Recovery Daily Podcast

Today Rachel explores the significance of humility in her life, embracing a more open mindset. At first humility felt like defeat, but she's come to understand its about acceptance and willingness. It’s not defeat. It’s strength. Rachel talks about how humility has become a tool for growth and embrace life on life’s terms. It has been critical in maintaining her sobriety. It gives her grace to...

Today Rachel dives in to the power of shifting from negativity to positivity, especially in the area of believing in other people. It takes an enormous amount of work to try to understand other people's motivations rather than to focus on being understood by other people. None of us have a brochure for living. We are all trying to figure this life thing out at the same time. Rachel admits that...

Rachel shares her experience hiding her internal suffering for most of her life. Rather than addressing the chronic sadness, she hid it—she drank through it to subside the pain. She catastrophized her life because she believed that was the hand she was dealt, and there was no way out of the nonstop grief. Once Rachel got sober her sensitivity, that once seemed like a character flaw, became her sup...

Rachel got to go shopping for new clothes today in a creative way! Since her head hurts to browse online or in-person, Rachel's niece and family friend went shopping FOR her while she sat on the sidelines. Rachel made a list of things she needed and wanted, and the two attending young women made all the fashion decisions and brought clothes to the fitting room where Rachel awaited in anticipat...

Today Rachel provides an update on her post-stroke symptoms, what she's been experiencing, and rating of discomfort. In an effort to prepare for her neurological ophthalmology appointment and neurological psychiatric evaluation in December, she is thoroughly documenting her physical discomfort and cognitive challenges. One important lesson she has learned is to over communicate symptoms and re...

In this episode, Rachel talks about how just being willing can turn something you didn't think you would ever like into your absolute favorite thing. It's true! Kabobs are now a dinner favorite of hers. And the gifts of open-mindedness doesn't stop at Persian food! :) Rachel calls it "only hearing what you don't want to hear." This is what she did when she first walked in...

Can we be as conscious about the thoughts that we put in our minds as we are the foods we put in our bodies? Rachel talks about how our thoughts are just as important to our well-being. We can make self-discipline easier by cultivating it from a place of self-love, the way we would care for our inner child. Rachel find self-discipline to be easier when she sets up a clean, orderly, and accessible...

In the episode, Rachel shares about the grief she is coping with after losing a big brother figure in her life. Just as life is sometimes, before we manage the impact from the death of a dear friend, we receive news of another loss due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Rachel shares some encouraging words from the author, TED speaker , and Podcaster, Nora McInerny . Some points that ring true for...

In this moving episode, Rachel discusses her daily practice of removing worry, remorse, and morbid reflections to be of usefulness to others, especially her children. The talks about starting the day guiding her thinking away from self-pity and fear toward inspiration, serenity, and action. With mounting evidence that her sobriety program can help her through even the most difficult times in grief...

Abusing prescription drugs is a part of Rachel's story. Her first encounter with an addictive relationship with prescription drugs was in college. She was prescribed percocet after two back to back surgeries. The relationship reignited and came to a dangerous head as she reached her low prior to detox at 41 years old. As Rachel battles chronic headaches and migraines she leans into her sobriet...

In this rare episode, Rachel leans in to her fear of talking about her conception of God and her higher power. She talks about having enough evidence that going from a place of doubt and embarrassment about the topic to a place of "acting as if" has invited more gratitude, acceptance, and hope in to her life. Rachel stresses that she is alive today because of her willingness and open-min...

Rachel set out today to figure out a smarter way to learn Voiceover. Smarter learning as an adult starts with asking yourself why you want to learn the skill. It's gotta be a pretty good reason to give yourself the incentive and initialize the learning trigger and urgency needed to overcome the frustration barrier that we all face at some time or another. In this episode, Rachel shares some te...

In this episode, Rachel shares about how the disease of alcoholism that almost killed her enabled her to feel more alive today. The stroke that left her with dead brain cells and neurological vision impairment thrusted her life in a new direction of opportunities unforeseen. What are you doing today to feed your future self? Now is the pivotal point where your experience becomes a lesson. Now is t...

How do sober people have fun? Rachel shares about her experience with learning how to have fun without drinking. It takes practice, and it can be uncomfortable in the beginning. She says that it starts by saying yes. When people ask you to do something, you just say yes even when you want to say no. The more sober firsts you can experience the more you can say, "hey, I did it once. I can do i...

In a sobriety program, being a part of something bigger than yourself starts with just showing up. Rachel shares about how having a desire, or purpose, enables us to find community. It doesn't matter who we are or what we do that gives anyone a better shot at belonging or being a part of. Give your actions purpose and you will find community there. Follow  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Recovery Daily Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, Rachel talks about cultivating a feeling of belonging within her. She provides an example of how she had a resistance to belonging that existed until she was able to begin meeting her basic needs as a sober alcoholic, stop judging herself and accepting her imperfections, and establishing an anchor within her that is always there. When we make the choice to belong, we fall comforta...

Rachel received a call from her daughter last night struggling through her sobs to express how sorry she was for her mom's suffering and loss due to the stroke. Because of that call, Rachel is determined to begin carrying her young adult children along on her recovery journey in a way that educates them, keeps them engaged, and opens a channel for more frequent communication about the fears th...

In recovery, we learn from those that came before us; those who have experienced suffering can often teach us more than our doctors. In this episode, Rachel shares how learning from the imperfections of our own experiences are our greatest teachers. To be the best at being imperfect, start it now—whatever it is. Let it be uncomfortable. Find humor in your mistakes and vulnerability. Capture your i...

The serenity prayer is at the core of Rachel's recovery, but today she invites us to consider not being too quick to accept. Once you process your emotions about a situation and are able to think reasonably, is there in fact something that you can change? In this episode, Rachel suggests that we unravel our emotions, embrace our superwoman/man, and cultivate the courage to change the things th...

Why do we wake up with negativity before our feet even hit the floor? Rachel shares in this episode what she learned about how to tackle negativity in the morning. It's important to respond to your negative feelings in the morning. Don't ignore them or go back to sleep. Rachel talks about how her dreams perpetuate her fears. And although she doesn't analyze the details of her dreams, w...

It takes guts to admit, "It's not you, it's me." Rachel shares in this episode how her sobriety program helped her to get more and more comfortable admitting her wrongs. She says its not about pointing out your failures, it about taking ownership where you were wrong so that you can take ownership of the growth and successes that come from them later. Consider the idea that peopl...

In this episode, Rachel talks about how easy it was to talk about her feelings as a child. She wasn't afraid of not being understood or being rejected. She accepted help and sympathy from others. But, over the years Rachel learned how talking about our feelings makes us accountable for them. She learned that some people are too busy with their own feelings to care about others'. She learne...

Inspired by a TedX Talk by Leana Delle , Rachel talks about how she struggles with the saying "Live Each Day As If It's Your Last." During active alcoholism and right after her stroke, Rachel struggled with thoughts that each day was her last. This is not the way she wants to live. Lifted by the sentiment shared by Ms. Delle, Rachel shares how this is how it felt to grow in sobriety...

Today Rachel received a call from "Publishers Clearing House" that she won 7 million dollars and a new car. When she immediately didn't fall for such a ridiculous scam call the bad actor threw profanity and vulgarity at her. How does Rachel turn such an experience in to an opportunity for gratitude? Listen to the episode to find out. The suspense has to be killing you! Follow  ⁠Recov...

Today Rachel shares about her enlightening visit to the neurologist. She walks us through some trivial cognitive testing and the unexpected reaction she had. She also received some difficult news to hear about her recovery but has every expectation of practicing acceptance when her energy allows. In this episode, Rachel discusses her challenges in recovery with honesty, open-mindedness, and willin...