What stories have you been telling yourself about who you are, what you’re capable of, or what your past means? Have you ever questioned whether those stories are actually true?
In this episode of Inspiring Possible, Christy Pennison welcomes author, speaker, health coach, and former commercial fisherwoman Colleen Clifford for an honest conversation about binge drinking, grief, suicide, behavior change, and the stories we create around painful experiences.
Colleen shares how her late husband’s alcohol-related suicide led her to begin writing vulnerably about grief and loss. Over time, that writing evolved into her memoir, connecting his story with her own experience as a binge drinker and her decision to quit drinking.
The discussion also moves beneath the behavior. Christy and Colleen examine how painful experiences can lead us to create stories about ourselves, including stories that may have no basis in truth. For Colleen, uncovering the story beneath her behavior helped her realize she had spent decades believing she was unlovable and would never get married or have children.
The question that changed everything was simple: “Is the story true?”
My book isn’t really about drinking. It’s about the story I was telling myself that wasn’t even true.
— Colleen Clifford
In this episode we dive into:
- Understanding binge drinking and its risks
- Finding the reason strong enough to support lasting change
- Managing cravings with awareness and a plan
- Exploring the story beneath a behavior
- Questioning the narratives we create about ourselves
- Seeking support instead of internalizing pain
- Building compassion through shared human experiences
Don’t miss this vulnerable episode about changing automatic behaviors, examining the stories that keep us stuck, and finding freedom in a new understanding of the past. Tune in to Inspiring Possible and consider what story you’re telling yourself, and whether it’s true.
About Colleen Clifford
Colleen Clifford is an author, speaker, and health coach who is a passionate advocate for change. A former binge drinker and longtime commercial fisherwoman who understands how intense environments, stress and unprocessed grief shape our habits. After losing her husband to alcohol-related suicide in 2011, Colleen began asking deeper questions about cravings, coping and resilience. Her work weaves mindset and lived experience, offering practical tools for change.
Connect with Colleen:
https://lifebeyondthebinge.com/
https://purepotential.health/
https://www.instagram.com/purepotential.health/
https://substack.com/@purepotentialhealth
