Episode 32: Sips of Serenity: How Faith Can Help Us Heal

Episode 32: Sips of Serenity: How Faith Can Help Us Heal

What happens when alcohol slowly disconnects you from yourself… and from God? In this heartfelt episode of The Zero Proof Life Podcast, Becca sits down with Carolyn Bennett — co-founder of The Zero Proof Life, certified This Naked Mind Coach, Ecotherapy Practitioner, and creator of the Sips of Serenity devotional — for a deeply honest conversation about faith, healing, identity, and what it means to truly “thaw out” emotionally after alcohol. Carolyn shares her personal story of feeling spiritually disconnected during her drinking years, how fear and shame fueled her relationship with alcohol, and how reconnecting with God, nature, and her body became an essential part of her healing journey. Together, they explore: * How alcohol disconnects women spiritually, emotionally, and physically * Why so many women feel “numbed out” or detached from themselves * The concept of “thawing out” emotionally in alcohol-free living * Learning to sit with discomfort instead of escaping it * The connection between faith, nervous system healing, and recovery * Nature, intuition, and hearing the “still small voice” again * Shame, self-worth, and remembering that you are not broken * Carolyn’s inspiration behind her devotional Sips of Serenity * How science and scripture beautifully complement one another in healing * Morning routines, gratitude, and simple practices that bring life back into living This episode is especially meaningful for women who feel stuck between knowing alcohol no longer serves them… but still longing for peace, purpose, and connection. A Few Favorite Quotes from This Episode: > “Alcohol didn’t just numb my anxiety. It numbed my joy, my peace, and my connection to myself.” “I felt like I was taking sips of chaos — when what I truly wanted was serenity.” “You are not broken. You introduced a flawed substance into your life.” “Even when I was running from God… He was still holding me.” Resources & Links: 🌿 Download Carolyn’s FREE Sips of Serenity Devotional https://winter-hall-28614.myflodesk.com/30daydevo  Also available through Carolyn’s Instagram and Facebook: @carolynbennett2.0  🌿 Learn More About The Zero Proof Life: https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/ [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/] 🌿 Follow The Zero Proof Life: Instagram & Facebook: @thezeroprooflife About Carolyn Bennett Carolyn Bennett is a certified This Naked Mind Coach, Ecotherapy Practitioner, speaker, and co-founder of The Zero Proof Life. She is passionate about helping women explore alcohol-free living through compassion, faith, and connection to nature. Her devotional Sips of Serenity was created to help women feel less alone and more spiritually anchored on their alcohol-free journey. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who may need it and leave us a review. Your support helps more women discover freedom, healing, and hope. Until next time — stay curious, stay kind, and keep choosing The Zero Proof Life. Follow ZPL:  * https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] Follow the coaches: * Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/])   * Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/])  * Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/ [https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/])  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life. These conversations are for informational purposes only and not medical or mental health advice.

Episode 31: Mastering Emotions with DBT

In this episode, Suzette Bray, a licensed marriage and family therapist, discusses the fundamentals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and its practical applications for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and managing intense feelings—especially relevant for those navigating alcohol-free living. keywords DBT, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mental health, alcohol-free, coping skills, workbook, therapy, mindfulness, emotional intelligence key topics * Introduction to DBT and its origins * Core skills of DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness * Practical tools like the STOP skill and mammalian dive reflex * DBT in schools and community settings * The connection between trauma, mental health, and alcohol use takeaways * DBT was initially developed for chronically suicidal and self-harming individuals but is broadly useful for emotional regulation. * Skills like the STOP technique and mammalian dive reflex can be practiced anywhere to manage high distress. * Teaching DBT skills in schools helps normalize emotional health and provides early intervention. * Alcohol often masks underlying emotional issues; addressing these with DBT can lead to lasting change. * Consistent practice of coping skills is essential for them to become natural responses in high-stress moments. guest:  Suzette Bray https://www.suzettebray.com/ Follow ZPL:  * https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] Follow the coaches: * Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/])   * Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/])  * Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/ [https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/])  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life. These conversations are for informational purposes only and not medical or mental health advice.

Episode 30: Limiting Belief Lab- "I Deserve A Drink"

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, hosts Karla Adkins and Lorna Wilson are back in the Limiting Belief Lab to break down one of the most common beliefs tied to alcohol use: "I deserve a drink." Whether it shows up after a hard day, a big win, or a nerve-wracking moment, this belief is deeply woven into our culture — and in this episode, Karla and Lorna walk you through their four-step process to examine it, challenge it, and transform it. In this episode you'll hear: * Why "I deserve a drink" actually comes from a beautiful, healthy impulse — and how our thinking around it gets twisted * The Backpack — the cultural, family, and social messages we've absorbed about drinking as a reward * The Hard Drive — how our subconscious mind files these experiences and drives automatic behavior without fact-checking * Real, personal stories from Karla and Lorna about what it actually cost them when they acted on this belief * What your wiser self already knows — and how to start building new, truly restorative ways to celebrate and decompress The Four Steps of the Limiting Belief Lab: 1. Name it — Write it down and single it out 2. Where did it come from? — Explore your backpack (external messages) and your hard drive (subconscious patterns) 3. What is it costing you? — Fact-check the belief against your real experience 4. What does your wiser self know? — Discover what genuinely fills your cup and restores you Show Notes Recap — The Four Steps: Step 1 — Name It: Write down the belief. "I deserve a drink." Naming it and isolating it is the first step to examining it. Step 2 — Where Did It Come From? * The Backpack: Think about what you absorbed growing up — from family, TV, workplace culture, happy hours. These messages were loaded into your backpack before you ever made a choice about drinking. * The Hard Drive: Your subconscious mind files sequences — work hard → drink — without fact-checking them. These become automatic responses. The good news: science shows you can create new neural pathways. Step 3 — What Is It Costing You? Write down specific examples from your own life. How did using alcohol as a reward actually make you feel? Did it deliver on its promise — or did it rob you of sleep, clarity, memory, or your sense of accomplishment? Step 4 — What Does Your Wiser Self Know? What does she say? What does truly restoring yourself actually look like? What fills your cup, helps you wake up feeling proud, and sets you up for the next challenge? Follow ZPL:  * https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] Follow the coaches: * Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/])   * Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/])  * Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/ [https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/])  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life. These conversations are for informational purposes only and not medical or mental health advice.

Episode 29: Three words that changed my alcohol-free journey

What if just three words could shift everything about how you experience your alcohol-free life? In this episode, Karla Adkins shares the simple but powerful phrase that transformed her mindset and confidence on her alcohol-free journey: I don't drink. Karla takes us back to an early moment in her sobriety — a turbulent solo flight where she had to decide how to respond when a fellow passenger offered to order her a drink. What happened next was small, but the impact was anything but. In this episode, Karla breaks down: * Why saying "I can't drink" or "I wish I could, but I can't" keeps you stuck in a mindset of deprivation and invites unwanted questions * How shifting to "I don't drink" reclaims your power and reflects who you truly are * Why your language around alcohol matters more than you think * A simple challenge to try for yourself the next time someone offers you a drink Whether you're brand new to the alcohol-free life or years into your journey, this episode is a great reminder that the words we use shape the way we feel — and sometimes, three little words really can make all the difference. Episode Keywords: alcohol-free, sober curious, sobriety, mindset, language, confidence, anxiety, alcohol-free lifestyle, zero proof Follow ZPL:  * https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] Follow the coaches: * Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/])   * Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/])  * Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/ [https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/])  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life. These conversations are for informational purposes only and not medical or mental health advice.

Limiting Belief Lab- What if I lose my friends when I stop drinking

This episode kicks off a brand new series called The Limiting Belief Lab — a deep dive into the beliefs that keep people stuck in their relationship with alcohol. Karla and Lorna explore how our beliefs around drinking are often the biggest barrier to finding freedom, and introduce a four-step framework for dismantling them. Today's Belief Under the Microscope: "I will lose my friends if I stop drinking." The 4-Step Limiting Belief Lab Process Step 1 — Name It Identify and plainly state the belief that's coming up for you. There's no shame in it — the fear of losing friends is a deeply human response rooted in our need for connection and belonging. Step 2 — Where Did It Come From? This is the meat of the process, broken into two parts: * The Backpack — Social conditioning we carry from childhood onward. Alcohol is romanticized everywhere — in advertising, at weddings, on girls' weekends — and becomes fused in our minds with joy, celebration, and togetherness. * The Hard Drive — Your subconscious mind. Biologically, humans are tribal beings. Belonging meant survival. So the fear of being "cast out of the tribe" is a very real, hardwired threat response — not a character flaw. Step 3 — What Is It Costing You? Get honest about what drinking really looks like — not the romanticized version, but the reality. The next-morning shame, the panic about what you said, the relationships strained. This is where your brain begins to update its story. Step 4 — What Does Your Wiser Self Know? Your inner mentor knows that good friendships survive change. Some friendships deepen without alcohol. Some that fade were held together only by drinking — and that's okay too. Your wiser self also knows: you may be blocking yourself from meeting people who are an even better fit for who you're becoming. Key Takeaways * Your fear of losing friends is valid and human — you are not alone in it * Alcohol doesn't deserve credit for genuine connection — your people show up for you * Neural pathways can actually change when you consistently tell yourself the truth * Some friendships are for a season, and that's part of growth Resources & Links * Guest: Lorna Wilson  https://www.lornawilsoncoaching.com * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] * Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  Follow ZPL:  * https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/ [https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/]  * https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription [https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription] Follow the coaches: * Brandi Babb – @brandi.babb (https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.babb/])   * Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/])  * Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/ [https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/])  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life. These conversations are for informational purposes only and not medical or mental health advice.