Welcome to the Catholic sobriety podcast mini-soad . These shorter episodes provide quick tips and information that you can refer back to when you need it most so you can achieve and maintain your desired level of sobriety . I am your sobriety coach and host of this podcast , Kristi Walker . Let's get started . Today .
I want you to explore whether or not you are asking the wrong question about your drinking . Now , let me just preface this by saying there are no wrong questions when it comes to getting curious about whether drinking less or not at all is right for you .
If you listened to my previous episode about navigating the stages of change from a Catholic perspective , then you know that asking questions is the first step toward gaining clarity and awareness . So keep asking questions , all the questions .
Now , that being said , the question that many women I speak with are asking themselves is this is my drinking bad enough that I have to quit ? And my answer is I don't know . I know you might be thinking well , that's not very helpful , Kristi . I was coming to you for the answer . Now allow me to explain why that question stops women in their tracks .
First of all , asking if you're drinking is bad enough to quit seems super scary , so I don't even want you to worry about forever . Okay , even AA says one day at a time , so let's focus on the day at hand . I know people that have been sober for decades who don't say forever , they just focus on each day .
Secondly , this question often leads to comparing our drinking with other people . You might think things like I definitely don't drink as much as Jane , but I for sure drink more than Stephanie . What does that mean ? My uncle , Joe , was a raging alcoholic and I am nowhere near that bad .
I don't really love the fact that I have trouble setting boundaries around my drinking , but I'm not hiding it and it's not affecting my relationships or anything like it does . For Lisa , Comparing your drinking habits with another person isn't helpful because your lives are completely different and you don't see everything or know what's going inside of them .
So then the question also becomes how much is too much ? Again , I don't know what's right for you . That's part of the work that I do with my clients . I help them determine what they think is the right amount for them .
Whatever level of sobriety works for their life and causes no chaos , makes them feel free , and they have peace and clarity and confidence around their decisions . But you can totally do this on your own as well . Now here's the thing For me , one drink is too much , but that's not true for others .
And for some , drinking every single weekend is too much , but for others it causes no problems or chaos for them at all . And still , others find that the habitual glass of wine with dinner is something that is taking up so much brain space . Planning , prepping and looking forward to it , they just don't feel free .
So you have to find out what is right for you . I think you'll find it more helpful to consider these three questions what am I afraid I will lose by drinking less ? Am I in control of my drinking , or do I feel like it's slowly beginning to control me ? And lastly , does my drinking keep me from living out God's call for my life ?
These questions shift the focus from fear and comparison to its impact on your life and relationship with the Lord . They also invite curiosity and honesty . They encourage us to examine not just our behavior , but also our motivations , fears and aspirations . So today I invite you to ponder these questions , Take some time to reflect , pray and journal about them .
Well , that wraps up today's episode of the Catholic sobriety mini-sode . Thank you so much for joining me and please be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing . And remember I am here for you , I am praying for you . You are not alone .