will be in a different place this year. Honor your place. You might be just navigating the first few days without alcohol and using some willpower to get through; honor this. You might be a few months in and feeling solid, but the stress and familiarity of the holidays might hit a little hard - honor that.
Wherever you are, don't beat yourself up if you have a drinking thought. Your brain is likely trying to protect you by offering what used to be a balm. And, it's a relief to remember that 'thinking is not drinking'. Know that you are practicing how to navigate the holidays without booze. It will be easier each time you do it but the first time is likely not pretty. That's okay.
Your free Holiday Survival Guide HERE
Show Notes HERE

Sometimes, everything falls apart. We can be fraying at the edges for a long time, using alcohol as the 'duct tape' to hold everything together and one day, it's not enough.
My guest on the podcast today, Allison Barber, shares her story, which includes a debilitating injury, a crumbling marriage and a rocky relationship happening all at once. To find her way out, Allison chose one brave step. From this place, she began the work of healing from 'the inside out'. And today, she shares her message with others who are struggling with taking that first step toward healing.
Highlights from this episode:
When your world gets smaller Our value is not tied to our struggles or our choices The freedom of choosing NOT to drink To stop drinking entirely was never the goal The decision to take 100% responsibility for self The pain of conflicting values Letting go of control No better time than midlife to stop drinking
Show Notes Here

Stop Drinking Now HERE
Free month of book club HERE
 
 

Would you like to be 'better than before'? I think for many of us this is the appeal  of an alcohol-free life; we want our circumstances to improve. 
Today, I share the work of Gretchen Rubin who wrote the book, Better Than Before. This book is about habits but most importantly it's about knowing oneself better than before. Rubin makes a convincing point that in order to establish habits that last, we must build habits that are based on who we are now. I agree - when we try to adopt the habits of someone else, we often find it difficult. If we start with self-knowledge we are much more likely to succeed in creating lasting change. 
In the podcast today, I share the Habit Manifesto that Rubin created and also offer real life examples of where these principles can help us create an alcohol-free life, and do it with more ease!
THANK YOU! This is gratitude season and I want to share how grateful I am for all of you and your support. As a gift, you are invited to join The Sober Edge Book Club (women only) for free for the month of December. 
Show Notes
Book Club Offer and Code

I caught up with my friend and fellow coach Megan Webb on the podcast this week. We talked about her ‘Festival of Fifty’ as she celebrated her milestone birthday with friends and family. Megan shares how awkward she would have felt in the past having the attention focused on her and how amazed she was at enjoying Karaoke without a cocktail in hand. Megan also shares her excitement to be entering midlife knowing that she can now create a beautiful second act!
 
Megan also shared her very real struggle with speaking in public and how she used to use alcohol to overcome this phobia. Megan is honest about the level of anxiety she used to feel, and how the alcohol she thought was helping her get through it was actually creating more anxiety. Megan is passionate about helping women leave alcohol behind so they can speak their own truth. 
 
With her coaching business and her new podcast “Not drinking today” Megan is helping women everywhere learn that no alcohol is required!
 
Show Notes HERE

When Amber Graziano stopped drinking she didn’t know anyone who didn’t drink. But, she did know she liked to run and that other runners might be non-drinkers, or other non-drinkers might want to try running. So she decided to start a sober running group.
On the podcast, Amber shares that the first 5 people who joined her Facebook group included her mom and best friend but gradually, through word of mouth, the group began to grow and today there are over 2000 members.
A powerful part of our after-alcohol journey is channeling our energy into new areas that help us grow - physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Amber believes that running and the Recovery Road Runners group helps with all of that, while also offering a recovery community. 
Amber shares the gifts she has found by running in recovery, including: more confidence, letting go of excuses, and the mantra “one mile at a time”.
In addition to an in-person running group, a Facebook community, RRR also offers a non-profit foundation, coaching and retreats. 
Sign up for The Sober Summit: Holiday Edition HERE
Full Show Notes HERE
 

When it comes to changing our relationship with alcohol, not knowing where to start can lead us to frustration, procrastination and stalling.
I know when I wanted to drink less, I got stuck in moderation because I didn’t know the options. I didn’t realize that I could stop drinking just because I wanted to…!  And, when I started to consider NOT drinking, I had no idea where to start. Other than counting days and attending meetings, I was completely at a loss.
I want to help you build a roadmap, a place to start where you will have guideposts along the way. Imagine knowing what to do first!  And, where to go after that? Having directions can take away the scary and confusing part of getting started. That’s why when we plan trips we have an itinerary, a map and a destination. Your alcohol-free journey will benefit from a guide, a map and some inside information (don’t stop there; definitely try this!).
In today’s podcast, I share the 3 steps to ‘Stop Drinking Now’.
Listen in to learn:
Where to start What to do if you’re not ready What is IAF and what does it have to do with not drinking? How to build your own roadmap In my coaching business, I have worked with so many women at the beginning of their journey. I understand how difficult it can be to get out of our own way and to take a step back and get that ‘bird’s eye’ view. This is why a roadmap is key. We can find our true north, see where we got lost and always re-orient ourselves.
Full Show Notes HERE
 Stop Drinking in Your 50’s and Beyond HERE