Why Lucy Hale’s sobriety is the wake-up call we all need

Lucy Hale’s not just another Hollywood face. She’s the actress who rose to fame on Pretty Little Liars, the performer whose charm lit up stages, and the person who—unbeknownst to most—fought her way out of addiction.

Who would’ve thought “Lucy Hale” and “sobriety” would share the same spotlight? 

“There was a time in my life where I didn’t feel like I was doing my best, personally,” she shares on The Mindvalley Podcast. “I was making choices that weren’t in my best interest, and I was abandoning myself in every way possible.”

Yet, here she is, turning her pain into power and her struggles into a story that’s inspiring millions.

Because at the heart of it all is a truth we often forget: no matter where you’ve been or how far you’ve fallen, there’s always a way back up.

And Lucy Hale? She’s proof it’s worth the climb.

Watch the full episode:

Lucy Hale’s turning point

It was New Year’s Day, the morning after another wild, boozey night. Lucy woke up feeling lost and scared, as if she’d hit an invisible wall. It was her dark night of the soul—a moment so raw it forced her to confront the truth. Something had to change.

The thing was, drinking had become Lucy’s escape hatch—a self-destructive way to dull her pain, quiet her anxiety, and numb the relentless inner critic telling her she wasn’t good enough.

Growing up with addiction in her family, she always feared it might catch up to her. “If you have many people [who] have addiction in your family,” she explains, “that is something that looms over you—it’s like, are they going to get it, or are they not?”

Her experience is far from uncommon. According to a 2017 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 10.5% (7.5 million) of U.S. children ages 17 and younger live with a parent who has alcohol use disorder. 

By her early 20s, Lucy realized she wasn’t the exception. Addiction had found its way into her life.

“I woke up on New Year’s Day, and I said, ‘I have to be done,’” she recalls. After years of relapses and self-doubt, she made the choice to face the discomfort, the shame, and the mess.

For Lucy, overcoming addiction wasn’t just about putting down the drink—it was about reclaiming her life.

Lucy Hale on sobriety: the hard truth about healing and growth

Healing isn’t some Instagrammable moment with candles and yoga mats. At least, that’s not how Lucy sees it.

For her, growth has been messy, uncomfortable, and, at times, downright painful. Sobriety forced her to confront old beliefs, toxic relationships, and deeply rooted truths she had avoided for years.

And one of the hardest lessons Lucy learned? Growth doesn’t happen overnight.

I always thought it would be this, like, big booming experience. It’s not. It’s really quiet, it’s really subtle, and it’s really soft.

— Lucy Hale, actress

“It’s a leveling-up process,” she explains. Each step forward required brutal honesty with herself and a willingness to do the hard inner work.

Some days, that meant facing emotions she used to numb with alcohol. Other days, it meant sitting with the silence and allowing her higher self to guide her.

And yes, it’s painful. But Lucy says the other side of that pain is worth it—a peace she spent her whole life chasing and finally found within herself, her spiritual awakening.

“I always thought it would be this, like, big booming experience,” she says. “It’s not. It’s really quiet, it’s really subtle, and it’s really soft.”

Forget about it looking perfect; it doesn’t follow a timeline. But every painful step is a step closer to becoming who you’re meant to be.

Because, as Lucy puts it, “it’s always been inside of you.” You just have to be willing to find it.

3 lessons to turn pain into power from Lucy Hale’s sobriety journey

Healing doesn’t come with shortcuts, and Lucy knows this better than most. Her journey involved rediscovering herself through deep and often uncomfortable work.

“I worked really hard to get sober, and I relapsed a lot of times—I’m talking almost 15 years of trying to get sober,” she says. “I tried everything, and I always got back up because I always knew I deserved more, and I always knew I was here for something bigger.”

Her story shows that even when the road feels impossible, there’s always a way forward. Take a page from the Lucy Hale sobriety playbook and see how grit, grace, and persistence can help you tackle life’s toughest challenges.

1. Ask for help

For years, Lucy avoided asking for help, seeing it as a sign of weakness. She felt like she had to handle her struggles alone, believing that relying on others somehow made her less capable.

But when she finally opened up, she discovered the opposite: asking for help takes strength.

“Talk as much as possible and find the people who will listen,” she advises. This could mean therapy, recovery groups, or even just confiding in a trusted friend.

She also warns that bottling up emotions can take a toll, contributing to physical and mental health struggles like depression. Letting those feelings out—through conversation or other healthy outlets—makes room for healing.

Because, as she says, “you’re not too much, and your feelings aren’t too much.”

2. Stay curious

Curiosity became one of Lucy’s greatest tools in her journey. She approached sobriety with an open mind, exploring different healing modalities to see what resonated. From journaling and meditation to sound healing and energy work, she allowed herself to experiment and evolve.

Her advice? Stay curious about your path.

“When I got sober, it’s like, well, I’m just going to ask questions and be open-minded and see where this leads me.”

Lucy credits this mindset with leading her to unexpected breakthroughs. Even on days when she didn’t feel like doing anything, she stayed consistent, knowing small actions could lead to big shifts.

3. Don’t fear the discomfort

Healing isn’t easy—it’s messy, painful, and full of uncomfortable truths. But here’s the paradox: the very discomfort you’re avoiding is where growth begins.

“Having a dark night of the soul can actually be fun,” she says. Why? Because when you’ve hit rock bottom, “it’s only up from here.”

Her perspective on discomfort goes deeper than that. “On the opposite side of pain, like, what is that? Bliss. And at the opposite end of fear, what is that? Love,” she explains.

These contrasts, she says, are what make life so extraordinary. The pain and fear aren’t there to break us; they’re there to teach us.

Lucy knows what it’s like to feel stuck, spending years in “victim mode.” But now, she sees those hard times differently. They’ve given her clarity, gratitude, and the strength to let go of the old and embrace the new.

Her advice? Don’t shy away from the discomfort—that’s where the self-love happens.

And on the other side of it? The version of yourself you’ve been waiting to meet.

Heal. Rise. Thrive.

Lucy Hale sober is proof that even the toughest battles can lead to incredible breakthroughs—and that change is possible when you’re willing to take the first step. As she says, “There is so much power in just owning your story.”

Whether you’re navigating your own challenges or just looking for daily inspiration to keep moving forward, Mindvalley offers free tools and resources to help you on your path.

When you sign up for a free account, you’ll gain access to sneak peeks of powerful quests, like Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapy for Abundance with Marisa Peer to help overcome limiting beliefs and unlock your full potential or The Quest for Personal Mastery with Srikumar Rao to help transform your mindset and turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth.

On top of that, there are fresh daily meditations to explore and a global community of people all about leveling up that you can be a part of.

Start where you are, and see how these tools can guide you toward building a life that feels like your own.

Because, like Lucy Hale, you deserve that peace… and that power.

Welcome in.