Send us a text

What happens when the very traits that once helped you succeed become the prison bars holding you captive? In this raw and revelatory solo episode, Dr. Samantha Harte takes us on a deeply personal journey through her battle with perfectionism—a character trait that drove her to academic excellence, cocaine addiction, marital crisis, and ultimately, profound transformation.

Drawing from her recent Harte Conscious Creators event, Dr. Harte vulnerably shares how her need to control everyone and everything manifested when facing failure or uncertainty. From plagiarizing a college paper to preserve her straight-A identity to overdosing on cocaine the very night she was accepted into a doctoral program, she illustrates how perfectionism created an illusion of control while actually destroying her life.

The breakthrough came during her marital crisis, five years sober but spiritually broken. Though physically clean from substances, she was still trying to control outcomes and people, particularly her husband. Working the 12 steps with specific focus on her marriage revealed a powerful truth: she had no power over her husband's feelings, potential infidelity, or their relationship's ultimate outcome—but she did have power over her healing, self-talk, and the meaning she gave her experiences.

Dr. Harte's most profound insight came when asked if she'd ever made amends to herself. As a perfectionist, the concept was foreign—everything was her fault because that maintained the illusion she could fix it. Learning to forgive herself became the foundation for later forgiving her husband and rebuilding their marriage. Through losing her father and sister, she faced more tests of surrender, ultimately leading to writing her book modernizing the 12 steps for everyone.

The gift Dr. Harte offers listeners is the courage to trust the process of imperfection. As she powerfully states: "Everything good, everything magical that has ever happened to me has happened in the messy middle." Her message transforms the 12 steps into universal tools for living, loving, parenting and working with greater authenticity and peace.

Want to break free from your own invisible prison? Listen now and discover how embracing imperfection might be your greatest pathway to freedom.

To book a FREE discovery call with Dr. Harte, click the link below:

https://calendly.com/drharte/free-discovery-call-w-dr-harte

Support the show

#thetruthaboutaddiction
#sobriety
#the12steps
#recovery
#therapy
#mentalhealth
#podcasts
#emotionalsobriety
#soberliving
#sobermindset
#spirituality
#spiritualgrowth
#aa
#soberlife
#mindfulness
#wellness
#wellnessjourney
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
#sobermovement
#recoveroutloud
#sobercurious
#sobermoms
#soberwomen
#author
#soberauthor
#purpose
#passion
#perspective