Outgrowing Yourself in Midlife
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Release Date: 10/02/2024
Choosing Yourself in Midlife | My Interview on The Change Effect Podcast with Noelle Van
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Hey there! I'm sharing my interview with my friend Noelle Van on her podcast, because it's all of our favorite topics that we discuss on To 50 and Beyond! In this episode, we talk about: The myth of ârock bottomâ and why real change begins with your decision, not a catastrophic event. How negotiating and bargaining with alcohol keeps us stuck Navigating the unique challenges of quitting alcohol in midlife The ways alcohol-free living can bring clarity, emotional freedom, and renewed energy during the perimenopause and menopause transition. The importance of...
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Expectations and Empowering the Word "Still"
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #341 Hello there! I'm glad you're here. Today, I want to have a conversation about the word âstillâ â how it can either make us feel stuck, like weâre not doing enough, or trapped in frustration and confusion. But it can also be a word we use to empower ourselves. This year especially, Iâve had heartfelt conversations with women who feel like theyâre in a transition, still figuring things out. Whether itâs about their relationship with alcohol or their life in general. Thereâs a lot of outgrowing happening, a lot of evolving, and I want to talk about what it...
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Tired of Sounding Like a Broken Record? Try an "Opposite Day!"
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #340 Have you ever found yourself saying you want to try something new or stop doing something? If you said, Yes! This episode is for you! "Broken-record-idis" is a thing, and I share my recent experience declaring an "opposite day"âa simple practice of intentionally doing something opposite of your usual routine, especially in midlife. Whether it's skipping the grocery store to avoid wine, taking a different walk route, or wearing something unexpected, small shifts can spark joy and motivation. Planning a day to do the "opposite" is about breaking monotony, releasing...
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Reminders to Help You Stay Alcohol-Free on Vacation and in Restaurants and Redefine "Day One"
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #339 This episode is inspired by a few of my listeners who reached out to me via my email. I've heard from so many women over the past seven-plus years who have said, I'm on day one, and I've heard from a couple of listeners recently who have shared their experiences and their challenges with staying alcohol free on vacation and in restaurants. In this episode, you will hear more about my first vacation sober, my experiences in a restaurant in the early days, and honest reminders to help you stay alcohol-free on vacation and in restaurants. You will also hear a straightforward reminder...
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Noelle Van on Long-Term Recovery and How to Transition Out of Corporate
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #338 Hello there! I'm happy you're here. Today's episode is a conversation among midlife friends. Our guest today is Noelle Van. Noelle has been on the podcast twice before, starting with episode 24 (see below). She is someone I appreciate having conversations with because she is authentically herself. During this episode, Noelle and I talk about where Noelle is with getting older - the joys and challenges. Noelle talks about how being in recovery has helped in other areas of her life and where she is now in long-term recovery. Noelle talks about her life in...
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End-of-Year Check-In: What Will You Focus on and Not Focus On?
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode 337 Picture us sitting down with our favorite beverage and notebooks, and I ask you: What do you want to focus on and not focus on before the clock strikes midnight on 1/1/2026? It's a question I asked myself before I recorded this episode, and this is what we're talking about today! I share a letter I wrote to myself on 12/31/24 with my goals and dreams for 2025. I talk about what is working in my life that I want to continue to focus on in 2025, a few things I want to start, and something I want to let go of and not focus on. Throughout the episode, I check in with you to help...
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How to Love Whatâs On Your Plate: Finding Joy and Balance in Food and Life with Stephanie Valentine
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode 336 Hello! I'm glad you're here. In this episode, I talk with Stephanie Valentine, a holistic nutritionist and mental health coach, about loving whatâs really on your plateâboth with food and in life. Stephanie shares her journey and her cookbook Love Whatâs On Your Plate, focusing on mindful eating, nourishing rituals, and true self-care. We explore how wellness isnât about being perfect, but about finding joy and balance as life changes, especially in midlife. Stephanie encourages easing up on the strict rules around food, exercise, and rest, and embracing...
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Life After Alcohol: Navigating Thoughts About Drinking Without Drinking
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #335 Drinking thoughts can be frustrating after you stop drinking. I have had many conversations with women recently that prompted this episode. If you're in "them", you're going to get through them. Drinking to quiet the thoughts only makes them stick around. In this episode, I talk about the most common thoughts many midlife women experience, like "I could have just one," "I deserve a drink," and "Why canât I drink like others?" I share a walk-through of what my day looked like after I stopped drinkingâfrom waking up proud of not drinking, through the...
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Changing Your Drinking and Supporting Loved Ones Through the Process with Amber Hollingsworth
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode 334 Hello! Thank you for being here today. This episode offers hope to anyone seeking to change their drinking, as well as to family members who wish to support their loved ones through the process with compassion and understanding. I'm honored to welcome our guest, Amber Hollingsworth, to the podcast. Amber is a master addiction counselor, founder of Hope For Families Recovery Center, and creator of the YouTube channel Put The Shovel Down. With over two decades of experience, sheâs helped thousands of families navigate addiction recovery using innovative,...
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A Conversation About Seasons of Life, Aging, and Recovery with Leigh and Anne Walkup
To 50 and Beyond - Sobriety for Midlife Women
Episode #333 Hey there! I'm so happy you're here. Today, I'm talking to two of my favorite people, Leigh and Anne Walkup. The sisters are back on the podcast to share their thoughts on aging (the joys and the challenges), perimenopause, and we talk about the different seasons of life. We also talk about recovery and sobriety in the news - it's good news and it's here to stay, as you will hear. The sisters share their thoughts about what recovery is like and why it's beneficial to embrace. They also share their favorite beauty product at the moment, what they're reading and...
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If you're feeling like something is off and you're not sure what it is, it could be that you're outgrowing a past version of yourself. A version that may not be aligned to who you want to be today and tomorrow, and is not giving you positive vibes. đ
This episode was inspired by the idea of outgrowing alcohol, and a quote that hit me right in the ol' thinking cap.
We shrink ourselves to fit into places weâve outgrown. Then we find ways to anesthetize the pain and discomfort. Stop spiritually and emotionally starving yourself. Let go. Move on. Grow. Steve Maraboli
During this episode, I talk about the signs of outgrowing yourself and the benefits of personal growth, and I give you some prompts to reflect on while I share what I'm working on shedding at 56.
I also talk about the signs of outgrowing alcohol and the identity women create around alcohol. I'm specifically talking about the "hostess with the mostess" identity, and why drinking to fit this identity may make going alcohol-free difficult.
You can read the full show notes for this episode here.
Thank you for listening! I appreciate you!
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