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  • The Approval Trap: Are Other People's Opinions Controlling Your Life?

    The Approval Trap: Are Other People's Opinions Controlling Your Life?
    2026/07/13

    Ep 85 - How much of your life is shaped by what other people think?

    Most of us have experienced the fear of criticism, rejection, or not fitting in. Sometimes it keeps us from speaking up. Sometimes it causes us to hide our gifts. And sometimes it influences life-changing decisions without us even realizing it.

    In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores Proverbs 29:25 and the warning that "fearing people is a dangerous trap." Through the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, you'll discover how approval-seeking can lead us away from God's best and why learning to trust God more than human opinion leads to true freedom.

    You'll also learn the neuroscience behind why rejection hurts, why our brains crave acceptance, and how renewing your mind helps you make decisions based on God's purpose instead of other people's approval.

    In this episode, you'll discover:

    • Why the fear of people's opinions can become a dangerous trap.
    • What King Saul's story teaches us about approval-seeking.
    • The neuroscience of belonging, rejection, and peer pressure.
    • Why conformity often competes with God's calling on your life.
    • How Romans 12:2 provides the pathway to renewed thinking.
    • Reflection questions to help you recognize whose voice is influencing your decisions.

    Featured Scriptures

    • Proverbs 29:25
    • 1 Samuel 15
    • Romans 12:2

    Resources

    Choose Freedom® Program:
    https://choosefreedom.today/direct

    Choose Freedom®:
    https://choosefreedom.today

    Prepare to Quit:
    https://amzn.to/4umJs6l

    The Plans He Has For Me:
    https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL

    Transformed by His Promises:
    https://amzn.to/43PWhvf

    If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be struggling with the fear of other people's opinions.
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    16 分
  • When the Trial Comes: Who Do You Want to Become?

    When the Trial Comes: Who Do You Want to Become?
    2026/06/22

    Ep 84: What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan?

    In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores 1 Peter 4:12-13 and discusses why many people return to unhealthy habits during difficult seasons. Whether the struggle is alcohol, overeating, gambling, pornography, excessive screen time, avoidance, or another life-interfering behavior, stressful events often expose the coping strategies we have practiced for years.

    Many people point to a difficult circumstance as the reason they re-engaged in a behavior they wanted to leave behind:

    "I had a fight with my spouse."
    "I was lonely."
    "I was overwhelmed."
    "I got bad news."

    But what if the event wasn't the real reason? What if the event simply revealed what we were prepared to do when life became difficult?

    Drawing on biblical truth, neuroscience, and practical habit-change strategies, Rose Ann explains why the brain naturally defaults to familiar solutions during times of stress and how we can prepare ourselves to respond differently. You'll learn how to identify the lies that often precede unhealthy behaviors, renew your mind through intentional practice, and develop healthier responses before the next trial arrives.

    Most importantly, you'll be challenged to ask a different question. Not:

    "How do I make this feeling stop?"

    But:

    "Who do I want to become?"

    Because the goal is not simply to stop a behavior. The goal is to become the person God created you to be.

    In This Episode:

    • Why Peter tells us not to be surprised by life's trials
    • The common lies that often lead to unhealthy behaviors
    • How stress activates familiar brain pathways
    • What neuroscience teaches us about renewing the mind
    • Why preparation matters more than willpower
    • How to use your future identity to guide present decisions
    • Practical alternatives when temptation strikes

    Featured Scripture:
    1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)

    Resources Mentioned

    Prepare to Quit
    https://amzn.to/4umJs6l

    The Plans He Has For Me
    https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL

    Transformed by His Promises
    https://amzn.to/43PWhvf

    Choose Freedom Resources
    https://choosefreedom.today

    If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and consider leaving an honest review. Your support helps more people discover the hope, healing, and freedom that are possible through renewed thinking and faith in Christ.
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    20 分
  • What Questions Should You Ask Before You Quit Drinking?

    What Questions Should You Ask Before You Quit Drinking?
    2026/06/08
    Ep 83 - If you're searching for a stop drinking journal, trying to quit drinking, or questioning your relationship with alcohol, this episode will help you uncover the thoughts, beliefs, fears, and habits that may be keeping you stuck. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte shares 10 powerful reflection questions designed to help you gain awareness, challenge long-held assumptions, and prepare your mind for lasting change. Inspired by Philippians 4:8, these questions encourage listeners to focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable while examining their relationship with alcohol honestly and without shame. Whether you're exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle, considering sobriety, building healthier habits, or working through another life-interfering thought, emotion, or behavior, these questions can help you identify what alcohol promises, what it actually delivers, and what freedom could look like on the other side. In This Episode 10 powerful questions to ask before you quit drinkingWhy awareness often precedes lasting changeHow journaling can reveal hidden drinking patternsThe connection between thoughts, habits, and behavior change What fear, identity, friendship, and shame have to do with alcohol useWhy honest reflection is a critical part of renewing your mindHow Philippians 4:8 provides a framework for focusing on truth Featured Scripture Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Mentioned in This Episode If today's questions sparked some honest reflection and you'd like to go deeper, explore these resources: Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol A practical guide designed to help people prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for lasting change. Includes a downloadable workbook with additional reflection exercises and guided questions. https://amzn.to/4umJs6l Choose Freedom® Program A 12-week faith-based, neuroscience-informed program designed to help people break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://choosefreedom.today The Plans He Has For Me A 12-week devotional created to help people renew their minds and build an alcohol-free life through Scripture, reflection, prayer, and practical application. https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises A 12-week devotional that combines biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help readers overcome life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Related Episode Compassion, Justice, and the Choices That Shape Generations - https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/compassion-justice-and-the-choices-that-shape-generations This episode explores how our choices influence future generations and why our habits matter more than we sometimes realize. Connect with Rose Ann Forte Website: https://choosefreedom.today Free Resources: https://choosefreedom.today/free-resources/ Articles: https://choosefreedom.today/articles/ Subscribe & Review If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and consider leaving an honest review. Your support helps us reach more people seeking freedom from alcohol and other life-interfering habits. #ChooseFreedom #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #ChristianRecovery #RenewYourMind
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    21 分
  • Coach Layne: Six Years Alcohol-Free and What Became Possible

    Coach Layne: Six Years Alcohol-Free and What Became Possible
    2026/05/25

    Ep 82 - In this heartfelt episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Choose Freedom coach Layne shares a deeply personal reflection as she approaches six years free from alcohol. She was previously interviewed on the podcast - listen to that episode here - https://choosefreedom.today/alcohol-free-coach-laynes-story/

    Layne opens up about how putting alcohol aside helped her reconnect more deeply with her faith, hear God's direction more clearly, and step into a calling that had been waiting for years. Since choosing the alcohol-free lifestyle, she has written and published three books, including her newest book, More Than a Mocktail: A Fresh Approach on a Timeless Tradition.

    But this episode is not only about quitting drinking. It is about what happens afterward.

    Layne explores the question many people face once alcohol is removed: Now what? For many, alcohol was connected to ritual, relaxation, celebration, social comfort, and the transition out of stress. When it is gone, something meaningful needs to be built in its place.

    Through the lens of faith, creativity, history, and intentional living, Layne invites listeners to think beyond deprivation and begin imagining a richer alcohol-free life. She shares how old beverage traditions, herbal drinks, mocktails, hospitality, journaling, nature, and meaningful rituals can become part of a beautiful new rhythm.

    This episode is an invitation to stop focusing only on what you are leaving behind and begin asking what God may be calling you toward.

    In This Episode

    Layne shares:

    How her life changed after choosing the alcohol-free lifestyle
    Why quitting drinking is only one part of the journey
    The deeper question that often follows: "Now what?"
    How alcohol can mute awareness, purpose, and spiritual clarity
    Why meaningful rituals matter after alcohol is removed
    How her new book More Than a Mocktail was born
    The connection between alcohol-free living, creativity, faith, and purpose
    Three reflection questions for prayer and journaling

    Reflection Questions from the Episode

    1. What parts of your life may be muting your ability to hear God's direction, purpose, or calling more clearly?
    2. After removing something unhealthy from your life, what meaningful rituals, habits, or connections could you begin building instead?
    3. What gifts, dreams, or deeper parts of yourself might be waiting to emerge if you created more space for reflection, intention, and alignment with your values and faith?

    Resources Mentioned

    Choose Freedom Program
    The Plans He Has For Me
    Prepare to Quit
    Transformed by His Promises
    Layne's coaching through the Choose Freedom Provider section
    Layne's book: More Than a Mocktail: A Fresh Approach on a Timeless Tradition

    #ChooseFreedom
    #AlcoholFreeLifestyle
    #ChristianSobriety
    #LifeAfterAlcohol
    #MoreThanAMocktail
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    16 分
  • How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting

    How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting
    2026/05/11

    Ep 81 - Have you ever cried out "How long, God?" — waiting for healing, freedom, a prodigal child to return, or relief from something that has taken over your life? In this episode, Rose Ann opens a devotional she just finished on Psalm 13 and unpacks David's raw, honest cry to God. She explores the Hebrew word qavah (the true meaning of "wait"), the neuroscience of hope and dopamine, and why your waiting season is not empty — it is where a thread becomes a rope.

    In This Episode:

    • Psalm 13:1–2 and what David's lament gives us permission to do
    • Why Scripture doesn't tell us exactly when David wrote this psalm — and why it doesn't matter
    • The Hebrew word qavah: waiting is not passive — it means to bind, twist, and intertwine
    • Chalaph: the trade — your exhaustion for His strength
    • Isaiah 40:31 and what the original Hebrew actually reveals
    • Ecclesiastes 4:12 — a cord of three strands
    • Lamentations 3:25 — the Lord is good to those who qavah
    • Two kinds of "how long" waiting for people in recovery
    • The neuroscience of hope: why dopamine fires on anticipation, not pleasure
    • David praising before the rescue came — and what that does to the brain
    • Three reflection questions and a closing prayer

    Scripture References:

    • Psalm 13:1–2, 5–6
    • Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
    • Ecclesiastes 4:12
    • Lamentations 3:25

    Resources Mentioned:

    • 📺 YouTube video: "The Promises of God: What the Original Hebrew Actually Reveals"]
    • 🎙️ Previous episode: Willing But Not Yet Ready [INSERT LINK]
    • 📖 The Plans He Has for Me — 12-week devotional for anyone struggling with alcohol or other substances
    • 📖 Prepare to Quit — the eight spiritual keys to finally getting ready, includes personal workbook, Audible version, and three bonus core concepts from the Choose Freedom program not available anywhere else [INSERT AMAZON LINK]
    • 📖 Transformed by His Promises — 12-week companion devotional challenge for life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
    • 💻 Choose Freedom Program — structured coaching journey with a trained coach

    Reflection Questions:

    1. What is your "how long" prayer — the one you have carried so long you have almost stopped saying it out loud?
    2. What lie have you been believing that keeps you returning to the same place?
    3. If this pattern disappeared tomorrow, what would you actually want your life to look like — and what would that hope catalyze in you?
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    17 分
  • Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back

    Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back
    2026/04/27
    Ep 80 - Many people reach a point where they want to change, yet find themselves stuck in the same patterns. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Rose Ann Forte explores the critical gap between willingness and true readiness—and why understanding that gap can change everything. Drawing from both personal experience and her work with clients, Rose Ann explains why repeated attempts to quit often lead to frustration and shame. She reframes the struggle through both Scripture and neuroscience, showing how patterns form in the brain and why this does not mean you are broken—it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Through powerful biblical insight, including John 8:34, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 4:15, this episode reveals that transformation is not a single decision but a refining process. Just like testing gold or running clinical trials, real change requires repeated testing, awareness, and intentional practice over time. Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of hope, a deeper understanding of their patterns, and a practical pathway forward—one that removes shame and replaces it with clarity, truth, and the possibility of lasting freedom. In this episode, Rose Ann Forte addresses a common but often misunderstood experience: wanting to quit a habit or behavior but not being able to follow through consistently. She explores the difference between willingness and readiness, and why recognizing this distinction can remove shame and accelerate real change. Through a combination of biblical truth and neuroscience, Rose Ann explains how repeated behaviors create neural pathways, why relapse does not mean failure, and how preparation—not just action—is the key to lasting transformation. Key Topics Covered: The difference between desire and readinessWhy repeated attempts to quit are part of the processThe role of neural pathways in habit formation"Psychological slavery" and John 8:34Romans 12:2 and the refining process of transformationThe Transtheoretical Model of ChangeWhy action alone doesn't work for most peopleThe three keys: awareness, exposing the lie, and choosing a new path Key Scriptures: John 8:34Romans 12:21 Timothy 4:15 Core Takeaways: Wanting to change is not the same as being ready to changeYour brain is not broken—it is operating as designedTransformation requires testing, practice, and repetitionShame delays progress; awareness accelerates itPreparation is the foundation for lasting change Reflection Questions: What if going back to the pattern isn't a failure, but evidence of how your brain has been trained?What is the repeated thought or belief that shows up right before the behavior?If this pattern disappeared, what would you truly want your life to look like? Resources Mentioned: Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol: https://amzn.to/3EuGTvmChoose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources - https://www.choosefreedom.today The Plans He Has for Me Devotional - https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 Transformed by His Promises Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJPodcast Episodes with Dr. David Jenkins (Stages of Change) Part 1 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190 Part 2 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480
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    25 分
  • Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh

    Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh
    2026/04/13
    Ep 79 - Why do we wait until life falls apart before we finally change? In this episode, Rose Ann Forte explores the powerful story of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33—a king whose life was marked by extreme rebellion, yet ultimately transformed through repentance. Despite repeated warnings from God, Manasseh ignored truth until severe consequences forced him to see clearly. This episode unpacks the deeper pattern behind that behavior. From both a biblical and neuroscience perspective, repeated actions become automatic, making it difficult to change even when we know better. Often, it takes pain to interrupt those patterns and create awareness. But what if you didn't have to wait for the "brick wall"? This episode challenges you to recognize early warning signs, interrupt destructive patterns sooner, and respond to God before consequences take hold. No matter how far you've gone, restoration is always available—but the decision to turn can happen today. Key Takeaways We often don't change when we hear truth—we change when pain gets our attentionManasseh ignored God's warnings until consequences forced awarenessRepeated behaviors become automatic in the brain, making patterns hard to breakPain interrupts patterns—but awareness can interrupt them earlierYou don't have to wait for a "rock bottom" moment to changeGod responds to a repentant heart with mercy and restorationEarly awareness and intentional response create a pathway to freedom Faith and Neuroscience Insight The brain becomes efficient at whatever we repeatedly do. Over time, behaviors—whether helpful or harmful—become automatic. Even when we know something isn't right, that knowledge alone may not be strong enough to interrupt the pattern. Pain often becomes the interrupter. But awareness can be trained before consequences occur—creating space to choose differently without needing a crisis moment. Reflection Questions Where in your life have you been continuing a pattern you already know is not aligned with what God is asking of you?What are the early signals—thoughts, feelings, or behaviors—that show up before that pattern takes over?What would it look like for you to respond differently this time, not waiting for consequences, but choosing to turn now? Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources https://www.choosefreedom.today Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm The Plans He Has for Me Devotional https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 Transformed by His Promises Devotionalhttps://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ Related Episode: Forgiveness of Self (Core Concept 7, September 1, 2025) Suggested Scripture 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 (NLT) 2 Chronicles 33:6 2 Chronicles 33:9 Romans 12:2 John 8:34 Connect and Next Steps If this episode encouraged you: Follow the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes Share this episode with someone who may need it Leave a review of the podcast or one of the books you've read—this helps others discover a path to freedom Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianPodcast #RenewYourMind #FaithAndScience #BreakThePattern #BiblicalWisdom #PersonalGrowth #FreedomInChrist #AddictionRecovery #MindRenewal
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    14 分
  • Made in God's Image: Reclaiming Authority Over Life-Interfering Behaviors

    Made in God's Image: Reclaiming Authority Over Life-Interfering Behaviors
    2026/03/30

    Ep 78 - In this special episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Certified Choose Freedom Coach Anthony Covington steps in to share a powerful reflection on identity, authority, and transformation through God's Word. Rooted in Genesis 1, the episode explores what it truly means to be created in the image of God and how life-interfering behaviors can distort that identity, leaving us feeling stuck, defeated, and out of alignment.

    Anthony walks listeners through the deeper meaning of dominion and authority, reframing it as God-given agency. When we allow substances, habits, or distractions to take control, we move out of position and experience the consequences of that misalignment. But through daily engagement with Scripture and intentional practice, we can return to the identity God originally gave us.

    Drawing from passages like Genesis 1:26–31, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 1:6–7, and James 1:22–24, this episode highlights the importance of not just hearing God's Word, but living it. The Transformed by His Promises devotional becomes a practical tool for renewing the mind, reinforcing truth, and creating new patterns that align with both biblical wisdom and how the brain forms habits over time.

    If you've ever felt like you're saying the right things but not living them, this episode offers a clear path forward. You'll be challenged to reflect on who you are, what you truly want, and how practicing truth daily can lead to lasting transformation. Listen in and begin stepping back into the life God designed for you.

    Rooted in Genesis 1, this episode explores:

    • What it means to be created in the image of God
    • How life-interfering behaviors pull us out of position
    • Why practicing Scripture daily leads to real transformation
    • The connection between biblical truth and rewiring the mind

    Anthony shares how engaging with Scripture is not just reading words, but entering into relationship with God, and how that relationship restores identity, purpose, and direction.

    Scriptures Referenced

    • Genesis 1:26–31
    • Ephesians 2:10
    • 1 Peter 1:6–7
    • James 1:22–24

    Key Takeaway

    The problem isn't just behavior. It's position. When we return to who God says we are, our lives begin to align with how He designed us to live.

    Resources & Next Steps

    • Website: https://choosefreedom.today
    • Transformed by His Promises Devotional
    • Work with a Choose Freedom Coach

    Enjoying the Podcast?

    Follow Say Goodbye and Imagine and leave a review of Rose Ann's books on Amazon to help others find freedom.

    Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith.

    #ChooseFreedom
    #ChristianPodcast
    #RenewYourMind
    #FaithBasedRecovery
    #IdentityInChrist
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    21 分