Welcome back to Season Four of Through the Glass Recovery!

We’re kicking off this season with a conversation that gets to the heart of what so many of us wrestle with: how do you actually create a life so full there’s no space left for alcohol?

You’ve probably seen the quotes and memes: “Create a life you don’t want to escape from.” It sounds amazing, but what does that really look like in day-to-day life? How do you start to enjoy life after quitting drinking? In this episode, Julie, Steve, Amber, Matt, and Robbie share the real and practical ways they’ve discovered joy, connection, and meaning in sobriety - along with the things they’ve had to let go of.

It’s about learning to live fully awake, present, and grateful for the moments - big and small - that make life worth showing up for.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why connection is the foundation of a meaningful sober life
• How concerts, adventures, and family experiences feel richer without alcohol
• The surprising truth about activities that aren’t as fun when you’re sober - and why that’s okay
• The power of small joys, like a cup of tea, nature, or laughter with friends
• How sobriety changes the way we feel emotions - making both the hard and beautiful moments deeper
• Why removing clutter, noise, or old habits can be just as important as adding new experiences
• Stories of rediscovering hobbies and passions with fresh meaning in sobriety

Whether you’re early in recovery or years into your journey, this conversation is filled with encouragement, laughter, and real talk about building a life that feels vibrant, fulfilling, and most importantly - like your own.

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Learn more about our guests by visiting the full show notes on our website: https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/enjoy-life-after-quitting-drinking/

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• The No Alcohol Needed blog by Julie Miller

Welcome to Season 4 of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast!

After taking a longer summer break than normal, we're back with some real conversation about burnout, rest, and why this podcast matters so much to us. In this episode, we catch up, reflect on a summer filled with grief, joy, persistence, and adventure, and share how recovery tools continue to carry us through real life.

From moments of heartbreak to moments of magic, this conversation reminds us that recovery is about learning to face everything life throws at us without numbing. And with that comes deeper joy than we ever imagined possible.

Takeaways:

• Taking breaks is essential for mental health and creativity.
• Vulnerability leads deeper connections with others.
• Managing stress requires tools and strategies.
• Grief is a process that cannot be rushed or prepared for.
• Simple moments of joy can be healing and transformative.
• Recovery is about facing life's challenges with clarity and strength.
• The journey of sobriety continues to reveal deeper levels of joy.
• Sharing experiences can help others feel less alone in their struggles.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us your feedback at throughtheglassrecovery@gmail.com or connect on Instagram. And if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or subscribe to our new YouTube channel to watch the conversations in action.

We’re bringing back one of our most popular episodes this week while we get ready to launch brand new content. This conversation about perfectionism and recovery struck a chord with so many of you, and for good reason - it’s real, relatable, and packed with wisdom. Enjoy this re-release, and we’ll be back next week with fresh episodes you won’t want to miss.

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In this powerful episode, our group dives deep into the connection between perfectionism and addiction and how striving to be flawless can sabotage sobriety, self-worth, and emotional healing. Jessica, Sarah, Erica, Hope, Julie, and Steve share raw and honest stories of how perfectionism shaped their drinking, and what it looks like to work through those tendencies in recovery.

From redefining success and learning to sit with mistakes, to practicing self-compassion and choosing authenticity over image, this conversation is full of insight, laughter, and “me too” moments for anyone struggling with not feeling good enough.

Key Topics in this Episode:

• Defining our own standards of “good enough”
• Authentic connection requires allowing others to see our imperfection
• How perfectionism and overachieving go hand in hand to sabotage your mental wellbeing and sobriety
• The intertwined journeys of recovery and how they all affect one another
• Perfectionism as a sense of control
• Recovering from perfectionism is an ebb and flow – some days are easier than others
• The tools of sobriety also support recovering from perfectionism
• Being a perfectionist can stop you from self reflecting, not wanting to admit your flaws and shortcomings – and therefore stopping you from ever working on them.

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To learn more about our guests, visit the full podcast show notes:

https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/podcast/perfectionism-and-alcoholism/

For access to all of the resources Through the Glass Recovery has to offer, including

- FREE live virtual support group

- 1:1 coaching

- Informative blog articles

- A full podcast episode library

visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com