What Questions Should You Ask Before You Quit Drinking?

What Questions Should You Ask Before You Quit Drinking?

Ep 83 - If you're searching for a stop drinking journal, trying to quit drinking, or questioning your relationship with alcohol, this episode will help you uncover the thoughts, beliefs, fears, and habits that may be keeping you stuck. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte shares 10 powerful reflection questions designed to help you gain awareness, challenge long-held assumptions, and prepare your mind for lasting change. Inspired by Philippians 4:8, these questions encourage listeners to focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable while examining their relationship with alcohol honestly and without shame. Whether you're exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle, considering sobriety, building healthier habits, or working through another life-interfering thought, emotion, or behavior, these questions can help you identify what alcohol promises, what it actually delivers, and what freedom could look like on the other side. In This Episode * 10 powerful questions to ask before you quit drinking * Why awareness often precedes lasting change * How journaling can reveal hidden drinking patterns * The connection between thoughts, habits, and behavior change * What fear, identity, friendship, and shame have to do with alcohol use * Why honest reflection is a critical part of renewing your mind * How Philippians 4:8 provides a framework for focusing on truth Featured Scripture Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Mentioned in This Episode If today's questions sparked some honest reflection and you'd like to go deeper, explore these resources: Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol A practical guide designed to help people prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for lasting change. Includes a downloadable workbook with additional reflection exercises and guided questions. https://amzn.to/4umJs6l [https://amzn.to/4umJs6l] Choose Freedom® Program A 12-week faith-based, neuroscience-informed program designed to help people break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today/] The Plans He Has For Me A 12-week devotional created to help people renew their minds and build an alcohol-free life through Scripture, reflection, prayer, and practical application. https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL [https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL] Transformed by His Promises A 12-week devotional that combines biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help readers overcome life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://amzn.to/43PWhvf [https://amzn.to/43PWhvf] Related Episode Compassion, Justice, and the Choices That Shape Generations [https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/compassion-justice-and-the-choices-that-shape-generations] - https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/compassion-justice-and-the-choices-that-shape-generations This episode explores how our choices influence future generations and why our habits matter more than we sometimes realize. Connect with Rose Ann Forte Website: https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today/] Free Resources: https://choosefreedom.today/free-resources/ [https://choosefreedom.today/free-resources/] Articles: https://choosefreedom.today/articles/ [https://choosefreedom.today/articles/] Subscribe & Review If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and consider leaving an honest review. Your support helps us reach more people seeking freedom from alcohol and other life-interfering habits. #ChooseFreedom #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #ChristianRecovery #RenewYourMind

Coach Layne: Six Years Alcohol-Free and What Became Possible

Ep 82 - In this heartfelt episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Choose Freedom coach Layne shares a deeply personal reflection as she approaches six years free from alcohol. She was previously interviewed on the podcast - listen to that episode here - https://choosefreedom.today/alcohol-free-coach-laynes-story/ [https://choosefreedom.today/alcohol-free-coach-laynes-story/] Layne opens up about how putting alcohol aside helped her reconnect more deeply with her faith, hear God's direction more clearly, and step into a calling that had been waiting for years. Since choosing the alcohol-free lifestyle, she has written and published three books, including her newest book, More Than a Mocktail: A Fresh Approach on a Timeless Tradition. But this episode is not only about quitting drinking. It is about what happens afterward. Layne explores the question many people face once alcohol is removed: Now what? For many, alcohol was connected to ritual, relaxation, celebration, social comfort, and the transition out of stress. When it is gone, something meaningful needs to be built in its place. Through the lens of faith, creativity, history, and intentional living, Layne invites listeners to think beyond deprivation and begin imagining a richer alcohol-free life. She shares how old beverage traditions, herbal drinks, mocktails, hospitality, journaling, nature, and meaningful rituals can become part of a beautiful new rhythm. This episode is an invitation to stop focusing only on what you are leaving behind and begin asking what God may be calling you toward. In This Episode Layne shares: How her life changed after choosing the alcohol-free lifestyle Why quitting drinking is only one part of the journey The deeper question that often follows: "Now what?" How alcohol can mute awareness, purpose, and spiritual clarity Why meaningful rituals matter after alcohol is removed How her new book More Than a Mocktail was born The connection between alcohol-free living, creativity, faith, and purpose Three reflection questions for prayer and journaling Reflection Questions from the Episode 1. What parts of your life may be muting your ability to hear God's direction, purpose, or calling more clearly? 2. After removing something unhealthy from your life, what meaningful rituals, habits, or connections could you begin building instead? 3. What gifts, dreams, or deeper parts of yourself might be waiting to emerge if you created more space for reflection, intention, and alignment with your values and faith? Resources Mentioned Choose Freedom Program [https://choosefreedom.today/directory/] The Plans He Has For Me [https://amzn.to/4dyEZHk] Prepare to Quit [https://amzn.to/4djMPpD] Transformed by His Promises [https://amzn.to/4tPqTaW] Layne's coaching through the Choose Freedom Provider section [https://choosefreedom.today/directory/entry/35/?zoom=3&map_lat=55.8303234&map_lng=-78.4615175] Layne's book: More Than a Mocktail: A Fresh Approach on a Timeless Tradition #ChooseFreedom #AlcoholFreeLifestyle #ChristianSobriety #LifeAfterAlcohol #MoreThanAMocktail

How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting

Ep 81 - Have you ever cried out "How long, God?" — waiting for healing, freedom, a prodigal child to return, or relief from something that has taken over your life? In this episode, Rose Ann opens a devotional she just finished on Psalm 13 and unpacks David's raw, honest cry to God. She explores the Hebrew word qavah (the true meaning of "wait"), the neuroscience of hope and dopamine, and why your waiting season is not empty — it is where a thread becomes a rope. In This Episode: * Psalm 13:1–2 and what David's lament gives us permission to do * Why Scripture doesn't tell us exactly when David wrote this psalm — and why it doesn't matter * The Hebrew word qavah: waiting is not passive — it means to bind, twist, and intertwine * Chalaph: the trade — your exhaustion for His strength * Isaiah 40:31 and what the original Hebrew actually reveals * Ecclesiastes 4:12 — a cord of three strands * Lamentations 3:25 — the Lord is good to those who qavah * Two kinds of "how long" waiting for people in recovery * The neuroscience of hope: why dopamine fires on anticipation, not pleasure * David praising before the rescue came — and what that does to the brain * Three reflection questions and a closing prayer Scripture References: * Psalm 13:1–2, 5–6 * Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) * Ecclesiastes 4:12 * Lamentations 3:25 Resources Mentioned: * 📺 YouTube video: "The Promises of God: What the Original Hebrew Actually Reveals [https://youtu.be/rKD-Pggjr-U?si=WloiBWCxLFYLAxqC]"] * 🎙️ Previous episode: Willing But Not Yet Ready [INSERT LINK] * 📖 The Plans He Has for Me [https://amzn.to/4wjPZkw] — 12-week devotional for anyone struggling with alcohol or other substances * 📖 Prepare to Quit [https://amzn.to/4faE4zm] — the eight spiritual keys to finally getting ready, includes personal workbook, Audible version, and three bonus core concepts from the Choose Freedom program not available anywhere else [INSERT AMAZON LINK] * 📖 Transformed by His Promises [https://amzn.to/4dgbGJI] — 12-week companion devotional challenge for life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors * 💻 Choose Freedom Program [https://choosefreedom.today/choose-freedom-program/] — structured coaching journey with a trained coach Reflection Questions: 1. What is your "how long" prayer — the one you have carried so long you have almost stopped saying it out loud? 2. What lie have you been believing that keeps you returning to the same place? 3. If this pattern disappeared tomorrow, what would you actually want your life to look like — and what would that hope catalyze in you?

Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back

Ep 80 - Many people reach a point where they want to change, yet find themselves stuck in the same patterns. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Rose Ann Forte explores the critical gap between willingness and true readiness—and why understanding that gap can change everything. Drawing from both personal experience and her work with clients, Rose Ann explains why repeated attempts to quit often lead to frustration and shame. She reframes the struggle through both Scripture and neuroscience, showing how patterns form in the brain and why this does not mean you are broken—it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Through powerful biblical insight, including John 8:34, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 4:15, this episode reveals that transformation is not a single decision but a refining process. Just like testing gold or running clinical trials, real change requires repeated testing, awareness, and intentional practice over time. Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of hope, a deeper understanding of their patterns, and a practical pathway forward—one that removes shame and replaces it with clarity, truth, and the possibility of lasting freedom. In this episode, Rose Ann Forte addresses a common but often misunderstood experience: wanting to quit a habit or behavior but not being able to follow through consistently. She explores the difference between willingness and readiness, and why recognizing this distinction can remove shame and accelerate real change. Through a combination of biblical truth and neuroscience, Rose Ann explains how repeated behaviors create neural pathways, why relapse does not mean failure, and how preparation—not just action—is the key to lasting transformation. Key Topics Covered: * The difference between desire and readiness * Why repeated attempts to quit are part of the process * The role of neural pathways in habit formation * "Psychological slavery" and John 8:34 * Romans 12:2 and the refining process of transformation * The Transtheoretical Model of Change * Why action alone doesn't work for most people * The three keys: awareness, exposing the lie, and choosing a new path Key Scriptures: * John 8:34 * Romans 12:2 * 1 Timothy 4:15 Core Takeaways: * Wanting to change is not the same as being ready to change * Your brain is not broken—it is operating as designed * Transformation requires testing, practice, and repetition * Shame delays progress; awareness accelerates it * Preparation is the foundation for lasting change Reflection Questions: 1. What if going back to the pattern isn't a failure, but evidence of how your brain has been trained? 2. What is the repeated thought or belief that shows up right before the behavior? 3. If this pattern disappeared, what would you truly want your life to look like? Resources Mentioned: * Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol: https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm [https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm] * Choose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today] * Recommended Resources and Links * Choose Freedom Program and Resources - https://www.choosefreedom.today [https://www.choosefreedom.today] * The Plans He Has for Me Devotional - https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 [https://amzn.to/42Y3E40] * Transformed by His Promises Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ [https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ] * Podcast Episodes with Dr. David Jenkins (Stages of Change) Part 1 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190] Part 2 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480]

Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh

Ep 79 - Why do we wait until life falls apart before we finally change? In this episode, Rose Ann Forte explores the powerful story of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33—a king whose life was marked by extreme rebellion, yet ultimately transformed through repentance. Despite repeated warnings from God, Manasseh ignored truth until severe consequences forced him to see clearly. This episode unpacks the deeper pattern behind that behavior. From both a biblical and neuroscience perspective, repeated actions become automatic, making it difficult to change even when we know better. Often, it takes pain to interrupt those patterns and create awareness. But what if you didn't have to wait for the "brick wall"? This episode challenges you to recognize early warning signs, interrupt destructive patterns sooner, and respond to God before consequences take hold. No matter how far you've gone, restoration is always available—but the decision to turn can happen today. Key Takeaways * We often don't change when we hear truth—we change when pain gets our attention * Manasseh ignored God's warnings until consequences forced awareness * Repeated behaviors become automatic in the brain, making patterns hard to break * Pain interrupts patterns—but awareness can interrupt them earlier * You don't have to wait for a "rock bottom" moment to change * God responds to a repentant heart with mercy and restoration * Early awareness and intentional response create a pathway to freedom Faith and Neuroscience Insight The brain becomes efficient at whatever we repeatedly do. Over time, behaviors—whether helpful or harmful—become automatic. Even when we know something isn't right, that knowledge alone may not be strong enough to interrupt the pattern. Pain often becomes the interrupter. But awareness can be trained before consequences occur—creating space to choose differently without needing a crisis moment. Reflection Questions 1. Where in your life have you been continuing a pattern you already know is not aligned with what God is asking of you? 2. What are the early signals—thoughts, feelings, or behaviors—that show up before that pattern takes over? 3. What would it look like for you to respond differently this time, not waiting for consequences, but choosing to turn now? Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources https://www.choosefreedom.today [https://www.choosefreedom.today] Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm [https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm] The Plans He Has for Me Devotional https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 [https://amzn.to/42Y3E40] Transformed by His Promises Devotionalhttps://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ [https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ] Related Episode: Forgiveness of Self (Core Concept 7, September 1, 2025) [https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/you-are-already-forgivennow-its-time-to-live-like-it-core-concept-7] Suggested Scripture 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 (NLT) 2 Chronicles 33:6 2 Chronicles 33:9 Romans 12:2 John 8:34 Connect and Next Steps If this episode encouraged you: Follow the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes Share this episode with someone who may need it Leave a review of the podcast or one of the books you've read—this helps others discover a path to freedom Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianPodcast #RenewYourMind #FaithAndScience #BreakThePattern #BiblicalWisdom #PersonalGrowth #FreedomInChrist #AddictionRecovery #MindRenewal