Your Loved One Is Still Drinking: Al-Anon, Detachment & Family Vacations

What happens when someone you love is still drinking, and you are learning how to be okay even when the people around you may or may not be okay? I recently came home from a family vacation to Hawaii, and while there were so many beautiful moments, there was also a very real 24 hours that brought some old patterns right to the surface. It gave me another opportunity to practice what I have been learning through Al-Anon, my own sobriety, and the Recover Your Soul process. For me, Al-Anon was the place where I first began to understand that I wasn't responsible for someone else's wellbeing. I was powerless over alcohol, over another person, and over their choices. But I also learned that I could turn the attention back to myself. And that is really what this episode is about. I share what happened on our trip, the family patterns that showed up, my old pattern wanting everything to be perfect, and what I learned about letting go of control and allowing each person to have their own experience. The Recover Your Soul process has given me a deeper way to work with these moments. Instead of trying to fix, manage, prevent, or control someone else's journey, I can become curious about my own. What is happening inside of me? What pattern is being activated? What am I trying to control? How can I see this differently? And can I continue to see the person I love in their wholeness, even when their choices are painful to witness? This is not about getting to a place where life is perfect or where the people we love suddenly make the choices we wish they would make. It's about our own healing, our own awakening, and our own soul's journey. Life continues to be lifey. We are still human. We still get activated. We still fall into old patterns. And we get to choose again. If you have someone in your life who is still drinking, still using, or making choices that are difficult for you to watch, I hope this conversation reminds you that you can love them, have compassion for them, and allow them to have their own journey—while continuing to choose your own wholeness. Send a one way text to Rev Rachel 🦋 Recover Your Soul Immersion Retreat | October 17–18 Join me for two days to go deeper into the Recover Your Soul Process. A beautiful opportunity to release what no longer serves you and reconnect with your wholeness. If your heart has been asking for deeper support, this is your invitation. The Recovery Your Soul Podcast courses and content is for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with or representative of any organization, recovery group, or religion. And reflect the personal experience and opinions of Rev Rachel Harrison and her guests. RYS claims no responsibility, any person or entity for any loss, liability, damage caused or alleged to be caused, direct or indirectly by the use application or interpretation of the information presented within.  Support the show FREE Mini Recover Your Soul 9-Step Workbook FREE Support Group on Zoom 6-7PM MT on the 1st Monday of the Month Self Study collective &  Soul Circles to walk the Recover Your Soul Steps in Community Get the Book Recover Your Soul, Rev. Rachel’s spiritual memoir   1:1 Spiritual Coaching with Rev Rachel TRYASESSION for 40% off 1st session  Follow on Social Media RYS Bonus Podcast  Patreon Member or subscribing on Apple Podcasts for corresponding episodes. Free Patreon Members get access to new episodes first few weeks. Transcripts