The first thing my friend Ingrid showed me as we began talking was her Bible— the one she had when she was 21. Inside, she wrote an inscription, something she believed God told her…
“I love you and I want you to be free.”
⭐️
Ingrid was around alcohol her entire life. Casually.
She tried it when she was 12— and immediately spit it out.
“That’s important,” she says, “because we learn that it’s an acquired taste. We don’t naturally like things which are harmful to our bodies.”
(The good...
The first thing my friend Ingrid showed me as we began talking was her Bible— the one she had when she was 21. Inside, she wrote an inscription, something she believed God told her…
“I love you and I want you to be free.”
⭐️
Ingrid was around alcohol her entire life. Casually.
She tried it when she was 12— and immediately spit it out.
“That’s important,” she says, “because we learn that it’s an acquired taste. We don’t naturally like things which are harmful to our bodies.”
(The good news is that if it’s a learned behavior, you can unlearn it or replace it.)
Eventually, she acquired the taste and began drinking more…
Especially as she got older (it became more of a crutch, as if often does).
And as she got remarried (into a fabulous family of extroverts who never meet strangers, always invite everyone Into the home, and constantly pull out more chairs for more people).
“It was just the perfect storm,” she says.
She found a path forward and quit.
And, her husband, who had been her “drinking buddy,” quit with her.
⭐️
Today, Ingrid coaches clients on how to be free of alcohol. And, she does so from a position of grace and empowerment, by helping people change their mindset and their beliefs about alcohol.
She helps people explore questions like…
👉 Does this really relax me?
(No, alcohol messes up your sleep, jacks up your cortisol, messes with your adrenalin, and creates anxiety… then, you drink more to take the edge off… but, you create a bigger problem by drinking more. Before long, you’re just feeding the beast.)
👉 Does this really serve me?
(Most of the time, the honest answer… is no.
It doesn’t reduce anxiety, it doesn’t create mental clarity, it doesn’t make you feel better.)
In other words, she doesn’t lead with “will-power” or deprivation— two things which don’t, long-term, work.
👉 Does this really numb out the bad stuff?
(Sure, but you can’t selectively “numb.” If you’re hiding yourself from the bad, you’re also hiding from the good. You need to be able to experience both, so you can navigate life wholly.)
⭐️
On the other side of her freedom march in this area, Ingrid found more confidence in her decision-making ability. And she discovered she could be happy without being propped up by any external thing.
Most people find the same…
She leads structured groups for 3 months and meets with clients 1:1.
She finds that groups allow people to support and lean on each other— and see that they’re not alone in the journey.
She also provides—
👉 a video each day
👉 written prompts
👉 journaling exercises
⭐️
This reminded me of 1 John 1:7, where we’re told that if we walk in the light we find true connection with each other— and cleaning.
And of James 5:16, where we’re told to confess… to each other… so that we can experience healing.
And of Galatians 5:1— it is for FREEDOM you’ve been set free…
++++
Links…
Need better habits in your life? Check out the new app at www.Jenkins.tv/app — we’ve partnered with Oola to bring you an incredible resource that helps you define your purpose, live with less stress, and accomplish more.
Soul Wholeness is the latest book + video course on the site. The soul is uniquely different than the spirit— and is the place where habits and emotions and feelings dwell. Learn more about the project at www.Jenkins.tv/SW
