Think Thursday: The Strange Psychology of AlmostThink Thursday: The Strange Psychology of Almost
The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast
Molly Watts explains how counterfactual thinking and "almost" moments affect emotions, using Olympic athletes and everyday examples. She invites careful reflection on the stories the brain tells and how those stories shape progress and peace around alcohol and life choices.
11:08•15 Oct 2026
Think Thursday: The Strange Psychology of "Almost" and Your Drinking Story
Episode Overview
- Counterfactual thinking leads the brain to compare reality with imagined alternatives, heavily influencing emotions.
- Bronze medallists often appear happier than silver medallists because they compare their result to missing a medal, not to winning gold.
- Near misses, like missing a flight by minutes or almost getting a job, can feel worse because alternative outcomes are easy to imagine.
- There is value in asking whether your mental comparisons are helping you learn or simply blocking appreciation of your progress.
- Seeing "almost" as evidence of what was possible can create a fuller, more balanced picture of effort, growth, and achievement.
“The next time you find yourself disappointed about something that almost happened, consider what you’re using as a point of comparison.”
What drives someone to seek a life without feeling ruled by alcohol, disappointment, or "what if" thinking? This Think Thursday instalment from The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast zooms in on the brain’s quirky habit of obsessing over what almost happened, and how that habit shapes emotions, habits, and self-worth. Molly Watts, a mindful drinking and behaviour change coach, walks you through the Olympic medal study where bronze winners often look happier than silver medallists.
The key idea is counterfactual thinking – those "if only" and "I almost" stories the brain creates. As Molly explains, the silver medallist compares themselves to gold, while the bronze medallist compares themselves to missing the podium completely. Same stage, totally different emotional story. You’ll hear how this same mental pattern shows up in everyday life: missing a flight by two minutes, nearly getting a dream job, or falling just short of a personal best.
For habit drinkers and adult children of alcoholics, this kind of thinking can quietly fuel self-criticism: "I almost stuck to my plan" or "I should be further along by now." Molly invites you to notice those mental comparisons and ask whether they’re useful or just making you feel worse. A big focus is learning to separate what actually happened from the story your brain builds around it.
"The next time you find yourself disappointed about something that almost happened, consider what you’re using as a point of comparison," she says, encouraging curious reflection rather than automatic regret. The tone stays warm, practical, and brain-based, with Molly returning to the core Alcohol Minimalist theme: using your "beautiful, brilliant human brain" to create more peace in your relationship with alcohol and with yourself.
If your mind often revisits past choices around drinking, goals, or life plans with a harsh "if only", this short episode offers a calmer, science-backed way to rethink those stories. What might change if you saw "almost" as evidence of progress instead of proof of failure?
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