Being Willing to Start is the Hardest Part (“The Work”)(E277)

Listen here. The episode will automatically load in your preferred podcast listening app.

I thought getting sober was the end of the story. I did it, I succeeded, now life will be amazing forever. But the parade never came. Instead, I started to get uncomfortable and notice patterns in my behavior that I didn’t like, and without alcohol around, I couldn’t unsee it. This is where a lot of people fall off. Their work begins to show up, it gets uncomfortable, and instead of facing it they talk themselves into how drinking is a good idea. In this episode, I’ll explain more about “the work”, my experience with it, and you’ll learn 3 ways you can get started facing your work.

What to listen to next:

What to listen to next:

E240: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

E267: Resources vs Support: Are You Setting Yourself Up for Success?

E245: Want to Stay Sober? You Need to Be Consistent

E248: You Can't Be Comfortable AND Stay Sober

E250: What Does it Mean to "Be Ready" to Get Sober

Resources I offer:

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life

• Weekly emails on Fridays

 Work with me:

• Sober Coaching

Courses:

• The non-negotiable mindset

• Sober milestones: what to expect when you quit drinking

• Anger Management 

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors.

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support all the research and effort that goes into this podcast. This is a one woman show!

Listen here. The episode will automatically load in your preferred podcast listening app.

Get My Weekly Email

Enter your email to get emails from me every Friday.

First name

Email address

Let's Go!

Thank you for subscribing!

---

Cite:

Gillian Tietz.  Being Willing to Start is the Hardest Part (“The Work”) (E277). Sober Powered. 2025

Please respect my intellectual property and properly credit me if you share my work.

Sources

1. Gabay, R. The tendency for interpersonal victimhood: The personality construct and its consequences. Personality and Individual Differences. 2020

2. Baars MY, Müller MJ, Gallhofer B, Netter P. Relapse (number of detoxifications) in abstinent male alcohol-dependent patients as related to personality traits and types of tolerance to frustration. Neuropsychobiology (2013) 67:241–8

3. Miller L. Predicting relapse and recovery in alcoholism and addiction: neuropsychology, personality, and cognitive style. J Subst Abuse Treat (1991) 8:277–91. 

4. Szasz, P. The effect of emotion regulation strategies on anger. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2011