Ep 62: Our Alcohol Stories: Words that Can Change Your Life with Helen Packham

What if the stories we tell ourselves about alcohol are the very chains that bind us? A journey into the power of words awaits you on this episode of The Big Drink Rethink. Join host Anna Donaghey and guest Helen Packham as they unravel the narratives that shape our drinking culture and explore how changing our language can liberate us from old habits. 

In this engaging conversation discover how Helen, a speaker and Coach, uses her passion for verbal communication to transform lives. Get ready to rethink the words you use and the stories you tell yourself about alcohol.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

03:32 Words are powerful and shape stories. Humans are natural storytellers, but not always healthy ones. 

06:45 Alcohol was associated with fun and social connection.

11:54 Alcohol's influence is shaped by subconscious self-talk and marketing, reinforcing beliefs and behaviours.

15:03 Alcohol was central to Helen’s party-focused identity and she questioned who she was without it.

21:17 Outsourcing happiness and experiences to alcohol diminishes personal control and enjoyment when alcohol isn't present.

23:06 Transitioning from unconscious incompetence to applying personal development insights, helped shift her perspective.

30:52 Words can contain implicit instructions, like "happy hour".

35:12 Helen has joined and built a sobriety-focused Instagram community.

38:53 Reframe and rewrite your personal narrative through practice.

41:50 Shift the mindset from "giving up" alcohol to "gaining" benefits.

46:44 Challenge internal narratives about alcohol.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Helen Packham:

Helen Packham is a speaker coach and verbal communications strategist helping leaders and business owners harness the power of their words to change lives, for the better.  A TEDx curator and speaker, Helen passes on the powerful tool of storytelling to her clients so that they can confidently present and speak with impact. Helen lives on the south coast with her two kids and is navigating a life without alcohol and the many benefits it brings. 

Find out more: www.helenpackham.com

Connect with Helen:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenpackham/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.packham1

Listen to the Words that Change Lives Podcast:

https://podfollow.com/words-that-change-lives

Subscribe to Helen's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@helenpackhamspeakercoach

Mentioned in this episode:

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https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment