EP 28 – Today’s guest is Erika Kelly, and her story is gonna interest you, because it isn’t the typical one. Erica grew up in a safe and almost idyllic Home, one that’s described by her as from the Nick at night show. She was raised in the church and found comfort and faith in Jesus at an early age. Despite not having a tragic or traumatic upbringing, Erika’s unique story has shaped her into the person she is today. Self Discovery and gratitude led to a transformed life.
02:19 Erika’s Personal Life: Family, Career, and Passions
04:10 The Athlete’s Struggle: Performance Anxiety and Identity
10:43 The Battle with Alcohol: Recognizing the Problem
13:05 Quitting Alcohol for Family and Self
17:04 The Impact of COVID-19 on Drinking Habits
21:47 Rebuilding Life, Marriage, and Health
26:10 The Impact of Alcohol on Physical Appearance
26:48 The Surprising Age Reversal After Quitting Alcohol
28:48 The Interplay Between Alcohol, Mental Health, and Stress
31:32 The Challenge of Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey
32:00 The Power of Support and Overcoming Shame
33:04 Embracing Publicly and Its Challenges
36:20 Finding Strength in Gratitude
In this podcast, we invite you to step into a world where freedom from the psychological slavery of alcohol and other substances isn’t just a dream—it’s a reality. Through the power of shared stories and unfolding faith, God reveals the amazing gifts and promises waiting for us all when we stop drinking or remove something toxic from our lives.
Through Say Goodbye And Imagine you are invited into a Christian community where triumph over alcohol or other substances is not only possible… it’s happening every day through faith and the power of God’s Word! Feel a profound connection with others who have walked the same rocky path yet found solid ground by putting biblically-based principles and God at the center of their journey to freedom.
Imagine replacing the weight of guilt and isolation with the lightness of grace and companionship through a shared Chirstian community seeking alcohol freedom. Through the testimony of our podcast community, you can discover how the Holy Spirit moves powerfully in the lives of those who have surrendered their struggles and embraced a journey of true transformation with God at the helm.
Witness the transformative power of Jesus Christ while you gain insight into the lies of the enemy. Through each episode, you’ll be equipped with biblically based strategies that others have used to prioritize their spiritual well-being and expose the lies embedded in a toxic habit that is also trying to control your life. Ultimately, each episode guides you to a place where being alcohol-free is just the beginning of your newfound freedom–showing you the amazing world of promise and possibility through God’s grace when alcohol is successfully set aside.
Say Goodbye And Imagine shares the firsthand victories of those who have broken free from the psychological slavery of alcohol or other substances. Our greatest hope is to share these stories of triumph so you can draw inspiration and courage from their stories. But our podcast doesn’t just offer hope—it showcases the real, tangible outcomes of lives transformed by faith and the collective strength of a community that believes in second chances.
Warning: our Say Goodbye And Imagine podcast is a little different. We don’t use words that create shame or a negative identity. So, in our podcast we don’t use vocabulary like alcoholic or alcoholism, alcohol addiction or alcohol recovery, recovery or recovering, sober or sobriety, addict or addiction, powerless or powerlessness, and other words that take away our identity in God. Since we are remade in the image of God, we seek an identity that is empowering through Him. Although we respect and honor groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), Celebrate Recovery, and sober rehabilitation centers, our topics tend to be very individual, focusing on the unique journey of each participant.
If you desire to quit drinking or have been searching for ways to reconnect with God, then please tune in. Hear the amazing success stories of Christians just like you who decided to choose freedom from alcohol or other substances. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Rose Ann Forte is the host of Say Goodbye and Imagine. Rose Ann had reached a point in her own life when she realized that alcohol was stealing from her and understood that God had a much better plan for her. Today she is the bestselling author of The Plans He has for Me Daily Devotional. Through her podcast, blog articles, books, public speaking, Choose Freedom Program, YouTube and TikTok videos, and Choose Freedom coaching and church mentor programs, Rose Ann loves to share her experience of transformation with others and discuss the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s foundational principles behind renewing your mind.
WANT TO LEARN MORE? CHECK OUT THESE GREAT BLOGS:
Forgiveness & Renewal – https://theplanshehasforme.com/2024/03/26/forgiveness-5-easter-messages-to-renew-your-alcohol-free-journey/
Dry January Isn’t Enough – Try Alcohol-Free For 12 Weeks (Not 30 Days) –
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2024/02/25/sober-january-isnt-enough/
Why Alcohol Is Bad For Your Happiness
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/29/why-alcohol-is-bad-for-your-happiness/
Why Alcohol Is Bad News
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/29/why-alcohol-is-bad-news/
What Does Alcoholism Do To Your Body
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/24/what-does-alcoholism-do-to-your-body/
Breaking Free From Alcohol
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/24/breaking-free-from-alcohol/
Staying Alcohol-Free During The Holidays
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/21/staying-alcohol-free-during-holiday-events/
Is Willpower Enough?
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/17/is-willpower-enough/
Is Alcohol A Drug? Bartender or Drug Dealer?
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/17/is-alcohol-a-drug-bartender-or-drug-dealer/
Does Alcohol Cause Anxiety?
https://theplanshehasforme.com/2023/11/17/does-alcoholism-cause-anxiety/