Alcohol-Free Advantage Podcast with Andy Ramage

After recently re-watching the amazing, yet slightly unnerving, Gene Wilder in the classic film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.I could not get the following verse from the song ‘Pure Imagination’ out of my head:‘If you want to see paradise, just take a look around and view it’’ Sometimes enlightenment comes from the strangest places, and this sentence really struck a chord.And following my long Camino walk I came to the realisation that paradise is very often all around us, we just have to open our eyes and see it. The problem with modern living is that we are in such a rush to be busy in our busy lives that we miss the paradise right under our noses. Lives run at warp speed, and whilst we chase emails, social media and 21st century living there is a danger that we miss so many of life’s great moments. When you throw in a few hangovers, our focus narrows further. Life becomes a ball of stress, worry and mental distraction that drags away from the beauty of the present moment. One of the great benefits of going alcohol free is that you regain some time and space back to slow down a little. By slowing down I don’t mean dropping out or losing your edge, I simply mean staying present in the moment and enjoying whats happening around you. On a personal note, once I stopped drinking I regained the motivation to explore my inner world and discovered mindfulness meditation. The ancient practice is such a wonderful skill to enhance ones ability to stay present and enjoy life in the moment. Without sounding overdramatic, my world started to open up in ways I had never experienced before.A classic example was my walk to work. Like most of us, I had walked this walk hundreds of times with the sole purpose of getting from A to B. My head was full of worries, concerns or to-dos for the day ahead. I was running on autopilot, the lights were on, but nobody was home. I was a perfect city worker clone. Running in the rat race of life. But one day, as my mindfulness practice developed, I did something crazy - I lifted my head, slowed my walk and looked around me. I opened my ears to the noise of the city and discovered that I could hear birds singing. I noticed flowers that I never knew existed in tiny green oasis that had previously slipped under my radar. It was as if I was viewing this same old route for the very first time. It was simple, I was learning to stay in the present moment.And right in this moment, I did not have to worry or threat about the day ahead. I could deal with these concerns when the time came.  Right now on my short walk to the office I could simply breathe deep and enjoy life. This was such a liberating feeling, as well as a powerful indicator of positive change in my life. Mindfulness was starting to make sense to me. It was not about sitting around doing nothing, trying to clear your mind all day. It was actually about building skills to notice the world around you in the moment and learning to enjoy its beauty without mental distraction about the past or future. Learning to cultivate a slower, more mindful pace will start to reveal little moments of paradise that were previously unnoticed. Perhaps you will find them in the beauty of nature, the taste of a home-cooked meal, the eyes of your loving partner, the softness of your child’s hand in yours. These are little moments of paradise on earth, right under your nose, all you have to do is look around and view them. Here’s an idea - today, try to spend just a few minutes totally present in the moment. You can take any situation, the coffee shop, the chat with your child after school, the walk outside - whatever it is, just slow down, stay present, aim to keep your mind from chasing worries into the past or future and simply stay with the moment. Breathe deeply as you do and see if you can find your little bit of paradise.Your coach Andy PS - FREE workshop tonight! Come and join me and learn all about coaching and how it can provide the mearningful learning you seek. 50% of our coaches take our course for self-development and career advancement! The other 50% to become part-time or full time coaches! So we have you covered! Click here to join me tonight on Zoom

It is great to be back, buzzing around my local woods and london!I was re-reading a book on my way to meet a coaching client.And a line struck me“We grow more by getting it wrong than by getting it right.” Richard RhorWhat a great truth.This message appears throughout the ages of ages within the great texts, myths and stories. There is a fall before the rise. The stumble before the stand. The death and renewal story, the Phoenix from the flames and night into day. The signs are there, yet, too many run from failure, too many stay small, hiding in the comfort zone of life.A slip is critical to our growth. And I am fortunate enough to witness the falling, to rise on a daily basis, through my mission to help people transform their relationship with alcohol. This is why the story is continually told. You can’t choose your falling, it’s something that happens to you, and it hurts.The job loss, break up, addiction, problem, illness, or bereavement are a few of many examples. I have witnessed the fall and rise so many times that it all makes sense. When life puts you on your backside, you uncover your mortality. The shortness of life is revealed along with a crack in the ego that allows you to see with new eyes. As the genius, Leonard Cohen, sings,” There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” Old ways of behaving appear trivial, and you hear a new story, one that gifts you the space to change, grow and learn. A glimpse of your true, authentic self is revealed, which is life's greatest discovery.Problems are a gift that helps us to grow. They don’t feel like this at the time, and if you’re in the midst of what feels like a terrible burden, perhaps this is your opportunity to rise and come back stronger, to experience the true meaning of your life. But during the fall, you only feel the pain; it's not until you rise that the significance of the fall is revealed.You will find new eyes to view your world. To embrace and savour what’s truly important. So while it might hurt right now, just imagine that you are on the verge of something special. Your biggest obstacle is a chance for victory. As Marcus Aurelius points out,"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." AndyPS - I am biased, but one of the greatest ways to turn your defeats into victories is to learn how to coach and provide help to those who are facing the same struggles you have now overcome.This is your fast pass to a life of contribution.All you need to do is be brave enough to take action. Click here to find out how I can help you become a coach.PPS - Already a coach? You have two options:Take my coaching specialism in Alcohol-Free Performance CoachingJoin my Coach Business School and take my world-class Coach MBA!

Discover the challenges of staying sober at social events, especially after an exhausting trip. Explore how asking the right questions can shift your mindset and combat negativity. Delve into the pitfalls of moderation and realize that true freedom in alcohol-free living comes from a transformative mindset rather than simply limiting drinks. Hear about an exciting new retreat designed to help individuals rediscover their purpose while navigating life's adventures.

If you want to come on the adventure of a lifetime.I am enrolling for my July life/executive/alcohol-free coach training. I would love for you to join me. This is not just a course, it is a transformative experience of insight, action and contribution. You don’t need any experience; all you need to do is show up, and I will take care of the rest.Click here for more details - www.andyramagetraining.com This morning at 7:30 am I began walking. Twelve hours and 28 miles later, at 7:30 pm, I arrived at my destination!Santiago de Compostela.My Camino walking adventure complete.As I stumbled into the square in front of the Cathedral, I expected trumpets to sound, tears to fill my eyes and the crowds to cheer me on as I moon walked over the finish line.But there was none of this.Just the blissful joy of having completed a real adventure.A goal that I first wrote down 6 years ago! As I sat (collapsed) on the cobblestones in front of the Cathedral, I smiled deeply.And remembered the incredible truth about goals.Lasting joy hides in the struggle to reach our goals, not in the end result.And every step of this adventure was joyful.There are so many big takeaways. In this week's episode of the Alcohol-Free Advantage Podcast, I am going to talk about something very personal that I don’t ever really talk about. And that I had not planned to talk about - The spiritual side of the Camino.And why a personal life philosophy is vital to a life of purpose. In my opinion. If this sounds interesting, please click the link below to listen in, or follow the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from.Your CoachAndy

The power of now 14 years ago, I took my first 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Relief (MBSR) course.For two hours a week, we would meet in Camden, London from 7 - 9 pm.It was a big commitment.And I was still drinking at the time.Plus, the daily mindful practice was for 45 mins!Which, in truth, I rarely completed. And neither did anyone else, as far as I could tell.Each week, you could hear the hushed tones. “Did you do the practice?”“Sort or…”“Erm….”To make matters worse, if I were remotely hungover, I could not do the practice because I felt too anxious to focus on my breath.The irony. Still, I made the effort to show up and do the work as best I could.But I didn’t get it.So I tried again a year later and took another full 8-week MBSR.It still didn’t click.4 years later and 4 MBSRs later, I knew exactly how to meditate but had still missed the point.Mindfulness too often feels like a thing we should do to be mentally healthy.But this is not what it’s all about. Walking the Camino has helped remind me of the true power of the present moment.Forget the labels like mindfulness.The great Eastern traditions, along with a few Western spiritual leaders like Eckhart Tolle, tell us that there is power in the now.Walking without distraction creates the perfect space to be in the moment.It also, in my opinion, helps to have a mind free from alcohol.What I discovered as I walked is that the now is blissful.There are no ghosts from the past or worries about what you must do. Or fears around imagined futures. There is just being.A oneness with all.When the past and future stories stop, there is a glimpse of something bigger. Rather than feeling like I should do my mindfulness. I am now craving the power of now.It is hard to explain in written form, so I recorded a podcast episode specifically about this experience. It might be my most important to date.A takeawayMaybe take a few minutes to let all the stories inside your mind go. Don’t chase them back into the past or the future. Just settle into the moment. Where there are no worries, fears or shoulds.Just oneness. Let me know what comes up for you.Your coach Andy PS - Enrolling now - July cohort.  If you want to learn more about the power of now, come and train with me on my next 6-month triple-accredited life/executive coach training programme. This is not just a course; it is a transformative learning experience, and I would LOVE for you to join me.Click here for more information.

Hi,Walking the Camino has taught me a great lesson.Less is more.For a long time, I held the conventional view that a life of fulfilment consists of adding more successes, bucket lists, and stuff.But as I walk and read, I am experiencing a very different conclusion.The secret to a great life is to subtract, not add.If you can imagine life as a backpack.When I first started the Camino, my backpack was overflowing with stuff.You quickly figure out every ounce counts when carrying the bag for 8 hours.You learn what’s essential and what's not.And remove all non-essential items to end up with the vital few.This is the powerful message behind one of my favourite books, Essentialism.As Greg McGowen points out, “The way of the essentialist is the relentless pursuit of less but better.”You might find that your life backpack is stuffed full of non-essentials.That’s because, “If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will” It is not until we check our life backpack we discover it is full of other people's plans, commitments, and non-essentials.We often pick up these non-essentials without EVER checking to see if they are essential to us.And it is the non-essentials that are weighing you down 24 hours a day.As McGowen suggests:“A non-Essentialist thinks almost everything is important”“An Essentialist thinks almost everything is non-essential” Now imagine removing all unnecessary commitments, habits, and workload?How light you would feel.How would you feel if you could put all your life force into the work, causes, and people in your life that are most important?Imagine the joy, meaning and contribution, you would experince if you could focus on things that matter most.In todays podcast I will deep dive into some of the techniques you can use to remove the trival many and discover your vital few!Before I go.What is one commitment or habit you could remove from your life backpack today that will make you feel a little lighter?Your coach AndyPS - Enrolling for July now:If you want to join me on the adventure of a life time. Come and train with me as a coach. It was learning to coach others that transformed my life and now I am on a mission to personally pass on this gift to you.Visit - www.andyramagetraining.com for more information

I did not think this would happen so quickly.Not even a week into my 500-mile Camino walk across Spain.And already, the game-changing insights are beginning to surface.People walk the Camino for three reasons:ForgivenessHelpAnd thanksI am here to give thanks for everything I have.And I owe so much to one change! I will say this for a fact. Had I not quit alcohol, this adventure would NEVER have begun.There was no time, energy or clarity.I was stuck in survival mode.This week, on the Camino, I was in thrivival mode (That’s not even a word, but you get what I mean)As I walked, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.I am grateful that my relationship with alcohol woke me up.Woke me up to my authentic self.And I am so grateful that it has done the same for so many others.So this message is not too long. I will cover two of the insights, and I save the BIG ones for my Alcohol-Free Advantage podcast. Click the links below to listen to this week's conversation. The hardest move in yoga is getting onto the mat.It is the same for the CaminoIt is the same for all our goals in life.Once started, the adventure springs to life. “Whatever you can do, or dream you can; begin it. Boldness has genius power and magic in it.” Goethe But too many dreams and goals are never started.They get pushed into the background, drowned by the busyness of life.How many unfinished books lie dormant on laptops?How many businesses never make it out of the pub?How many meaningful careers never happen?The secret, therefore, to the Camino and all our goals is the boldness to begin.Stop worrying about the futureWhen you walk for hours without distractions, you hear your mind speaking. And mostly what it says is fear-mongering nonsense.A MAJOR insight for me already is that most of the noise in my head is about the future.As I continuously remind my coaches and clients.If it is in the future, it is made up.It can’t be a fact.All it is, at best, a best guess.But it's never a good guess.It is usually the worst possible imagined thing in the future. It is the crash and burn scenario. Well, that’s what I found in my brain.I now understand what  Mark Twain meant when he said,“I am an old man who has known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened”What a tremendous insight.I know this is not new wisdom, but it was the first time I have EVER had this experience of hearing my brain so clearly that I saw it for what it is.And now I will STOP trying to guess a made-up future. And begin to live more in the present.**I am already in danger of becoming like Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses, when he says, “During the war…” and everyone rolls their eyes - here he goes again.“When I was on the Camino….”My takeaway from this first week is to get out into nature and turn off your phone.And take your mind out for a long walk and see what you notice.Until next week, Buen Camino.Your Coach,Andy

5 regrets of the dyingHow to avoid them!Hi,We often throw away the line, “No regrets”But do we mean it?Bronnie Ware worked in palliative care for decades.She sat with the dying as they faced the end.And she found a deep love for life.Bronnie turned the insights she gained into an influential book called. ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’.This book had a massive impact on me.It inspired many changes in my life.Including changing careers from running a brokerage to living the life of a coach. And on today's podcast, I will deep dive into each of the top five regrets.But there is one regret I wanted to focus on, and that I struggle with.“I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”There's something magical about spending time with a good friend. We all know it and feel it.But I have been guilty of prioritising work over friendships. So I wanted to share out loud how the top regrets have inspired me to put more effort into my friendships.Recently, I flew to Ireland to climb a mountain with one of my best mates, and it was a joyful experience.Just this week, I got to hang out with a friend before he ran the marathon.Dressed as a Rhino! On Friday, we have over 100 people joining us for our coach graduation ceremony in London.This will be full of new connections as our coaches fly in from all over the world to meet in person for the first time, having been on a powerful learning adventure together. But it’s too easy to let friendships slide away. Many of us fall into this trap.We all get so busy.With family and general life.And top regret 2: "I wish I hadn't worked so hard", can zap the time required for friendship.But there is always time.Seneca said it best, “It’s not that we don’t have enough time, it’s just that we waste so much of it”Here is an important message for us all from those whose time has come to an end.Stop wasting time on the trivial and unimportant things.Make time for friendships.My no-regrets challenge to you is to reach out to one old friend.Today.Let me know how it goes.Your coach Andy

Why I am dropping EVERYTHINGI am dropping everything to walk the 500-mile French Camino.El Camino is a 1000-year-old pilgrimage. I am taking the French route. Which begins in Southwest France, then crosses the Pyrenees, and continues all the way west along the top of Spain, finishing in Santiago de Compostela.And it’s been calling me to adventure for over 5 years.When I first wrote it down as one of my goals.Now it is time.Why?In our 24/7 world, it will be the greatest gift to switch it all off for a month.And see what bubbles up.Just me, nature, and my thoughts.And a LONG walk.I have no idea what I will find.Who I will meet.Or what revelations I will experience. Each day, I aim to reflect on these insights and share them with you.*This might change; we will see.I won’t be doing the sharing or have any social media.Everything will be switched off.My wonderful team will help.So today, I thought I would flip the script and ask you for some advice.If you were about to set out on the adventure of a lifetime.What advice would you give me?Your coachAndy