A2D - From Addict to Disciple

The Japanese term "Shoshin" means a beginner's mindset. Too often I meet guys struggling in recovery who have closed their mind to new ideas. It's like they are the experts, even though they keep relapsing! If we can set aside our old assumptions and ideas we , like a beginner, can pick up a new nugget or wisdom every day. Shunryu Suzuki said, "In the beginner's mind the...

How do you hold that conversation with someone struggling in addiction or recovery? How do you build that relationship when you see the same person every week at outreach or in a support group? The foundation is learning how to offer help and hope. We all have something to offer help in the moment to someone in need. And we all can be carriers of hope to someone who is caught in hopelessness. In t...

This is a group episode with our guys in recovery from Australia, South Africa and the US. Their insight, wisdom and experience is awesome as they react to Deepak Chopra's quote "Be happy for no reason, like a child. If you are happy for a reason, you're in trouble, because the reason can be taken from you." So how do we share our journey to find that childlike happiness with peo...

When I'm working in rehabs I often hear questions like "How do I know I'm really making it in recovery?" "How do I know I'm ready to reintegrate into society, a job, family?" My answer is, "Have you found greatness in recovery?" In this episode we look at what greatness in recovery is, what signposts should I see along the journey of greatness and how do I...

I close every podcast episode with these words. What do they mean to me? How can living these words be your way to develop your support system in recovery? How do we look for people, places and things that are safe and that keep us resilient in recovery? Get out your journal and take notes as you listen.

This is part two on Fear of the Unknown. In this part we look at how fear of the unknown paralyzes us, makes us freeze up, or become stagnant. And the result is we stay stuck, often blaming others as we miss opportunities for growth because of fear. I want to encourage all of the listeners to pick one of the quotes you identify with or that resonates with you and discuss it witha friend or in grou...

Has fear of the unknown in recovery, reintegration into society or reconciliation KEPT YOU in addiction? Or maybe it has paralyzed you form transitioning to the next phase in life. Perhaps it has made you a career rehab guy. Even though you aren't growing, you're in a safe or comfortable place. Today's episode is the first of a two part look at this topic.

Thanks for joining us as we go on a walkabout through Remorse in Recovery Park. Are you a pro at getting clean and sober but remorse always results in relapse? Are you struggling to deal with the havoc your created in your family? Do thoughts of the lives you've shattered keep you awake at night? Then this episode is for you and for the friends and family affected by your addiction.

Are you comfortable in your own skin today? If not, what are you uncomfortable about? How do you begin the journey of being comfortable in your own skin? What signs are there that will show that you're getting there? What does this have to do with recovery? These questions and more in today's episode. Enjoy and share.

I had been thinking of an alternative title, Things I Never Said Keep Me Sick!, so this episode looks at how to tell our story to find healing and be able to rewrite our story. Author Niyan S. Dizaye encourages us to "Embrace your own story, light up the dark, conquer your fears - take the journey to your next level. Win the battle against the end." I hope this podcast motivates you to d...

This is a group episode with input from six guys in recovery from South Africa, Australia and the US. They share their answers to the question, "If you're focused on your past, how can you fuel your future?" That's a good question for all of us in recovery from addiction, from abuse or from any trauma in our life. Share this episode with any of your friends that come to mind as y...

Today we go on a walkabout in this park and reflect on several quotes about life as a game. Albert Einstein said "Life is just like a game. First you have to learn the rules of the game, and then play it better than anyone else." Placido Domingo said "I feel like a little boy who is constantly offered new toys." Napoleon Bonaparte warned "Men are ruled by toys." I&#39...

In this episode we take another look at taking our thoughts captive before we give ourselves permission to relapse. The Buddhist parable of the two arrows says that when misfortune comes, two arrows are flying at us. The first is the event, the second is our reaction. And the second is optional! How do we stop clinging to the pain and learn to chill out?

Today's episode is a walkabout through Never Again Park. In this walkabout I'm joined by several women who have been affected by the addiction of their husband or baby's father. The focus will be all of the emotions that arise as they deal with the situation that just as they decided to never let that guy ever hurt them again, he has the nerve to say he wants to make amends!

Have you said "I'm never going to relapse?" What makes you feel invincible to the triggers and temptations that have caused millions of guys before you to relapse? Let's look at what makes an invincible mindset and how to apply it to our recovery and our life. Remember, Joseph Stalin said "History shows that there are no invincible armies."

Do you feel like you have reached burnout in your recovery? Do you find yourself battling with mental, physical or emotional exhaustion on a regular basis? If that's you it may be time to shift gears and focus on self-care. It's not good to reach the point where you say "I used to be sick and tired of being sick and tired in my addiction, now I feel stuck and tired in my recovery!"

We've all heard the idiom "Don't beat a dead horse!" Today we look at this saying and how it applies to our recovery. Why are you continuing to use ineffective strategies even though they aren't working for you? What can you do to restore enthusiasm and excitement to your recovery? Remember, you and you alone, are responsible for maintaining your energy in recovery.

We all have those unexpected moments in life when our sense of peace, joy, safety, stability vanishes. How do you handle those moments? Do you find yourself riddled with panic and fear? Today we look at how to withstand those moments, how to remain elastic and flexible, how to be calm in the midst of the storm. Martin Luther King Jr. said "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands...

Many people in recovery struggle to deal with their anger issues. Family members sign them up for anger management and behavior modification classes. Today's episode talks us through how to dig deeper into this topic of out anger. Using an iceberg model we look at the things below the surface that we need to process and learn how to control before our anger controls us.

In today's episode I take a walk through Weekend Warrior Park with four friends who were weekend warrior alcoholics. The walk leads us to look at alcoholics who who started out as: 1) social drinkers, 2) conformist drinkers, 3) thrill seekers or 4) copers. By the end of the park we look at ways to become a Weekend Warrior for recovery

This is part 2 of the two episodes on closure. Today we look at the aspect of moving on. Moving forward, not just turning a page. Not focusing on what you left behind, but realizing you have the power to choose your future and the direction you will take to get there.

Today's episode is part 1 of two parts on the topic of closure. I believe it is crucial to make peace with our past or memories will continue to draw us back into relapse. In this podcast we look at aspects of closure and how to prepare ourself to move forward in life and recovery.

A client working on making amends said to me "I made a promise I couldn't keep no matter how hard I tried! I left them hurt and me with guilt and shame." Are you tired of the broken trust, damaged relationships, shredded hope and shattered dreams? In todays' episode we look at the impact of promises we've broken and how we can become someone who under promises and over delive...

Today's episode looks at three quotes from the book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. This is not a book review but I'll discuss the quotes from the standpoint of achieving success in recovery. We'll look at the critical aspects of the journey of recovery and how to choose the hard right thing over the easy wrong one.

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from the United States, South Africa and Australia. I'm sure you'll enjoy their openness and insight as they share their reactions to: "There's an anonymous quote that says 'We didn't come this far to just come this far.' How has your achieving recovery become a stepping stone for you to a lifestyle of...