76. Simple Acts of Self Love

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Hello, darling heart, and welcome to the drink less, live better podcast.

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This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely, or boring.

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I'm your host, Sarah Williamson, and I decided to have a year alcohol free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back.

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With my experience and training, I now help other people with their alcohol free or drink less adventures.

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You can find out more and sign up to my 5 day drink less challenge at drink less live better dot com.

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I'm here to tell you that you can connect, and have fun without alcohol in your life.

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Join me here each week to find out how.

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So I've just had to give mister w a talking to.

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He's working from home today, and whenever I try and find a moment to record a podcast, he seems to get on the phone at that precise moment.

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Mister w doesn't really need a phone to communicate with his clients.

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I'm sure if he just opened the window they could hear him from wherever they were. He is so loud.

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Take a deep breath and let go, it's okay, I've told him don't pick up that phone for the next 10 minutes.

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We're towards the end of September right now and just around it the corner is October and of course I'm gonna love calling it sober October.

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Is this the moment you've been waiting for? The first of a month.

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We're heading towards the end of 2022, and this could be your opportunity to take in the last quarter of the year alcohol free.

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As it happens, my one to one coaching program is a 3 month program.

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So if you would like to make the very best of the end of this year now would be a perfect time to sign up.

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You'll find the link in my show notes.

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Today's episode is all about small acts of self love.

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What can we do for ourselves to bring a little bit more love and care into our lives?

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My first and number one tip to you all is turn off the news.

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Mister w thinks I'm crazy for this, but I did it back in 2019.

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At that point, I turned the radio off.

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I was listening to so much negativity in the morning.

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My kids were getting ready for school in the kitchen and asking me questions about the items that were on the news that I

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couldn't really answer, and it was not filling any of our hearts with positivity and joy in the morning.

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The radio in the kitchen was the first thing to go.

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Then went the 10 o'clock headlines, I just stopped watching the news and I'm so glad I did before the pandemic set in.

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I don't have anything on my social media feeds as far as news is concerned, and the only things that I get sent are things

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by friends or family that they think might be of particular relevance or interest to me.

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My mum cuts things out from the physical newspaper and sends them to me. I love that.

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That is a truly edited news feed. Acts of self love.

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So first, turn that news off if you can. 2nd, just take 15 minutes to get in that shower.

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I know at times in my life when I was feeling really rubbish, the most difficult thing of a morning was getting into the shower. Make that a priority always.

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Have you got time to read a chapter of your favourite book?

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Now I love self development and learning as much as the next person, but I can't tell you what joy I get from reading a really good novel.

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I'm afraid I've deleted my Amazon Prime account. Shh. Don't tell them.

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And I've gone back to the old fashioned library.

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It's a complete joy because I use the app to order the books that I want which means I know that they'll be on the shelf waiting

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for me when I get down there.

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I love the act of borrowing a book and then taking it back.

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I don't need to own physical copies of these books unless it's something I particularly love and want to own, in which case

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I might go and search it out to keep. A cup of tea.

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I am the number one fan of sitting in that chair with that freshly brewed cup and just staring over the steam, over the rim

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of the mug, out of the window and really enjoying that drinking experience. Respect your body.

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Move it in a way that feels just right for you.

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If running isn't your thing that is fine, move slowly, stretch, just do whatever it takes to really feel into your physical body.

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I have stopped doing so much running now and I would consider myself to be much more of a walker and I'm all the more happy for it.

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Eat and drink as best as you can possibly manage in any given moment.

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Don't buy that food that you know you really don't want to eat.

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I know it's easy to say, but just don't do it.

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Be absolutely patient with and kind to yourself.

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Congratulate yourself on all even the really teeny tiny ones.

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Develop yourself some medium long term plans and goals.

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What are you aiming for next in your life?

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Seek out those people who are doing what you want and follow them closely behind, and indeed ask them for support and love. Stop the comparison.

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So whilst it's okay to look at other people who are a few steps ahead of you and desire a bit of what they've got, you do

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not need to compare yourself to them.

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This will only decrease your self love.

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You are doing you and they are doing them.

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Focus very closely on your self talk.

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Be as loving and compassionate as you possibly can be to yourself.

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Speak to yourself how you would a very dear friend. Do find comfort

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And are you friends with other people who are on a self love journey?

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Seek out some new friends if you need to who are open to this way of life.

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Be open and curious about who could come into your life at this moment.

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And lastly, do more of the things that you love and where you possibly can do less of the things that you don't.

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Check out the show notes on this podcast or any other episode.

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You'll find details about the drink less, live better 2020 retreat. I'm so excited.

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You'll see the link to a hidden podcast episode to help you with your 5 PM cravings, and you'll be able to read about my one to one coaching program.

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I'd love it if you could follow and download the podcast, and if you feel inclined to leave a review, that would be lovely as well.

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Thank you for listening in again today.

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Please come back next week, and, PS, I believe in you.