Sobriety Without Hitting Rock Bottom with Lesley Jones

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lesley Jones about the journey of ditching alcohol and embracing sobriety without waiting for a traditional "rock bottom." Lesley offers candid insights on redefining what it means to have a problem with drinking, the invisible emotional battles behind high-functioning adulthood, and how choosing sobriety has transformed her sense of peace and purpose. The episode provides real strategies for navigating social situations as a non-drinker and explores the power of community support, including Lesley's own work building connections through storytelling.

About Lesley Jones: Lesley Jones lives in Dayton, Ohio where she is a wife, mother or 3, writer and entrepreneur. She filled up with cocktails for a very long time, and now she fills up with connection. Lesley is the founder of Traveling Pendants, a jewelry-plus-tech company built on the belief that no one should feel alone in their journey. What began as a simple pendant passed among family members during times of illness has grown into a patent-pending digital storytelling platform where every pendant holds real stories of strength, resilience, and connection. Each time a pendant is worn and shared, its story log grows—creating a living chain of human connection.

Main Topics Covered:

• Redefining "rock bottom" and why waiting for loss is a misconception in recovery.
• The role of New Year's resolutions and personal motivation in lasting change.
• Recognizing the emotional and mental weight of addiction—even in high-functioning lives.
• Sober curiosity, societal judgments, and shifting cultural norms around drinking.
• Strategies for handling anxiety and stress without substances.
• Navigating social situations and relationships while staying alcohol-free.
• The importance of support communities, connection, and sharing your story.
• Lesley’s entrepreneurial journey: creating Traveling Pendants to foster strength and connection.

Quote from the Episode: "I always say quit before you lose because I hate losing. So I did the quitting before I did the losing." — Lesley Jones

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcome & Lesley’s Ohio roots [00:00:38] New Year's resolutions and how they sparked Lesley's sobriety journey [00:01:53] Discussing the January cultural “reset” and indulgence cycles [00:03:09] Early relationship with alcohol, experimenting with sobriety, and family context [00:05:19] Breaking down the “rock bottom” myth and personal definitions of loss [00:07:05] Misconceptions that keep people stuck and the invisible cost of shame [00:08:38] Making the choice before crisis—internal motivation versus societal expectation [00:10:27] The danger of comparing drinking habits, self-negotiation, and feeling out of control [00:13:01] The mental energy devoted to planning and thinking about drinking [00:14:01] Parallels between food noise, invisible struggles, and substance habits [00:16:07] Why early change leads to easier recovery (“stage zero” analogy) [00:17:46] Why some people with extensive losses may still struggle to quit [00:19:51] Lesley’s turning point: community support and the “not yet” lesson [00:22:45] Reframing sobriety support as a positive group experience [00:25:11] Practical strategies for sober socializing and beverage choices [00:27:43] How sobriety transformed Lesley’s inner life, anxiety, and relationships [00:31:10] Connection between quitting drinking and reduced anxiety [00:33:27] Compassion, motivation, and the underlying drivers of addiction [00:34:45] Shame, invisible struggles, and the cost of high-functioning addiction [00:36:17] Lesley’s vulnerable story of using alcohol to cope with anxiety as a teen athlete [00:40:22] About Traveling Pendants: fostering connection and story-sharing for strength [00:42:03] Special offer for listeners: Traveling Pendants discount [00:43:33] Rapid...