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What if the thing you use to cope is actually keeping you from truly living? I sat down with Josh Luton to explore his journey from daily drinking to sobriety, and how removing alcohol revealed parts of his life that weren't working—his career, his presence with family, and his disconnection from himself. We talk about the courage it takes to feel your feelings instead of numbing them, why overwhelm is actually rooted in fear, and how small decisions (like buying a sauna) can lead to life-changing transformations. Whether your "thing" is alcohol, busyness, social media, or something else, this conversation will challenge you to get curious about what you're avoiding and what might be waiting for you on the other side.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Why alcohol (or any numbing behavior) keeps us from feeling discontent in our lives

• The connection between overwhelm and fear, and how to get curious about your emotions

• How sobriety opened up space for Josh to discover what he actually wanted

• The three-year journey from stopping drinking to becoming a full-time entrepreneur

• Practical tips for tracking what energizes vs. drains you

• Why you don't have to tell everybody everything, but you should tell somebody something

• How to live a regulated, honest life by listening to your body

CHAPTERS

[0:00] Introduction to Josh Luton

[2:30] Josh's Journey with Alcohol

[6:45] The Shift to Sobriety

[8:15] Current Life and New Career

[14:30] Understanding and Feeling Emotions

[20:00] Emotional Sobriety and Internal Family Systems

[28:00] The Promise and Reality of Sobriety

[32:45] The Impact of Sobriety on Life and Career

[34:00] Connecting Sobriety to Entrepreneurship

[35:15] Discovering Unfulfilled Aspects of Life

[38:30] The Role of Writing in Sobriety

[43:00] Exploring New Ventures and Self-Discovery

[49:00] Practical Tips for Self-Reflection and Growth

[56:30] Living a Regulated and Honest Life

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• One Year No Beer - Challenge program for taking a break from alcohol

• Laura McKowen - Author of "We Are the Luckiest" (sober memoir)

• Julia Cameron - Author of "The Artist's Way"

• The Feelings Wheel - Tool for identifying and naming emotions

• Josh's Substack: Gone Dry

• Josh's Coaching Website: joshualuton.com

Want to learn more?

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.