Episode Summary:
We're officially halfway through the year, and today’s episode is your invitation to pause, check in, and realign. If you’re feeling like you’ve drifted from your intentions around alcohol—or life in general—this isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. Molly introduces a powerful, science-informed tool called the PEACE Self-Audit to guide your mid-year reflection and help you gently reassess where you are and where you want to go.

This episode ties back to a recent Think Thursday episode on values alignment and burnout, highlighting how the gap between our professed and practiced values can impact our emotional and physical well-being. Through five thoughtful prompts—Progress, Emotions, Alignment, Consistency, and Expectations—you’ll reconnect with your goals and reclaim your power to move forward with peace.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the midpoint of the year is a psychologically powerful time to reflect
• The meaning of cognitive dissonance and how it shows up in our habits
• How to use emotions as data instead of judgment
• Why values alignment is essential for lasting change (including a callback to a Think Thursday episode)
• How habit science supports small, consistent actions over big overhauls
• The difference between expectations rooted in growth vs. shame

Referenced Framework: PEACE Self-Audit

• P – Progress: Recognizing small wins and the “Progress Principle” (Dr. Teresa Amabile)
• E – Emotions: Understanding emotional states as behavior signals (Dr. Marc Brackett, Yale)
• A – Alignment: Exploring congruence between values and behavior (Self-Determination Theory)
• C – Consistency: Anchoring change in repetition, not perfection (Dr. BJ Fogg, Charles Duhigg)
• E – Expectations: Shifting mindset around what success looks like (Dr. Carol Dweck)

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Download the PEACE Self-Audit PDF
• Think Thursday episode: “Why Burnout Lives in the Gap Between Your Professed & Practiced Values”
• Sunnyside App – Start your 15-day free trial

Resources for Continued Support:

• Making Peace with Alcohol Group Coaching

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you love. And remember: peace is the goal—not perfection.

Low risk drinking guidelines from the NIAAA:

Healthy men under 65:

No more than 4 drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week.

Healthy women (all ages) and healthy men 65 and older:
No more than 3 drinks in one day and no more than 7 drinks per week.

One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. So remember that a mixed drink or full glass of wine are probably more than one drink.

Abstinence from alcohol
Abstinence from alcohol is the best choice for people who take medication(s) that interact with alcohol, have health conditions that could be exacerbated by alcohol (e.g. liver disease), are pregnant or may become pregnant or have had a problem with alcohol or another substance in the past.

Benefits of “low-risk” drinking
Following these guidelines reduces the risk of health problems such as cancer, liver disease, reduced immunity, ulcers, sleep problems, complications of existing conditions, and more. It also reduces the risk of depression, social problems, and difficulties at school or work.