In this episode of The Shannon McCabe Show, I’m answering a really great question I got asked recently: What was the single most important tool that helped you in early sobriety?
And honestly? It wasn’t a supplement, a routine, or a perfectly calm life. It was a mindset shift that changed everything.
I talk about the moment I decided that drinking was no longer an option, not as a punishment, not from fear, but as a form of radical self-honesty and accountability. Leaving the door cracked open to alcohol kept me stuck. Closing it fully gave me peace.
In this episode, I share:
- Why “drinking is not an option” was a game-changer for me
- How leaving the door open to alcohol keeps your brain in constant negotiation
- What radical accountability actually looks like in real life
- How I learned to face stress, motherhood, grief, and hard seasons without numbing
- Why early sobriety requires new coping tools—not just more willpower
- The role community plays in staying grounded and supported
I also open up about navigating recent grief and how this same mindset continues to support me through life’s hardest moments without reaching for alcohol.
If you’re early in sobriety or stuck in the exhausting back-and-forth, this conversation will help you understand why clarity matters and why choosing yourself fully is an act of deep self-respect. You don’t need to do this perfectly. You just need to stop negotiating with something that no longer serves you.
Check out the details about my upcoming Sober Women’s Retreat in Sedona, a space designed for women who want to heal, grow, and reconnect without alcohol in the way.
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you’re enjoying The Shannon McCabe Show, it would mean the world if you could take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps more people find these conversations and start their own journey to living alcohol-free.
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you share on social media, tag me—I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with you. 💛
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