Ep #306: Life is full of choices. You choose what to do. You choose how to react. You choose how to respond. You choose what to do with your time. Sobriety does not promise anything other than an opportunity to better your life without the weight of a hangover, daily addictive behaviors, and the constant rationalizing of your actions as being okay even though you know they are not okay. You can say, "I can't," all you want, and that is still not going to change the fact that bills are due, people are relying on you, and your life is literally happening right before your very eyes - every singl ..read more

Ep #305: In this episode, I converse with a dear friend, and we discuss how his rock bottom propelled him through the most challenging parts of his life, how AA and Buddism guided his path, and how he grounds himself as he accepts the consequences of his actions and finds solace in one ending, creating a new beginning. Just hit play, and let's dive in with open minds and hearts—you are in the right place, at the right time—right now. ******************************************** PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, FOLLOW, RATE, AND REVIEW my show on your preferred streaming app. Every little bit helps this show ..read more

Ep #304: Wasted time or a wasted life? We can often start sobriety with much animosity toward the world and what it did to us that led us down this path of active addiction. As personal responsibility begins to take hold of you, you'll find that you start to accept responsibility for your actions. As that unfolds, you may then get angry with yourself for all the time you wasted being wasted. This energy can destroy your early enthusiasm toward your sobriety as the thoughts that you should have started this sooner or the feelings that you are just never going to figure it out root into your psy ..read more

Ep #303: Recovery is about balancing the long-term goal of "I'll never use again" with the daily focus of "one day at a time." Focusing on what can be controlled today is crucial, as sobriety is a personal choice only you can make. Every day presents an opportunity to take responsibility for that choice, and that's where real change happens - today. But we want to have our eyes on the future and how our decisions and actions today will guide us in creating the life we desire for ourselves tomorrow. Sobriety promises nothing. Well, maybe it promises less blackouts and knowing what you did last ..read more

Ep #302: Self-doubt, often fueled by past mistakes and negative self-talk, can really mess with your motivation, leading to feelings of anxiety and isolation. When those feelings take over, it’s easy to fall back into old habits, making sobriety even more challenging. We’ll talk about how self-doubt can become a trigger for relapse and, more importantly, how to stop it in its tracks. From shifting your mindset to using positive self-talk, you’ll learn practical tools to build emotional resilience and regain confidence in yourself. We’ll also explore the importance of staying connected with you ..read more

Ep #301: Today, I'll explore a range of recovery programs and explain how each can help you on your path to sobriety. From the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) to the science-based approaches of SMART Recovery and LifeRing, I cover the strengths and benefits of these diverse strategies. I also dive into faith-based options like Celebrate Recovery and mindfulness-focused programs like Refuge Recovery and Recovery Dharma, helping you understand which path might resonate most. Whether you're new to recovery or further along, this episode provides insight i ..read more

Ep #300: Seven years of sobriety and 300 episodes later, I've learned some powerful lessons, and the first one is that it's all about progress, not perfection. We don't need to be perfect; it's the progression we seek, and to manifest progress, we must keep showing up. Mindset is everything—how you think determines how you live. Shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset changed everything for me, and it can be for you, too. Emotional resilience? It's your superpower. Life throws challenges, but learning to bounce back without turning to old habits is critical. And speaking of habits—self-talk ..read more

Ep #299: Positivity. We all have a different relationship with this word, with this energy, with this notion that optimism and a positive attitude are the keys to experiencing a life with happiness, contentment, and gratitude. Even those three words can conjure an infinite amount of thoughts, feelings, and actions from each of us.  So, this week, I am diving into why I have long believed, long felt, and long released positive energy into the world, very much feeling that through this learned behavior, my life will flow. I will teach you how to reframe yourself to experience a more positiv ..read more

Ep #298: Is sobriety a punishment? This question was asked of a member of my Wise Mind Empowerment and Recovery Tribe, which meets on Slack. When I read this, my mind swirled with so many topics, as I have been asked this question many times when I speak at addiction recovery centers. What is the answer? Well, if there were a clearly defined explanation or solution to this thought process, we'd be robots and not the amazingly infinite human creatures we are. By the end of this episode, you will have many things to ponder upon. Is sobriety a punishment or a beautiful opportunity to achieve your ..read more

Ep #297: We're diving deep into what it takes to change your life and stay sober. First and foremost, you have to want to change. No one can make you do it but yourself. Most of the hard work happens when nobody's around to cheer you on. It's in those quiet moments that real progress is made. Remember, you're moving forward even when it feels like you're going backward. Just because others seem to be zooming ahead doesn't mean you're not progressing. Imagine sitting in a car at a standstill while the car next to you moves forward—it feels like you're going backward, but you're not.  ..read more