Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change

Think Thursday: The Strange Psychology of Almost

Why do Olympic bronze medalists sometimes appear happier than silver medalists? The answer reveals something fascinating about how our brains process disappointment, success, and the things that almost happened.
In this episode of Think Thursday, we're exploring counterfactual thinking—our brain's tendency to imagine alternative outcomes and how those imagined possibilities influence our emotions.
We'll explore:
  • Why finishing second can sometimes feel worse than finishing third.
  • How "if only" and "what if" thinking shape our emotional experiences.
  • Why near misses can create surprisingly intense disappointment.
  • The difference between learning from the past and getting stuck in regret.
  • How becoming aware of our mental comparisons can help us appreciate our progress.
The takeaway: What happened is only part of the experience. What we believe it means—and what we're comparing it to—plays a powerful role in how we feel.
Research mentioned:
  • Medvec, Madey & Gilovich (1995) — When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists.
  • Kahneman & Miller (1986) — Norm Theory: Comparing Reality to Its Alternatives.

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What is Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change?

Join coach Molly Watts on the Alcohol Minimalist Podcast to explore mindful drinking, behavior change, and mental wellness. This show offers science-based strategies to help you break drinking habits and overcome anxiety linked to alcohol use. Whether you're an adult child of alcoholics or seeking peace with your drinking, discover tools for lasting change without shame or guilt. New episodes every Monday and 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.