There’s a moment in every life when what once worked stops working and you have to decide what to do next. Cecily Mak explores the space most people live in—but rarely talk about: the in-between. Not addiction, not crisis but the awareness that something in your life no longer feels aligned. Through her journey of stepping away from alcohol, Cecily discovered that the real work was about listening. Listening to intuition, to patterns, to the subtle negotiations we make with ourselves every day. This conversation goes far beyond habits. It’s about identity, self-awareness, and the courage to create space in a world designed to keep you distracted. Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne Timestamps: 00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?” 02:00 — A dream, a council of elders, and messages from lineage 06:30 — Dream vs. visitation: when insight feels real 09:30 — Why writing becomes a tool for healing and clarity 12:30 — The unexpected path to writing Undimmed 15:00 — Following curiosity vs. forcing purpose 18:00 — Why most people can’t hear their intuition 21:00 — The moment Cecily stepped away from alcohol 24:00 — Exploring family history and unresolved trauma 28:00 — Why your first book looks back—and your second looks inward 30:30 — The “in-between” relationship with alcohol most people live in 32:00 — The spiral of self-negotiation and quiet shame 33:30 — The concept of self-grace: “How human of me” 35:00 — Awareness as the real starting point for change 38:00 — Conscious choice vs. “fuck it” decision-making 39:30 — Busyness as a socially accepted addiction 41:30 — Weekly, seasonal, and quarterly life audits 43:00 — The power of solitude and intentional retreats 46:00 — Why most people don’t prioritize recovery for the mind 49:00 — You don’t need a mountain—you can create space anywhere 50:30 — Micro-pauses as a daily superpower 51:30 — What Cecily hopes readers feel after finishing the book * Special props 👇 Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related