247. The 'Reset' Button247. The 'Reset' Button
The Alcohol ReThink Podcast
Patrick Fox revisits the "f*ck it button" and introduces the idea of a personal reset button to handle slips with curiosity instead of shame. The conversation focuses on reframing setbacks, keeping progress in perspective, and making the next best choice after drinking.
21:54•8 May 2026
Hitting the Reset Button After the "F*ck It" Moment
Episode Overview
- The "f*ck it button" is usually an emotional release from built-up pressure, not a logical choice to drink.
- Changing language from "easy option" to "quickest option" can reduce shame and increase compassion.
- A slip does not erase previous progress; there is no true "square one" because your learning and wins still exist.
- The reset button is about making the next best decision for yourself, rather than waiting for a perfect restart.
- Curiosity, movement, and honest self-talk help interrupt negative spirals and build real resilience over time.
“"Resilience isn’t about never failing… it’s about how quickly do you get back on the horse?"”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Episode 247 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast has Patrick Fox returning to a fan favourite idea: the "f*ck it button" – that moment when tension boils over and you think, "Fuck it," and reach for a drink. Patrick breaks down how this moment is rarely a rational choice.
It’s driven by what he calls the "pressure cooker effect" – all the unprocessed stress, resentment, tiredness and emotion that build up until your brain grabs the quickest escape. As one of his coaching clients put it, he’d chosen "the easy option"; Patrick gently reframed that to "the quickest option", opening the door to more compassion instead of shame. From there, he introduces a powerful counter-move: the "reset button".
This isn’t a dramatic start-from-zero, but a simple shift to asking, "What’s the next best thing I can do for myself?" He compares it to having a bad round of golf – you don’t forget how to play, you just adjust and go again. All the awareness, alcohol-free days and small wins still count. Patrick speaks directly to men who label a slip as proof they’re weak or back at "square one".
He calls out that harsh inner voice: "Resilience isn’t about never failing… it’s about how quickly do you get back on the horse?" Practical ideas for hitting reset include talking out loud to yourself, reaching out to someone, moving your body to shift your state, and using curiosity instead of self-attack.
If you’ve ever turned one night’s drinking into a full-blown story about being a failure, this honest, straight-talking episode might help you ask a better question: what if a slip is just information, and you can hit reset today?
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