In this episode, Colleen unpacks one of the most common and misunderstood experiences women face in this work: the moment you look up, take inventory, and think, "My drinking hasn't changed." Instead of treating that as evidence of failure, she reframes it as a signal from your nervous system, a window into your thinking habits, and an invitation to expand your internal capacity.

She breaks down why consistency with alcohol doesn't shift just because you're "doing the work," how perfectionism and overwhelm hijack your perception of progress, and why your drinking is an output of deeper emotional patterns—not the root problem to be fixed. From there, she offers a clear five-question framework that helps you reclaim agency, rebuild momentum, and reconnect to your power without relying on willpower, shame, or urgency.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why "my drinking hasn't changed" is a nervous-system cue, not a character flaw
• How setbacks function as essential data points in emotional sobriety
• The three nervous-system states and how they influence your drinking decisions
• Why you can't think your way out of overwhelm… and what to do instead
• A 5-question coaching process to uncover your real blocks and build momentum
• How to define your ideal drinking pattern in a way that feels empowering, not punitive
• Why progress is built through iteration, capacity, and compassion—not perfection

This will remind you that your drinking doesn't change when you finally "get it right." It changes when you expand your capacity, shift your thinking habits, and learn to make decisions from the calm, grounded version of you who knows exactly what she wants.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

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X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

Transcript