What if overcoming temptation has less to do with willpower and more to do with how the brain responds to stress, social pressure, and familiar cues? Behavioral habits and addiction specialist Rose Ann Forte says recognizing these patterns can be the first step toward meaningful change, especially during seasons when alcohol, sweets, and other habit-forming behaviors are more difficult to avoid.
“During the holiday season, social pressure, stress, grief, family dynamics, and abundant food and alcohol can intensify difficult patterns,” Forte said.
Forte, a podcast host and the creator of the 12-week Choose Freedom program, combines practical behavior-change strategies, neuroscience, and biblical wisdom to help people understand why simply deciding to change is often not enough. The program emphasizes preparing for lasting transformation through the renewal of the mind, rather than relying on willpower alone.
“We CAN renew our minds and change patterns of thinking and behavior because that’s how our brains were designed,” Forte said.
The principles behind Choose Freedom are also explored in her books:
- Her signature book, The Plans He Has for Me: A 12-Week Daily Devotional for Freedom from Alcohol, has received seven awards and guides readers through 12 weeks of alcohol-free living.
- Her award-winning book, Prepare to Quit, highlights the often-overlooked preparation needed before successfully changing an entrenched habit.
- She also co-authored Transformed by His Promises: A 12-Week Devotional for Freedom from the Psychological Slavery of Life-Interfering Behaviors with Dr. Karl Benzio. The book has earned endorsements from respected voices in brain health, mental health, and Christian leadership, including Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. John Townsend, Dr. Tim Clinton, and Jim Daly. It also features a foreword by Duke University’s Dr. Harold G. Koenig.
Through her books and Choose Freedom program, Forte offers practical, science-informed strategies to help people identify habitual patterns, navigate temptation, and make more intentional choices throughout the holiday season and beyond.
She has also recently launched a free five-day devotional on the YouVersion Bible App, designed to help people resist different forms of temptation during the holidays.
“A diagnosis can help determine the level of care someone needs, and medical guidance may be essential when stopping certain substances,” Forte added. “But you don’t need a diagnosis to decide that something no longer belongs in your life.”
