When Sobriety Opens Doors: Cat Greenleaf Living Out Loud

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Stuart Cline

When Sobriety Opens Doors: Cat Greenleaf Living Out Loud

(Inspired by the Sobriety Now What? episode with Cat Greenleaf)

http://www.sobrietynowwhat.com

Check out the podcast this blog was inspired by at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18393123

There’s a moment in sobriety that doesn’t get talked about enough.

It’s not the moment you stop using.
It’s not even the moment cravings quiet down.

It’s the moment you realize your world has quietly expanded.

Your mind feels clearer. Conversations feel richer. You notice opportunities—real ones—that simply weren’t visible before. Sobriety doesn’t just take something away; it gives something back. Often, it gives you access.

That’s what today’s Sobriety Now What? episode is all about.

Meeting Someone Who Lives Sober—Out Loud

In this episode, I sit down with Cat Greenleaf—a journalist, podcast host, and deeply thoughtful human being whose life took an unexpected turn once sobriety entered the picture.

Cat is best known as the former host of Talk Stoop, where she held real, unfiltered conversations with celebrities—literally sitting on stoops and stairs, meeting people where they were. Today, she hosts the podcast Soberness, where she continues those honest conversations, this time centered around sobriety, truth, and transformation.

What struck me most wasn’t her résumé.
It was her presence.

Sobriety as a Doorway, Not a Destination

One of the most powerful themes in our conversation is this:
sobriety didn’t shrink Cat’s life—it widened it.

She talks openly about how chance conversations, unexpected invitations, and moments of curiosity became possible only because she was sober enough to notice them… and brave enough to say yes.

Sobriety didn’t hand her a roadmap.
It gave her windows.

Windows of opportunity that simply weren’t open before.

And this is something I see again and again in the people I work with:
when the noise quiets, awareness expands.

You start to see:

  • People living meaningful, sober lives
  • New versions of yourself you hadn’t imagined
  • Paths that don’t require numbing to walk down

When Spirituality Complicates—and Then Heals

Another honest part of our conversation may resonate deeply with listeners: Cat shares how spirituality was once tied to her drinking—and how, paradoxically, it later became the very force that helped launch her into the next chapter of her life.

This matters.

Because for many people, spirituality, religion, or belief systems can become confusing or even triggering during addiction. What Cat models so beautifully is that healing doesn’t require abandoning spirituality—it often requires reclaiming it in a healthier, more grounded way.

Sobriety gave her the clarity to do just that.

Why This Conversation Matters for You

If you’re early in sobriety, this episode offers hope.
If you’re years in and wondering “Is this it?”, it offers inspiration.
If you’re somewhere in between, it offers permission.

Permission to believe that:

  • Your best chapter may still be unfolding
  • Reinvention isn’t a failure—it’s a feature
  • Sobriety can be a launchpad, not a limitation

This episode isn’t about celebrities.
It’s about possibility.

It’s about what can happen when you’re clear enough, present enough, and brave enough to step into conversations—and lives—that once felt out of reach.

A Gentle Invitation

As you reflect on this episode, I invite you to ask yourself:

  • What opportunities might I be missing simply because I haven’t slowed down enough to notice?
  • Who am I becoming now that I’m sober—and who else might I still become?
  • What doors feel like they’re quietly waiting for me to knock?

Sobriety clears the static.
What you do with the signal is up to you.

🎧 You can listen to the full episode of Sobriety Now What? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the podcast this blog was inspired by at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18393123

Live freely. Evolve fully. And remember—your sober life may be opening doors you haven’t even seen yet.

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How to Thrive in Sobriety- It’s Already Inside You

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Stuart Cline

Also, Check out the podcast version of this blog at : https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18351891

It’s easy for some to believe that staying sober — and thriving in sobriety — comes down to one thing: willpower.

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just need to be stronger,” or “I’m trying, but it’s hard,” you’re not alone. Many people quietly assume that if sobriety feels difficult, it must mean they’re doing something wrong or not trying hard enough.

But what if that isn’t true?

What if you’re actually doing much more right than you think?

That’s the heart of a recent Sobriety Now What podcast episode, where I explored a powerful real-life story that gently challenges the idea that willpower is the whole story.

A Story That Changes the Conversation

I recently spoke with a woman in her 30s — we’ll call her Josephine, or Joe for short.

Joe had been using marijuana daily for years. Morning, noon, and night. What made her story remarkable wasn’t just that she stopped — people do that — but how she stopped.

She quit cold turkey while continuing to work at a cannabis dispensary.

She went to work surrounded by the very thing she had stopped using — all while navigating withdrawal symptoms like sleepless nights, anxiety, irritability, stomach issues, headaches, and brain fog.

When I asked her how she did it, she answered simply:

“Willpower.”

She truly believed that. But I knew something important: willpower alone doesn’t work that way.

Willpower is like holding your breath. You can do it for a while… until you can’t.

There had to be more to the story.

And there was.

Trying vs. Doing

As we talked, Joe kept saying, “I’m trying.”

But what she described wasn’t trying — it was doing.

Trying is effort without movement.
Doing is action, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Joe wasn’t just trying to change her life. She was actively building it.

And that’s when something became clear: what she called “willpower” was actually a combination of four internal supports working together.

Supports that many of us already use — without realizing it.

The Four Supports That Hold Up a Thriving Life

I like to think of sobriety like a table.

The tabletop holds your hopes, your dreams, your relationships, and the life you’re trying to build. That table stays steady because of four legs underneath it — four supports.

If one leg weakens, the table wobbles.
That doesn’t mean it’s broken.
It means it needs support.

Here are the four supports Joe was already using — and chances are, you are too.

1. Willpower — Support for the Moment

Willpower helped Joe get through cravings when they showed up. In those moments, she told herself, “Not today.”
Willpower matters — but it’s meant to help in the moment, not carry everything.

2. Motivation — Emotional Support

Joe wanted more than cannabis ever gave her. She wanted her family to be proud of her. She wanted to be proud of herself. She wanted connection, a relationship, children, and a career where she could help people. That emotional pull forward gave her energy to keep going.

3. Discipline — Structural Support

Joe already lived with discipline. She trained regularly and took care of her body like an elite athlete — not for sobriety, but for her future. That same structure helped her stay steady when emotions were loud.

4. Purpose — The Anchoring Support

Joe came from a family with a long history in law enforcement, and she wanted to carry that forward. Her purpose became stronger than her cravings. When urges showed up, they weren’t the center of the table anymore — her future was.

You’re Probably Doing More Than You Think

Joe wasn’t superhuman.

She wasn’t broken.
She wasn’t weak.
She wasn’t “just trying.”

She was supported.

And if you’re reading this and thinking, “Why is this still hard?” or “I should be further along by now,” I want you to hear this clearly:

Most people don’t struggle because they don’t care.
They struggle because one or more supports is tired or underdeveloped.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’re human.

Sobriety isn’t about toughness.
It’s about support.

A Gentle Reminder to Carry With You

You are stronger than you think.
Braver than you believe.
Smarter than you give yourself credit for.
More capable than you realize.
And more supported — and more loved — than you know.

What helps you thrive in sobriety is already inside you.

Sometimes, all you need are the right words to see it.

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Overcoming Limiting Money Beliefs to Thrive Sober

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Stuart Cline

Overcoming Limiting Money Beliefs to Thrive Sober

A BoostYourSpirit.com Feature Inspired by Sobriety Now What — Episode 27
ep 27 Money scripts episode SNW

Check out the latest podcast of the episode this is about at: https://sobrietynowwhat.buzzsprout.com/

https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18271643-ep-27-overcoming-limiting-money-beliefs-reduce-stress-and-thrive-in-sobriety.mp3?download=true

Money touches every corner of our lives—our sense of safety, our goals, our relationships, and even our self-worth. And for people in recovery, money often carries an extra layer of fear, shame, avoidance, or stress.

Maybe you’ve felt it too.
Maybe you’ve wondered why money feels heavy… or why it slips through your fingers… or why budgeting feels suffocating instead of empowering.

If you nodded your head even once, you’re in the right place.

In Episode 27 of Sobriety Now What, we dive into the psychology of money—how your childhood shaped your financial beliefs, how those patterns follow you into adulthood, and how to rewrite your inner script so money becomes a supportive ally in your recovery… not a source of stress.

Today’s blog brings the heart of that episode straight to you.

Why Your Money Story Matters in Sobriety

Money itself has no personality.
It doesn’t judge.
It doesn’t love you, leave you, bless you, or punish you.

But we project onto money the stories we learned growing up:

  • Fear from unstable households
  • Scarcity from not having enough
  • Avoidance from chaotic environments
  • Control from parents who weaponized money
  • Unworthiness from being told what we “deserve”

And those beliefs stick—until we shine a light on them.

Recovery isn’t just about sobriety.
It’s about reclaiming every part of your life—emotional, spiritual, financial, relational.
Healing your relationship with money is part of becoming whole.

The 10 Most Common Limiting Money Beliefs (and How to Rewrite Them)

In Episode 27, we explore ten beliefs that silently hold people back—especially those in recovery. Here are the highlights and healthy reframes:

1. “Money is bad.”

Healthy belief: Money is neutral. Your values determine its impact.

2. “I’m just not good with money.”

Healthy belief: No one is born good with money. These are learned skills.

3. “There’s never enough.”

Healthy belief: Clarity and consistency create sufficiency.

4. “I don’t deserve wealth.”

Healthy belief: Your worth is inherent—not earned.

5. “If I succeed, I’ll be a target.”

Healthy belief: Boundaries create safety. Success can be secure.

6. “Making money is too hard.”

Healthy belief: Systems, creativity, and aligned action create flow.

7. “Wanting more is selfish.”

Healthy belief: When you thrive, you lift others.

8. “Money causes conflict.”

Healthy belief: Honest conversations build trust—not tension.

9. “Rich people are bad.”

Healthy belief: Money magnifies character. Choose values-driven prosperity.

10. “I can’t be spiritual and wealthy.”

Healthy belief: Purpose and prosperity can coexist beautifully.

These aren’t just nice ideas. They’re grounded in positive psychology and habit research, reminding us that change happens through small, repeated shifts—not force or shame.

A Powerful Money Reset (Try This Today)

Take a slow breath in…
Exhale fully.

Now imagine someone gently placing $100,000 in your hands—clean, earned, aligned, and yours.

Notice what happens in your body.

Tension?
Guilt?
Excitement?
Fear?
Expansion?

Whatever rises is information—not judgment.

Say to yourself:

“It is safe to receive. It is safe to plan. It is safe to grow.”

This simple practice begins rewiring your nervous system to stop associating money with danger, shame, or chaos.

Small Financial Habits That Rewire Your Brain

Wendy Wood’s research on habits shows that tiny, consistent behaviors create lasting change. Here are a few you can try today:

  • Open your banking app for 30 seconds—just observe.
  • Cancel one subscription that no longer aligns with your values.
  • Rename your savings account to something meaningful (“Future Peace,” “Travel Fund,” “Freedom”)
  • Schedule a 10-minute “money check-in” once a week.

What’s small becomes strong over time.

Two Mantras to Strengthen Your Money Mindset

Use these morning and night—for 30–66 days—to create new neural pathways:

Confidence Mantra:

“I am a calm, capable steward of money. I choose clarity, kindness, and consistency.”

Healing Mantra:

“It is safe for me to receive, hold, and use money in alignment with my values.”

These phrases aren’t magic.
But repetition transforms the nervous system, which transforms behavior.

Your Recovery and Your Money Story Deserve Peace

You are not destined to repeat your past.
You are not trapped in old beliefs.
You are not defined by financial mistakes, debt, or scarcity.

You’re evolving—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially.

And your money story is part of your healing.

If this episode resonates with you, listen to the full conversation on Sobriety Now What—and let me know if you’d be interested in a course on healing your money beliefs. If enough people want it, I’ll build it.

You deserve a healthy relationship with money.
You deserve peace.
You deserve to thrive—sober and supported.

Like, and leave a comment to let me know. It you find this blog helpful.

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How to Stay Calm and Sober in an Angry World

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Stuart Cline

Take a listen to the podcast episode of this blog at:

Ep 26 How to Stay Calm and Sober in an Angry World: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes

How to Stay Calm and Sober in an Angry World

A gentle guide to keeping your peace when the world feels loud, divided, and overwhelming.

Have you noticed the world feels a little more intense lately?

You can be sitting in your quiet living room one minute, and the next minute your heart is pounding and your jaw is tightening — all because you clicked on one news headline… then another… then another. Before you know it, a perfectly peaceful evening suddenly feels like you’ve been dragged into a fight you never intended to join.

I had that moment recently.

I was home, relaxed, scrolling through the news. Nothing unusual. And then I felt it — the pressure in my chest, my shoulders inching upward, my breath tightening. I found myself leaning forward as if I needed to defend myself against something that wasn’t even in the room.

It made me wonder:

Why does the world feel so angry right now?
And why do we absorb it so quickly?

If you’ve felt this too, you’re in good company. And more importantly — there is a way out of it.

🌎 The World Isn’t Just Loud — It’s Triggering Us

Years ago, news was mostly information. No hype. No drama. No adrenaline. Just facts.

Today, media is designed to pull us into emotional arousal — anger, fear, outrage, tribalism. Not because it’s good for us… but because it keeps us watching.

And here’s the kicker:

When you’re in recovery, your nervous system is already more sensitive.
That’s not a flaw — it’s a sign you’re healing. But it also means you feel the world more intensely.

Add divisiveness, noise, opinions, blame, fear, and constant conflict… and it’s no wonder our emotions spike before we even know what happened.

✋ Two Hands, Two Minds: Why We Lose Our Calm So Fast

Hold your hands out for a moment — left and right.

Your left hand represents your rational mind:
Calm. Clear. Logical. Able to think things through.

Your right hand represents your emotional mind:
Reactive. Defensive. Intense. Easily overwhelmed.

In a healthy moment, both hands balance each other.

But when the news, social media, or someone’s anger hits you…

Your emotional hand shoots up.
Your rational hand drops.

That’s why arguments escalate, why we shut down, why we feel powerless, and why anger takes over so easily.

🔥 What the Research Says About Calming Anger

A large 2024 meta-analysis looked at 10,000+ participants and found something surprising:

Venting does NOT reduce anger.
It actually makes it worse.

Why?
Because venting increases arousal — and anger thrives on arousal.

The key to calming anger isn’t unleashing it.
It’s lowering the body’s physiological heat.

Here’s what actually works:

✔ Slow-flow yoga

✔ Deep breathing

✔ Meditation

✔ Mindfulness

✔ Progressive muscle relaxation

✔ Quiet time-outs

✔ Calming walks

✔ Grounding techniques

✔ Simple relaxation practices

These don’t feel dramatic, but they are incredibly effective at turning down the internal fire.

And here’s a bonus tool:

✔ Omega-3s

Research shows they can reduce aggression and irritability in some people by up to 28%.

Your brain is made of fat — and omega-3s help stabilize its entire electrical system.

🥊 Step Out of the Ring

There is no fight if you don’t step into the ring.

You don’t have to join every argument.
You don’t have to engage every headline.
You don’t have to protect yourself from strangers who aren’t actually in your life.

Here are a few powerful shifts that bring your peace back quickly:

1. Unplug on purpose

Turn off the news. Step away from social media. Give your nervous system a reset.

2. Calm the body first

Breathe deeply. Stretch. Step away. Touch your toes. Walk outside.
Anger is a body reaction before it’s a thought.

3. Return to rational thinking

Once your body calms, your balanced mind returns.
Your fists — literal or emotional — begin to unclench.

4. Do one kind or grounding action

Send a kind text.
Pet your dog.
Straighten your counter.
Smile at someone.

Kindness grounds you.
Kindness softens people around you.
Kindness brings you back to yourself.

5. Focus on what you can control

Your daily choices.
Your breath.
Your boundaries.
Your environment.
Your sobriety.

You create your emotional weather.

🌤 A Moment of Calm (Try It Now)

Right here, right now… take one slow breath with me.

Inhale gently.
Exhale slowly.

Let your shoulders drop.

Feel your feet on the floor.

Even one breath can change your entire emotional state.

🌱 Your Challenge This Week

Just pick one gentle grounding practice:

  • 5 slow breaths
  • A short stretch
  • One minute of grounding
  • A quiet walk
  • Five minutes without the news
  • A moment of kindness
  • Turning off the radio when you start your car

Small choices bring big calm.

Small calm builds big sobriety.

❤️ You’re Allowed to Choose Peace

You don’t have to match the world’s anger.
You don’t have to get pulled into fear.
You don’t have to fight battles that aren’t yours.
You don’t have to let strangers online control your emotional weather.

You are allowed to choose peace.
You are allowed to protect your spirit.
You are allowed to reclaim your clarity.
You are allowed to live in calm — even in a loud world.

Live freely.
Evolve fully.
Thrive.

Posted in Podcast, Sobriety Now What | Leave a comment

Welcome to Holland: Finding Beauty in the Life You Didn’t Expect

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Stuart Cline

🌷 Welcome to Holland: Finding Beauty in the Life You Didn’t Expect

For the sobriety Now What Free podcast version of this Blog post go to:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18071757

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan.

You map out your dream trip — Italy — with excitement and high hopes. You picture the beauty, the culture, the adventure waiting for you. But when you arrive, you step off the plane and realize… you’re not in Italy at all. You’ve landed somewhere entirely different.

This is the powerful metaphor at the heart of Emily Perl Kingsley’s timeless story Welcome to Holland.
Kingsley originally wrote it to describe the unexpected journey of raising a child with a disability — but her words reach far beyond that experience. The story reminds us that even when life takes an unexpected turn, there’s still meaning, beauty, and peace waiting to be found — if we’re willing to look for it.

As someone who works with people navigating sobriety and recovery, I see this theme come alive every day.
When people first decide to get sober, they often imagine “Italy.” They picture a smooth, joyful, problem-free life ahead — one where everything finally falls into place. But what they often find instead is “Holland” — a quieter, slower, more unfamiliar landscape.

At first, it may feel like a disappointment.
But over time, Holland reveals something more profound. It shows us that real beauty often grows in unexpected places. Below is Emily Perl Kingsley’s Story Welcome To Holland that I belive you will be able to relate to in early recovery. The story addresses the experience of being on this side of sobriety and thinking, hmm, this is different than what I thought it would be like.

✨ Emily Perl Kingsley’s Story Welcome To Holland

Welcome To Holland

by Emily Perl Kingsley

Copyright©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. 

All rights reserved. 

Reprinted by permission of the author.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.  It’s like this……

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy.  You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans.  The Coliseum.  The Michelangelo David.  The gondolas in Venice.  You may learn some handy phrases in Italian.  It’s all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.  You pack your bags and off you go.  Several hours later, the plane lands. The flight attendant comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”

“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy!  I’m supposed to be in Italy.  All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”

But there’s been a change in the flight plan.  They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease.  It’s just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language.  And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place.  It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy.  But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…. and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills….and Holland has tulips.  Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy… and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.  And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”  

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away… because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But… if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things … about Holland.

🌿 Finding Beauty in Your Own Holland

I love this story because the feeling is universal. When we finally stop comparing where we are to where we thought we’d be, something powerful happens — gratitude can begin to grow.

We start noticing the small things that make this version of life meaningful:

  • The warmth of morning sunlight through the window.
  • A smile and connection from a loved one.
  • The relief of sleeping soundly without chaos.
  • The laughter shared with someone who truly sees you.

This is the heart of Holland — not the life we imagined, but a life that’s still full of love, discovery, and quiet grace.

As Emily reminds us, if we spend all our time mourning the loss of “Italy,” we’ll miss the beauty right in front of us — the tulips, the windmills, the art, and the life that’s uniquely ours.

🌼 A Gentle Invitation

This week, I invite you to notice one beautiful thing about your own Holland each day.
Not as homework, but as a soft awareness.

It might be:

  • The way the light hits the sky at dusk.
  • The sound of laughter from someone you love.
  • The peace that comes from an honest conversation.

Pause long enough to notice it. Let yourself feel it. Appreciate it.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful parts of our journey aren’t found in the places we planned — they bloom where we least expected to land.

If your Holland feels uncertain, trust that you’re not alone. Life doesn’t always take us where we imagined, but it often takes us where we’re meant to grow.

🌿 Live freely. Evolve fully. Thrive.

— Stuart Cline
Host of Sobriety Now What?
Licensed Counselor • Success Coach • Recovery Educator

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Perspective, Peace, and the Greatest Cup of Coffee

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Stuart Cline

☕ Perspective, Peace, and the World’s Greatest Cup of Coffee

By Stuart Cline, MA, LPCC, LADAC, LPAT, MAC, ATR-BC — Recovery Success Coach, Counselor & Host of the “Sobriety Now What?” Podcast

Check out the new Podcast episode 24 and hear the podcast that inspired this blog. Click on now and have a better day – https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/17980607

This morning, I sat in my office in Albuquerque, gazing at the Sandia Mountains. The sun poured through my window as I took a sip of coffee — maybe not the world’s greatest cup, but still, it was good.

And as I sat there, I thought about something Mother Teresa once said. During the Vietnam War, protesters invited her to join an anti-war rally. She declined. “If you hold a peace rally,” she said, “I’ll come.”

That small shift in perspective changed everything. Instead of focusing on what she was against, she chose to focus on what she was for. Peace. Healing. Unity.

☀️ Perspective Shapes Our World

Perspective determines how we experience life.
It’s what transforms disappointment into discovery, chaos into calm, and ordinary moments into meaning.

Sometimes in sobriety—or just in life—we expect every day to be radiant and full of joy, But then the bills arrive, emotions resurface, and some days feel… ordinary. Yet it’s often within those quieter, unremarkable days that real beauty begins to unfold.

Waking up clear-headed.
Feeling sunlight on your face.
Laughing with a friend.

Those are the moments that make life rich. Sobriety isn’t a detour—it’s a new chapter full of possibility.

🧠 The Power of Focus

Your brain literally rewires itself based on what you focus on. This is called neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to create new pathways.

When you focus on gratitude, beauty, and growth, you strengthen the neural circuits for calm and joy. Each time you pause to notice something good—a cup of coffee, a song, or a smile—you’re not just changing your mood; you’re changing your brain.

As the saying goes:
“Neurons that fire together, wire together.”

🔄 Five Ways to Protect Your Peace and Reclaim Perspective

1. Limit the noise around you.
Most news today is entertainment wrapped in anxiety. Take a break from the noise. Replace it with something uplifting—a good book, a positive podcast, or silence. Notice how your energy changes.

2. Take charge of your environment.
Your surroundings affect your inner world. Light a candle, open a curtain, or organize one drawer. Even small actions can restore calm and clarity.

3. Be of service.
When life feels heavy, help someone else. Send a kind text. Hold a door. Service expands your world and reminds you of your strength.

4. Follow your energy.
Do more of what lights you up—play guitar, paint, walk, laugh, create. Your passions aren’t luxuries; they’re lifelines.

5. Take charge of the narrative.
You hold the pen. Be intentional with your words, focus, and energy. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

💫 Your Weekly Challenge

This week, do one thing that uplifts you and one thing that helps someone else.
Write it down. Notice how it feels.

Every time you choose gratitude over complaint, creation over consumption, and compassion over frustration—you reclaim your power.

Remember this mantra:

Where your focus goes, your peace grows.

Perspective doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect—it means recognizing what’s still beautiful, still working, and still in your control.

Take a deep breath.
Exhale slowly through pursed lips, twice as long as you inhale.
Look around. There’s good here, right now—waiting to be noticed.

🎧 Listen & Connect

If this message resonated, listen to the full episode “Perspective, Peace, and Coffee” on my podcast Sobriety Now What? — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favorite podcast app.

And stay tuned: I’ve been creating a powerful new workbook and journal to help you level up your sober life — your roadmap to thriving. Loyal listeners will receive a special discount code when it’s released.

Text me the word “WORKBOOK” if you’d like to be one of the first to know.

Until next time —
Keep going. Keep growing. Keep thriving.

☕
Here’s to peace… and the world’s greatest cup of coffee.

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How to Reignite Your Motivation in Sobriety: 3 Practical Steps.

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Stuart Cline

New Episode!! Sobriety Now What? podcast – published today.

Would you like more motivation? Then you are in luck. That is what this Blog and podcast are all about after reading this check out – Sobrietynowwhat.com

How to Reignite Your Motivation in Sobriety: 3 Practical Steps.

Sobriety is one of the bravest choices a person can make. The first months often feel like crossing a bridge from chaos into freedom. Behind you are the hangovers, broken promises, and pain. Ahead lies possibility — a life you haven’t yet lived, filled with clarity, peace, and joy.

But sometimes, after the first wave of excitement fades, life in sobriety can feel flat. You may not crave alcohol, but you also don’t feel motivated or inspired. This is a common season in recovery — and it’s one that many people don’t talk about enough.

The good news? The spark can be reignited. In this post, we’ll explore three practical steps you can use right away to bring back motivation and start thriving in your sober life.

1. Reconnect with Gratitude

Gratitude is fuel. It reminds us why we started and shines light on the progress we’ve already made.

Think back to life before sobriety. How different are your mornings now? How have your relationships shifted? How has your self-respect grown?

📌 Try this: Write down three things that are better today because of your sobriety. Keep the list somewhere visible — on your fridge, in your phone, or taped to your mirror. Each time you see it, you’ll remember that sobriety is already creating positive change.

💡 “Gratitude is fuel when motivation runs low.”

2. Find Small Daily Wins

Motivation doesn’t usually come before action — it comes after. Every time you accomplish something, no matter how small, you build momentum and confidence.

One man I worked with said sobriety felt like “watching the world in black and white.” Life felt dull, and he worried the spark would never come back. A friend encouraged him to keep doing the next right thing: get up, make coffee, go for a walk.

Months later, he noticed the sunrise — and it moved him. He realized that color had returned to his world.

📌 Try this: Choose one small daily win today. Make your bed. Take a 10-minute walk. Drink a glass of water before coffee. Celebrate it. Small wins add up to big strength.

💡 “Flat seasons don’t last forever. Keep walking — the color comes back.”

3. Borrow Belief from Others

When your own spark is dim, borrow belief from others until your own grows stronger.

One woman I knew couldn’t picture herself strong. Her mentor told her, “Then borrow my picture of you until you can.” She wore a pair of bold red shoes her mentor had given her, reminding herself each day that someone believed she could walk through. Eventually, she said, “Now I walk in my own strength, but I’ll never forget the shoes that carried me there.”

Another client didn’t trust herself not to drink, so she drove through the night until the sun came up. Driving gave her just enough structure to stay sober. Over time, she learned to trust herself, and no longer needed the car. She said, “Now I trust myself enough to stay home. Sobriety is the vehicle that carries me.”

📌 Try this: Think of one person whose belief in you is solid. When you feel low, remind yourself how they see you. Let their vision carry you until yours returns.

💡 “When you can’t believe in yourself, borrow someone else’s belief until yours grows strong.”

Moving Forward

Motivation in sobriety will ebb and flow — and that’s okay. What matters is having tools that keep you moving forward even when the spark feels dim. Gratitude, small wins, and borrowed belief are three practices that can help you bridge the gap between surviving and thriving.

The spark will return — and when it does, you’ll be stronger than ever.

💡 “You didn’t come this far just to survive — you came to thrive.”

👉 If you’d like to go deeper, be sure to subscribe to my podcast, Sobriety Now What?, where I share stories, tools, and strategies each week to help you thrive in recovery. sobrietynowwhat.com

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Recover Loudly: Serena Palmer on ADHD, Addiction, and Sobriety

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Stuart Cline

Recover Loudly: Serena Palmer on ADHD, Addiction, and Sobriety

On Sobriety Now What? I had the privilege of speaking with writer, speaker, and advocate Serena Palmer in a powerful two-part series that dives deep into the realities of ADHD, addiction, shame, and recovery.

Serena is the author of the memoir My Two Brains and Me, where she shares her raw and personal journey through addiction and sobriety. Her mantra, “recover loudly so others don’t die quietly,” is more than a phrase—it’s a call to courage and honesty that has inspired countless people in recovery.

Check out the podcast with her interview now at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/17757949

Part One: Living With Two Brains

In the first episode, Serena introduces the idea of having “two brains”:

  • The rational brain that loves, works, creates, and connects.
  • The addict brain that manipulates, lies, and convinces us to make destructive choices.

She describes how ADHD shaped her early life, often being labeled as “Serena the Dreamer.” What others saw as distraction or laziness was actually her ADHD brain—filled with imagination, curiosity, and endless questions. Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted, leading to years of shame and self-criticism.

That shame fueled her drinking. Addiction became a way to silence the inner critic, but over time, the addict brain took control. Serena shared the painful truth of living with this duality—looking “normal” on the outside while her life was falling apart inside.

Part Two: The Turning Point in Recovery

The second episode continues with Serena’s time in rehab, where she faced a life-changing moment of truth. She describes the agony of finally seeing the harm her drinking caused, especially to her daughter: “The most painful part of my addiction wasn’t what I did to myself—it was what my daughter had to live through.”

For two days she sat in grief, unable to eat or sleep, but this pain became the doorway to transformation. From there, she embraced honesty as the foundation of recovery.

In part two, Serena shares the practices that keep her grounded:

  • Gratitude journaling — “Gratitude became the cornerstone of my recovery—it bookends my day.”
  • Living in truth — choosing honesty over hiding or manipulating.
  • Spirituality — surrendering to a higher power and trusting that “the universe has a plan for me.”
  • Community — showing up for others in recovery and letting them show up for her.

She also talks about how her “why” for sobriety has shifted over time—from survival, to family, to living fully in each chapter of life. Today, she no longer races to be “fixed.” Instead, she embraces recovery as a lifelong journey: “Recovery isn’t a race. It comes in chapters—and each chapter reveals something new.”

Why Serena’s Story Matters

Serena’s story shines a light on the intersection of ADHD, shame, and addiction—an area that is often misunderstood. She reminds us that:

  • Addiction is not about weakness, but about brain chemistry and pain.
  • Children with ADHD are often mislabeled, leading to lifelong struggles with self-worth.
  • Facing the truth—no matter how painful—is the first step toward healing.
  • Sobriety doesn’t take life away. As Serena says, “I’ve lost nothing from being sober and gained everything.”

Listen to the Full Conversation

🎧 You can listen to this two-part series of Sobriety Now What? wherever you get your podcasts:

Serena’s courage to “recover loudly” is an invitation to all of us to live more honestly, compassionately, and openly. Whether you’re in recovery yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for inspiration, her story will leave you with hope.

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Colm & Mike: 35 Years Sober — Honest Reflections on AA, Recovery, and Life

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Stuart Cline

What happens when a retired hostage negotiator, a retired businessman, and a counselor walk past a bar?

No, it’s not the setup for a joke. It’s the start of one of the most honest and heartfelt conversations I’ve had on Sobriety Now What.

In this week’s episode, I sit down again with two longtime friends of the podcast, Colm and Mike. Colm is a retired businessman, Mike is a retired hostage negotiator, and both have over 35 years of continuous sobriety. Together, we share nearly 200 years of life experience, and we use that time to reflect on the role Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) played in their recovery, the lessons they’ve learned, and how sobriety continues to shape their lives today.

Why This Conversation Matters

So many people enter sobriety with questions: Do I really belong in AA? Is it too religious? What if I don’t like the meetings I go to? Is it really the only way?

Colm and Mike are the first to say: AA isn’t for everyone. But it worked for them. And in this episode, they unpack why, while also talking candidly about the misconceptions that keep people away.

We explore:

  • The first AA meetings and what kept them coming back (even when they didn’t want to).
  • Myths and misunderstandings about AA, from “13th stepping” to “AA Nazis” to whether it’s really religious.
  • The role of structure and connection in recovery.
  • Why anger, honesty, and friendship can make or break sobriety.
  • What “recovering” really means after 35 years.

A Fly on the Wall

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how natural it feels. This isn’t a lecture, it’s a friendship. Colm, Mike, and I don’t always see things the same way—but that’s the beauty of recovery. There isn’t just one voice or one path.

As Colm said, “I didn’t want a path to God. I wanted a path to sobriety.”
As Mike shared, “I never wanted to be sober… until the train wreck got too close.”

Their stories are real, raw, and sometimes even funny. Listening to them, you’ll feel like you pulled up a chair in the corner and got to overhear two old-timers talking about what matters most in recovery.

Takeaways for Your Journey

If you’re in early sobriety, or even just questioning your relationship with alcohol, here are a few gems from this episode to carry with you:

  • Connection is a lifeline. Whether it’s a sponsor, a friend, or a fellow traveler, don’t go it alone.
  • AA is a tool, not a prison. If one meeting doesn’t fit, try another—or explore other programs. Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all.
  • Anger is dangerous fuel. Learn to pause, reach out, and call for help before it drives you to drink.
  • Take what you need, leave the rest. Not every piece of advice is for you, and that’s okay.
  • Happiness is possible. After 35 years, both Colm and Mike say the word that best describes sobriety is “happy.”

Listen Now

If you’ve ever wondered what long-term sobriety looks like, or wanted an inside look at AA without the stigma, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here →

And if it speaks to you, please share it with a friend who might need encouragement today.

Because sobriety isn’t just about quitting drinking—it’s about building a life worth staying sober for.

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Healing Without Reliving the Pain: My Conversation with Colette Streicher, Creator of MAP

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Stuart Cline

Healing Without Reliving the Pain: My Conversation with Colette Streicher, Creator of MAP

Take a listen to my 2 part series with Colette Streicher on Sobrietynowwhat.com

What if the way you’ve been trying to heal is actually making things harder?

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve done the work. So why do I still feel stuck?”—you’re not alone. That question comes up all the time with the clients I work with. People in recovery. People who’ve gone to therapy for years. People who’ve tried every mindset trick, affirmation, and strategy out there… and still feel like they’re fighting invisible chains.

So I want to share something that shook me—in a good way.

A few weeks ago, I tried a 2-hour workshop called The MAP Experience, led by Colette Streicher, the founder of the MAP Coaching Institute. What happened in that workshop was so impactful that I immediately reached out and asked her to come on my podcast.

We recorded a powerful two-part series that I now believe every person in recovery should hear.

Who Is Colette Streicher—and Why Should You Listen?

Colette’s story starts in a home filled with addiction, trauma, and pain. She was only 9 years old when she decided: “I’m going to be happy—and help others heal, too.” That vow launched a lifelong search across therapy, yoga, energy work, and neuroscience… all of it aimed at one question:

“Is there a way to truly heal without having to relive the trauma?”

The answer turned out to be yes.

After decades of study, Colette developed MAP, which stands for Make Anything Possible—a method that gently rewires subconscious beliefs, clears emotional blocks, and helps people break free from the old programming that keeps them stuck.

And here’s the kicker: you don’t have to talk about your trauma at all.

🧠 What Makes MAP Different?

Unlike traditional therapy, MAP works by giving precise instructions to the brain while you stay in a relaxed, mindful state. It’s backed by neuroscience, yet feels like a guided meditation. It addresses the root of emotional pain, not just the symptoms. And it’s fast, gentle, and effective—especially for those in sobriety who want to stop the cycle of self-sabotage.

Here’s what MAP can help with:

  • Cravings and addiction triggers
  • Money blocks and fear of success
  • Grief, guilt, and shame
  • Chronic anxiety and emotional overwhelm
  • Childhood trauma that still runs your life

🙌 Why I’m Sharing This With You

Look, I don’t bring just anyone on the Sobriety Now What? podcast. But I’ve personally experienced Colette’s work. I’ve seen what MAP can do especially for people trying to stay sober, rebuild after trauma, or find hope again.

If you’re tired of trying harder… if you’re ready to try something different… this could be it.

💡 How to Get Started

Colette offers a MAP Experience Masterclass—a 2-hour live workshop where you’ll get to experience the power of MAP firsthand. It’s just $37 and includes a free bonus training.

🎁 Use my 10% off code: STUART
✅ Valid on all eligible offers (applied to first payment for plans/subscriptions)

🔗 Sign up here →
👉 MAP Experience Masterclass ($37)

🧭 Explore Other MAP Programs

If you’re curious about going deeper, here are more options from the MAP Coaching Institute (use the same coupon code: STUART for 10% off):

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a year into sobriety or still thinking about making that first change, I want you to know this:

You are not broken. You do not have to fight forever. Healing is possible—and it doesn’t have to hurt.

I truly hope you check it out. I wouldn’t be sharing this if I didn’t believe it could change lives—including yours.

With hope and healing,
Stuart Cline
Host of Sobriety Now What?

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