In this powerful episode, our group dives deep into the connection between perfectionism and alcoholism and how striving to be flawless can sabotage sobriety, self-worth, and emotional healing. Jessica, Sarah, Erica, Hope, Julie, and Steve share raw and honest stories of how perfectionism shaped their drinking, and what it looks like to work through those tendencies in recovery.
From redefining success and learning to sit with mistakes, to practicing self-compassion and choosing authenticity over image, this conversation is full of insight, laughter, and “me too” moments for anyone struggling with not feeling good enough.
Key Topics in this Episode:
- Defining our own standards of “good enough”
- Authentic connection requires allowing others to see our imperfection
- How perfectionism and overachieving go hand in hand to sabotage your mental wellbeing and sobriety
- The intertwined journeys of recovery and how they all affect one another
- Perfectionism as a sense of control
- Recovering from perfectionism is an ebb and flow – some days are easier than others
- The tools of sobriety also support recovering from perfectionism
- Being a perfectionist can stop you from self reflecting, not wanting to admit your flaws and shortcomings – and therefore stopping you from ever working on them.
Originally from the Bay Area, Jessica lives in Northern California with her husband and 3 daughters. Jessica has a background teaching special education but she left the field to pursue her passion for writing and to raise her girls. She is a vocal advocate for addiction recovery with over 12 years of sobriety. Her debut literary book club fiction novel, “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” won the Maurice Prize for fiction from her alma mater, UC Davis. It is a devastating and poignant novel that meditates on the often-unspoken costs and sacrifices of motherhood, relationships between women, and the slippery slope of using alcohol to take the edge off.
Available now for preorder and in bookstores everywhere May 13, 2025.
Sarah Siegel-Kolodziejski, originally from a small town
in England, relocated to the
United States around 30 years
ago. With a background in
fashion, real estate, and clean beauty,
she started her passion project,
Pure Clarity, under the motto “mindful
drinking, mindful living.”
Drawing from her personal
journey with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol to an alcohol-
free lifestyle 3 years ago, her goal was to
create a platform for inspiring leaders, wellness and
consumers in the zero-proof
movement to come together. Through retreats,
classes, and collaboration with
alcohol-free brands, she hosts
events in southern California
for a community dedicated
to celebrating an alcohol-free
lifestyle fueled by mindful living. Whether for a lifetime, a day, a month or……
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