Having battled her own excessive drinking, Belinda Stark, a certified life coach and sobriety coach, has launched a service to help women navigate midlife sobriety. Her personal journey through career changes, depression, divorce, and breast cancer has equipped her with the resilience and insight to support others. Belinda’s coaching focuses on empowering women to rediscover their strengths and embrace their midlife journey with resilience and self-love. Scroll down to find out more about her as she answers our 25 questions…
1. Describe yourself in three words.
Survivor. Passionate. Strong.
2. What or who inspires you the most?
Women who give it their all! There are so many extraordinary ladies out there!
3. What is your current job title?
I own a fashion and lifestyle store and work as an alcohol empowerment coach for midlife women, also helping with other midlife challenges.
4. What was your very first job?
I worked at Just Jeans as a summer casual.
5. What did you dream of becoming when you were little?
Besides being a rich and famous celebrity, I wanted to become a school teacher.
6. How did your alcohol empowerment coaching come about?
Facing a drinking problem 18 months ago gave me a new outlook on life. The transformation was so profound that studying coaching felt like a natural progression and a calling within my intuition. Initially, I coached women in midlife on self-belief, confidence, and creating boundaries. As more women sought help with their relationship with alcohol, I developed a specific coaching package for “grey area” drinking. Issues like self-esteem and self-belief often overlap with drinking challenges, so this integrated approach was essential.
7. Walk us through a typical day in your life.
There’s no typical day, which I love. I start by walking my three dachshunds, then head to my local café for an extra hot almond latte. I sit in my car, look at the ocean for 5–10 minutes, and do some breathwork or meditation. After journaling at home, I try to exercise, then tackle emails, coaching calls, and creating worksheets and e-books for clients. Some days involve new season buying for my boutique or working in the store. I have more time now that my youngest son has turned 18 and I’m free from school runs. My husband and I are ‘sort of’ empty nesters, with my 29-year-old son having left the coop, and now my younger son is driving. This is a big midlife change that some women can find challenging, lonely, and a loss of their identity.
8. What brings a smile to your face each day?
My gorgeous pups and seeing the beach. I love living on the Mornington Peninsula.
9. What are three things you can’t live without?
My laptop, my boys, and chocolate.
10. What are your four favourite songs on your playlist right now?
I’m really into chill music right now. When out and about, I often listen to Shazam music, as I love to create my own playlists for personal use and in my shop. Currently, I’m into Anjuna Deep playlists, which I heard at my local cafe and love.
11. What is your favourite getaway destination?
In Australia, it’s a tie between Noosa and Byron Bay. Overseas, it has to be Italy.
12. How do you unwind and relax?
Reading, lying down with the dogs, Netflix bingeing, plus a Spa Day never goes astray!
13. What is the best piece of life advice you’ve ever received?
Go with your gut; it’s rarely wrong.
14. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d love to be a nana, speak on stages, and travel the world.
15. What motivates you to get up every morning?
My work. It doesn’t feel like work when you deeply love what you do.
16. If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
My beautiful maternal grandma, known as Poppy. Growing up, I spent a lot of time with her as my younger sister was very sick. I miss her a lot, Princess Diana, and Oprah.
17. What is a hobby or interest that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I love to create content. Put videos together, play on Canva, and get creative.
18. How do you stay productive and organised?
Using systems and a digital calendar. I’m part of a few female business mentor groups where I’ve learned about project management tools. I’m disciplined about blocking out time in my calendar; a great saying is, ‘If you don’t block it, you won’t rock it’.
19. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Sobriety.
20. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Lake Como for its stunning beauty, plus you never know if George might be there!
21. What book has had the biggest impact on your life?
That’s a tough one. I absolutely love memoirs.
22. What is your favourite quote, and why?
‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’ I don’t ask this in a negative way at all; I find it very grounding and helpful to put things in perspective. Another great one is “Will this matter in 5 years?”
23. How do you balance your professional and personal lives?
It’s a juggle, but easier now without school runs. Doing something I love means my personal and professional lives overlap. Again, being organised with a good digital calendar and systems helps a lot.
24. What advice would you give to someone starting in your field?
If you truly want to do this and feel it in your gut, go for it! Ask yourself, “If I don’t do this, how will I feel?”
25. What are you passionate about outside of work?
Being there for my boys and pups, supporting breast cancer and postnatal depression charities (as I’ve experienced both), and giving back because it helps others makes me smile and fills my cup.
CONNECT
Visit www.belindastark.com
+ follow her here instagram.com/belindastark_