In this insightful episode, Molly Watts dives into the power of challenging and changing your core beliefs about alcohol and yourself. As many navigate Dry January or strive to build a peaceful relationship with alcohol, Molly shares how deeply ingrained beliefs can keep us stuck in unwanted habits. Drawing inspiration from Think Again by Dr. Adam Grant, she discusses how curiosity and resilience can lead to meaningful change.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Challenging Dry January Setbacks:
- Molly encourages listeners not to use one "off-plan" drinking day as proof they can't change.
- She emphasizes meeting yourself where you are and focusing on small, consistent actions aligned with long-term goals.
- Core Beliefs About Alcohol:
Molly revisits the five deeply held beliefs about alcohol that often drive drinking habits:
She explains how these beliefs contribute to desire and how science contradicts many of them.
- Self-Limiting Beliefs:
- Beyond alcohol, Molly discusses the stories we tell ourselves, like "I can't have fun without drinking" or "I've failed before, so I'll fail again."
- She highlights the importance of questioning whether these beliefs are always true.
- The Power of Rethinking (Inspired by Think Again):
Molly introduces Dr. Adam Grant's insight: "Most of us spend too much time thinking about how to get people to think like us and too little time thinking about how to get ourselves to think differently."
- She emphasizes developing mental flexibility by embracing curiosity and the willingness to be wrong.
- Three-Step Framework for Changing Beliefs:
- Get Curious: Ask, What if I'm wrong about this?
- Embrace Being Wrong: Recognize that being wrong isn't failure—it's growth.
- Practice Resilience: Accept that change takes time and keep moving forward despite setbacks.
- Rewriting Self-Limiting Beliefs:
- Molly offers actionable steps to identify and challenge limiting beliefs.
- Example: Replace "I can't manage stress without drinking" with "I'm learning to manage stress with healthier tools like exercise or mindfulness."
- The Role of Curiosity and Resilience:
- Molly stresses that curiosity helps uncover blind spots, while resilience allows us to keep going despite challenges.
Recommended Resources:
- Book Mentioned: Think Again by Dr. Adam Grant
- Alcohol Minimalist Programs:
- Drink-Less Success– 30-Day Mini-Program
- Making Peace with Alcohol – 12-Month Group Coaching
- Proof Positive – 12-Week 1:1 Coaching for Women
- App Recommendation: Sunnyside for tracking
Action Steps:
- Identify One Core or Self-Limiting Belief: Write it down and ask, Is this always true?
- Challenge and Replace It: Develop a new, empowering belief to practice daily.
- Stay Curious and Resilient: Keep questioning old stories and be patient with your progress.
Connect with Molly:
Closing Thoughts:
Molly leaves listeners with this empowering reminder:
"When we change what we think, we change how we feel. When we change how we feel, we change how we act. And when we change how we act, we get different results in our lives."
Until next time, choose peace.
Have episode suggestions or questions? Reach out to Molly at
molly@mollywatts.com. Let’s continue this conversation and grow together!
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What is Alcohol Minimalist: Change Your Drinking Habits! ?
Change your relationship with alcohol without shame, guilt, or going sober. Join science-based coach Molly Watts to break habits and find peace through mindful drinking.
Hosted by author and coach Molly Watts, this show is for daily habit drinkers, adult children of alcoholics, and anyone stuck in the “gray area” of alcohol use.
Each episode blends neuroscience, behavior change psychology, and real-world strategies to help you build peace with alcohol — past, present, and future.
You’re not broken. You’re not powerless. You just need new tools.
Less alcohol. More life. Let’s do it together.
New episodes every Monday & Thursday.
Becoming an alcohol minimalist means:
Choosing how to include alcohol in our lives following low-risk guidelines.
Freedom from anxiety around alcohol use.
Less alcohol without feeling deprived.
Using the power of our own brains to overcome our past patterns and choose peace.
The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast explores the science behind alcohol and analyzes physical and mental wellness to empower choice. You have the power to change your relationship with alcohol, you are not sick, broken and it's not your genes!
This show is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, please seek medical help to reduce your drinking.