From Sobriety To Recovery: An Addiction Recovery Podcast

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...

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...

Ep #296: Long-time listeners will hear a vulnerability in me that I do not often expose while I am still going through emotional turmoil. New listeners, this is not how the show usually goes. Today I am going to use the show as therapy and talk to y'all about sadness and depression I have felt this whole month. Maybe you will hear something that helps. Perhaps I will expose something that helps me...

Ep #295: Cultural perspectives and perceptions shape how we think, behave, and view the world, significantly impacting our sobriety and recovery journey. This episode dives into challenging harmful perceptions related to self-worth, health, and capability. We'll explore how culture, media, and personal experiences shape our perceptions, often leading to negative self-views and self-sabotage. Our b...

#294: Whether you are new to sobriety or have some time under your belt, your attitude about the world around you and the life you create for yourself is a never-ending journey of self-discovery and evaluation. Circumstances, events, and actions pour at you like Niagra pouring off that cliff - the one constant we can know without a doubt is that everything we experience, and its good, bad, right,...

Ep #293: June is my 48th birthday month, and I am a Dragon too, so maybe it is my 48th name day - either way, this birth year is shaping up to be wonderous. In this episode, I discuss how to stop giving away the things you love to addiction, how adulting is finding things wonderfully awesome that I once mocked, and why you are capable and stronger than your addiction - no matter what you tell your...

Ep #292: Do you recognize when you shift from one routine into the next? What cues you to change from the work version of yourself to the family, recovery, emotional, or working out versions? Oh, the list goes on. You know how you've looked around and said to yourself, "Well, now what am I going to do?" The main problem in that strategy is that our emotions and mood at the moment can send us back...

Ep #291: Ready to supercharge your sobriety? This episode dives into the battle of morning vs. nighttime routines and their crucial roles in recovery. We'll explore why your morning routine can be a game-changer, setting the tone for a day of success and stability - but also not beholden to the usual workout and meditation advice others accentuate without knowing anything about what puts you into...

Ep. #290: Chasing the idea of "making up for lost time" in addiction recovery is a dangerous fallacy. In this episode, let's explore why recovery is a lifelong journey rather than a race against the clock. I'll discuss the unrealistic expectations and pressures this mindset can create, often leading to burnout and relapse. Emphasizing steady, incremental progress, it's critical for you to recogniz...

Ep #289: Regrets from our addiction years can be a heavy burden, but they don't define us. This episode dives into how to acknowledge and transform regrets into opportunities for growth. Learn the importance of self-acceptance and how it plays a crucial role in recovery. Discover practical strategies for self-forgiveness, goal setting, and mindfulness practices to stay present. We'll discuss the s...

Ep #288: Have you ever wondered why some people choose not to share their sobriety journey with everyone? It's not about hiding; it's about protecting your truth. Let's explore the importance of setting personal boundaries, avoiding stigma, and maintaining healthy relationships. We'll delve into why focusing on the present and future, avoiding unwanted pity, and controlling your narrative matter....

Ep #287: Most of us will not remember today over any other day. Most days are just another day in our lives. When you allow your emotions in the moment to dictate your behaviors, you can betray the promises you've made to yourself. Here's the deal. We forget so much about our lives. It's part of the brain's ability to store things in the unconscious so every little detail of our lives doesn't burd...

Ep 286: We all have behaviors that no longer serve us. You might even notice that certain things you do annoy you or give you a result that is not what you really want or intended. I believe that our entire life is built upon habit loops, and the behavioral loops repeat over and over and over again. Today, I will give you my breakdown of how to remedy any behavior and habit you seek to change for...

Ep #285: Money can be a huge stressor. How much do you make? Where are you spending it? Can you save any, or are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you have ample funds, yet you find yourself unable to set aside any for retirement, savings, vacations, or other things you want that would add to your life? I know about debt. I started this year with $30,000 in debt, and I swore to myself that I wou...

Ep #284: Okay, this episode is totally Jesse-isms and pumping you up. From inspirational propaganda to my many voices to diatribes - if you love it when I get all Jesse and excite you, this episode is for you! I will also delve into the idea that easy decisions often lead to a challenging life, while tough choices can afford us our best future. I toss in the 'crab bucket' phenomenon, where individ...

Ep #283: This week, I traveled to Oklahoma for my dad's birthday and the solar eclipse, and then my car broke down, the boat battery died, and clouds filled the sky. What was to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience quickly could potentially turn into the week from hell, BUT we chose to experience ourselves at the moment, stay focused on what we could control, and stay positive that, at the very leas...

Ep #282: Judging oneself is the harshest criticism because it sounds like our voice, in our heads, telling us we can not achieve something we desire for ourselves. Teaching yourself to reject those self-critiques and take the next smallest step toward your "meant-to-be" is where the magic of addiction recovery lives. Saying yes or saying no is determined by your subjective perspective of the poten...

Ep #281: Maintaining sobriety, whether in its fragile early stages or as a long-term commitment, requires vigilant self-awareness and dedication. Individuals navigating this path may encounter significant hurdles if their focus drifts from the critical pillars that underpin a sober lifestyle. The journey is fraught with potential distractions and setbacks, including the allure of old habits, the c...

Ep #280: Somedays, I am surprised I hold it all together. Today is not one of those days. Today, anxiety and inner judgment are running rampant, and rather than act like everything - I think it best to talk it through with y'all. It is okay not to be okay. We all have those days when sobriety isn't enough for today to be the best day. Know you are not alone. You are part of this gigantic Earth exp...

Ep #279 - A role is a set of expectations, behaviors, and responsibilities assigned to an individual within a specific context, such as in a family, workplace, or social group. In the context of sobriety and recovery, adopting roles that promote healthy behaviors and offer supportive relationships can significantly enhance an individual's ability to maintain sobriety and navigate the recovery proc...

Ep #278: How would you rate your emotional resolve and resiliency? Do you notice when life seems to get into a state of flow? Mastering your emotions, physical responses, thinking, and feeling is a never-ending journey and a beautiful aspect of life. In this episode, I'm gonna discuss self-mastery, mastering each moment, self-awareness around your flow state, and how you must stop being the reason...

Ep #277 - Have you ever convinced yourself that your way of seeing things is the only way? That's Perspective Bias waving its wand. Found yourself nodding along to information that confirms what you already believe? Ah, Confirmation Bias strikes again. Ever stick with the familiar just because it's, well, familiar? Exposure Bias has you in its grasp. And who hasn't reminisced about the "good old d...

Ep #276 - Automatic negative thoughts in early sobriety can spiral you down with anger, anxiety, resentment, and a myriad of other emotions aimed at your past self and potentially anyone you decide to blame for your lot in life. I get it. Traumatic things happen, you re-live them in your head, and they grow and grow into trauma that is rooted so deep into your psyche and persona it feels you will...

Ep #275 - The trials and tribulations of life are an excellent opportunity to journey into one's emotional resiliency. In today's show, I discuss four quotes that have fueled me these last four weeks and how I use that energy to push and pull myself toward the accomplishments of my plans. I close the show with a bit of a rant and a whole lot of excitement about what I am learning about the theorie...

Ep #274 - We have accumulated a lot of bad habits in our journey of addiction. The physical ones are very noticeable, but the mental ones - perhaps not so much. We are all searching for solace from our past selves in our sobriety. Saying goodbye to your old self requires saying hello to new ways of living your life. This episode starts a series meant to give you the direction that'll help you soli...