Unshackling the Chains of Addiction to Empowerment

Embark on a transformative journey from the tempest of addiction to the tranquil shoes of a life you love, the latest episode of ABGW - Amazing, Brilliant, Gorgeous, Wonderful. Your guide, Cheryl, steers us through the squall with practical strategies and heartfelt stories, proving that even in our darkest times, we can be the captains of our own destinies.

In this episode, we're not just talking about addiction but setting sail towards a life brimming with passion and purpose. Whether you're grappling with the grip of substances or the pull of pervasive habits, Cheryl's insights offer hope. Remember, listening from the harbour is okay if you need more time to be ready to face the waves. But for those setting sail with us, prepare to turn your struggles into strength.

Supported by Her Guru Coaching and Hypnotherapy, we explore the potential within. Cheryl compares addiction to a stormy sea, urging us to remember we're not mere leaves in the wind but rather captains with the power to navigate towards peace and recovery. She shares the tale of Sarah, whose cluttered home and empty heart led her on a voyage to reclaim her life, reminding us that we, too, can steer towards calmer waters.

Faith shines like a lighthouse in the dark, not just in religious terms, but as a belief in something more significant that offers hope and strength. Cheryl admires the resilience of those in AA meetings, their stories a humbling reminder of the silent battle against addiction. She encourages us to find our own "force," like in Star Wars, to combat the darkness.

Courage, Cheryl asserts, isn't about the absence of fear but about facing it head-on. She recounts the story of Linda, whose quiet determination exemplifies that Courage can be a whisper promising to try again tomorrow. Like Marvel's heroes, we can summon our inner Hulk to confront our personal villains with indomitable spirit.

We meet Alex, whose battle with food addiction led him to discover the therapeutic power of running, tapping into an inner strength he never knew he had. Rita's journey to quit smoking, one day at a time, showcases the monumental achievements that patience and perseverance can bring.

Cheryl invites you to lean on the support of friends, family, and groups like AA, rewarding yourself for each milestone and seeking support, as Tom did, to overcome the feeling of isolation. These stories are not just tales but lighthouses guiding us towards a brighter future.

As we conclude, Cheryl reminds us that recognizing our addiction is only the first step. With the strategies shared today, we can all break free from addiction's chains. You are not alone, and together, we can conquer anything. Stay tuned for more empowering content as we delve into mindfulness and self-care in upcoming episodes.

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Transcript

ABGW explores how we can turn our struggles into strength

>> Cheryl: You. Have you ever wondered how the shadows of your past can illuminate the path to your future healing and growth? And I'm just curious to know, can you imagine transforming your deepest struggles into your greatest strength and then finding joy in places that you least expect it? Hello, everyone, and welcome to ABGW. Amazing. Brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful. I'm Cheryl, your guide. And today's episode is all about breaking free, escaping the clutches of addiction. Now, we're not just having another conversation here. Of course we're not. We're using this as a stepping stone towards the life we love more often than not. So stay tuned while we look at some practical strategies that may help you get more of the life that you love. Remember, if you're not ready for that kind of challenge yet, that's okay too. Just listen and join in when you want to. But for those of us who are sticking around, let's dive in and discover how we can turn our struggles into strength. Stay tuned.


ABGW explores strategies to help you overcome addiction and achieve peace

This episode of ABGW is brought to you by her guru coaching and hypnotherapy. Exploring the potential within. Her guru provides both physical and mental fitness coaching and hypnotherapy services. You can find out more details by visiting Herguru UK. To me, addiction can be like being stuck in the middle of a crazy storm where the wind's howling and rain's pouring down. A bit like the weather at the moment. And it's not just about being hooked on substances like alcohol or drug. It's also about those sneaky habits like overeating, smoking, compulsive shopping. But the thing is, here's the good news. You're not just a leaf in the wind. No, you can be the captain of your own ship, steering clear of the chaos and navigating towards a life of peace and, um, recovery. So let's explore some strategies to help you take back control.


Sarah was caught in the addiction of online shopping

So imagine yourself on a boat and missed a ferocious storm. To me, that's addiction. But you also have to remember that in every storm m there's a calm know where you can find peace. And it's interesting because my Friend Sarah, she was caught in the addiction of online shopping. I must admit, I've had that addiction too. And she was buying all sorts of things, things that she would never use. Appliances, kitchen gadgets. Um, I remember seeing her wardrobe of coats that she never actually wore. And one day, I remember she realized her house was getting full. But she also realized that her heart was empty. And that's when she decided to take control and start steering her life towards calmier waters. And the thing is, just like Sarah, you too can start navigating your way to a healthier and happier relationship with yourself in your life.


Faith can help you overcome addiction, Cheryl says

So first up, let's talk about faith. Because to me, it's like, uh, that lighthouse beacon in the dark. Faith isn't just about religious beliefs, which, of course, it is, but it's also about believing that there's something greater than you that will give you hope and strength. That's one of the reasons why I like hanging out with people who go to AA. Now, you're probably thinking, why would Cheryl say something like that? The thing is, if you've ever gone to an AA meeting and you've sat down and listened to some of the stories that people who have been addicted to alcohol have conveyed, you would understand that really, your life and the things that you moan about are nothing. Nothing. These people, I revere them. Honestly. I say this from the bottom of my heart. Addiction is the silent killer. It's killing all of us. It's killing all of us because especially something like alcohol, because it's everywhere. In fact, I'm, uh, one of these people who, when I go out and I don't drink, and I don't drink a lot, I never have. People find it weird. People find it peculiar. You don't drink? Are you ill? Is there something wrong with you? No, I'm, um, just not a big alcohol fan. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I don't like the way it makes me behave. And I don't like waking up with hangovers. And for me, hangovers are not even like hangovers. Hangovers. Hangovers are like, I have to sleep 12 hours. So that's like a whole day gone when I've drunk too much. So what I would say to you is faith is like Star wars, where the force, that, uh, unseen power, that can really bolster you in your fight against addiction. And no matter how dark it seems, there's always a glimmer of hope. And that's what I have found. Hanging out with people who regularly attend AA meetings and are willing to confront what is going on in their heads so that they can be empowered with that higher power. The universe, the force, whatever you want to call it, whatever floats your boat. To me, it's never too late to find the strength in your beliefs, whatever they are. So I'm thinking about Jack, a young man who was addicted to gambling. And I remember he felt lost until he found the solace in meditation and spirituality. And now what's so profound is that he now paints. He has these amazing canvases that he does. And, um, I think that newly found faith began from his guiding light, that guiding light that he found in attending meetings, because it was showing him that there is much more to life than that roll of the dice. His story is kind of like a testament to the faith that he has in himself and how faith can illuminate the darkest, the darkest of paths.


Courage is more about facing fears head on than being fearless

So let's flex our courage muscles. And to me, courage isn't about being fearless. It's more about facing fears head on. It's about feeling. I don't know if you've ever heard that saying. It's about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. And being a superhero in our own stories. And, um, for you, you can confront your addiction like it's the ultimate villain. I'm thinking of a scene from Marvel movies where the heroes always stand up to impossible odds. And that's the kind of courage we're talking about here. So unleash your courage. Unleash it. Amazing, brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful. Helping women just like you who are unhappy, perhaps even with your supposedly quote, unquote, good life. This is a mum and daughter duo not pulling any punches as we explore trauma recovery and ideas for building resilience. So you work smarter and definitely not harder to create a transformational life, a life you love more often than not, towards recovery. And what I found really interesting was Linda's story kind of showed me that courage doesn't have to be a big roar. It can be something just quiet, like that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, you know what? I will try again tomorrow. Because inside each of all of us, there's a hulk waiting to be allowed to do some unleashing. It's funny, just as I was thinking that, I was imagining the incredible Hulk in the Marvel movies, and I remember that scene where they try and get him to just calm down. And I remember him doing something with the widow. I think it was the widow. And she was touching his hand. She was using that, uh, slight touch to calm him down. Because the thing is, you got a well of strength, just like the hulk within you. And when you tap into it, you become unstoppable. People are so amazing. I will never understand how, as, uh, a society, we're constantly putting people down. People are truly amazing. You only need to see that when you think about what it was like when you were a child, how nothing seemed impossible to you. And, um, your parents would always have to be calling you back because you wanted to explore the world and just see what was going on. So I invite you to recognize your inner strength and use it to tackle the challenges that you may have of addiction. Now, I'm remembering the film peaceful warrior. It's one of my favorite films, and it's about finding inner strength in the face of, uh, adversity. And to me, that is a perfect metaphor for our journey.


So now let's talk about tapping into your inner strength. Alex struggled with food addiction until he started running

So now let's talk about tapping into your inner strength. So consider this the story of Alex. Alex struggled, uh, with food addiction. He felt completely powerless until he started running. Now, I remember Alex seeing him in a, uh, YouTube video when he first started running. And I'll be honest, Alex was definitely overweight. Um, you could see that he was having problems with his knees because of his weight. Um, but what I noticed in this series of videos, um, that I saw that Alex put on YouTube is that with each step, he kind of tapped into his inner strength. And, um, it was an inner strength that it was interesting. I don't think he even realized he knew that he had. But what you noticed was that running became his hero. Running became his therapy, his way of sort of reclaiming back some control in his life. And for me, Alex's journey just reminds me that our inner strength is like that muscle, that the more we use it, the stronger it becomes. And that is true because I remember when I first started running and because of my body shape. Um, I'm not a long distance runner, but even I have done a half marathon. I've done several half marathons now. And it's like, to me, it's all about your mindset, what is possible for you. Of course, you've got to consider your physical body and looking after it and making sure that you stretch properly and you eat well so that you can feel your muscles. But a lot of the challenges that we face, and I'm not saying that everyone should go out and do a half marathon. Um, I'm just saying that sometimes we have to push past the fear that we have, the fear that we create for ourselves and just do things anyway and just see what happens. And I remember the first half marathon that I did, reading half marathon, even though I was physically absolutely exhausted at the end, I felt so elated. Honestly, I remember I wanted to walk home crazy, I know, but I remember feeling that. That I felt so good within myself that I had achieved something that I never, ever thought I would ever do. And, yes, loads of people run half marathons. I'm not exceptional in any way, but what I would invite you to think about. We all have these mental blocks that we put up. And if running, if giving your time to charity, if helping other people helps you along that way so that you can knock down some of those barriers, I would invite you to do that. M Recovery is a long road, kind of like a marathon. So patience and perseverance is your best friend, dudes. So start small. If a day feels too long, start with an hour. If an hour feels too long, start with ten minutes. If even ten minutes seems too long, do what James clear does. Start with even something even smaller than that. Start with 1 minute. Because to me, it's like building a puzzle one piece at a time. And I want to share rita's story. Rita was addicted to smoking for over 20 years. Rita's path to quitting was, of course, filled with ups and downs, but with patience and perseverance, um, rita's celebrated one year of smoke free life, a smoke free environment in her home that she now loves. And it's kind of like Rita's story is, um, to me, a really powerful example of how just taking things one day at a time can lead to momental achievements. So I want you to think about this for a moment. Just think about how you can lean on other people for support. Your friends, your family, the support groups, like aa and any other support groups that you can find, because they can be your lifeline on this journey. So join a support group. Find your tribe, those that, uh, understand what your struggle is. And I want to invite you to reward yourself for every milestone that you reach. Now, I know what I'm like. I have a tendency to reward myself with food. I, uh, love sweet things. So what I try and do, because I know I have this tendency, what I try to do is reward myself with practical things. So, that's one of the reasons why I love going to the theater, because I use that as my reward. I save my little pennies, and then come summertime, I'm out there, I'm out enjoying as many plays, theater, opera, ballet, uh, concerts. I just love all that. So that's how I reward myself. Whenever I know I'm doing good work, I put my pennies in my jar, and then, yeah, boom, I'm out there enjoying all those beautiful things. So, yeah, reward yourself in a way that will support you, will support your efforts. And nothing says celebration to me like a good get together. So if it means having a small party with friends and family, if that's going to help keep you on the straight and narrow, you do it.


Lastly, um, I want to talk about seeking support. Tom was overcoming an addiction to painkillers

Lastly, um, I want to talk about seeking support. Uh, I'm thinking about Tom here. Tom was overcoming an addiction to painkillers, which to me kind of seems impossible, really, until he joined a support group. And I remember Tom telling me that he found people who listened to him and they kind of understood and helped him move away from that feeling of being alone. And he was explaining that this community became his lifeline. And Tom experience kind of shows me the incredible power of seeking and receiving support. So what I'd invite you to do is recognize that any addiction that you have, regardless of what it is, recognizing that addiction is your first step. And, um, with some of these strategies, I believe you'll be gearing yourself up for the battle that you need to go through. But I want you to remember that you're not sailing these stormy seas alone. We're all in this together. And together we really can conquer anything. So let's set sail towards a, ah, life you love more often than not. So, as we wrap up today's episode, remember, um, that recognizing your addiction is just the first step. And like Sarah, like Jack, like Linda, like Alex and Rita, and Tom, you too can break free of the chains of addiction. And I want you to remember, these stories aren't just tales. They are beacons of hope guiding us towards a brighter future. And you are not alone on this journey. And together, we can conquer anything. So let's keep sailing towards a life we love one day at a time. And remember, the conversation doesn't just end here. Um, we're going to be diving into other aspects of trauma recovery, exploring how mindfulness and self care can help transform our lives. So stay tuned. This is just kind of like a little taster of some of the content that's coming up.


This episode explores trauma recovery and resilience

But before I go, I just want to invite you to think about how today, in this moment, just for today, just like that little card that the, uh, aa give out, it's called just for today. Just think about the one thing that you can actually do that's going to make the biggest difference, not just to your life today, but tomorrow and, um, the days and weeks ahead. Okay? So we have tackled something really close to my heart today, and I just want to thank everyone for the insights that they've provided in helping me craft this episode. What I would like to say is, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I would like to invite you to seek help in a support group. Anything that will help you move closer to the life that you love. Thank you for joining us here in our journey of exploring trauma recovery and resilience and breaking free of the clutches of addiction. I hope this episode has helped you create the life you love. More often than not, remember to stick around for more empowering content from ABGW. Amazing. Brilliant. Gorgeous. Wonderful. Remember, your resilience is not just a trait, it's a powerful force that shapes your life. So as we part ways, for now, may your force go with you and be with you, guiding and strengthening you every step of the way. So until the next time, keep finding embracing those moments of outrageous unconscious joy. Bye for now. Bye.