We come up with all kinds of stories to convince ourselves that we don’t really have to do something. It’s called self-sabotage. We don’t believe we are worth accomplishing whatever it is we have set out to accomplish. Even years into our recovery we can still act in this self-sabotaging way, which harms our…
Recovery goes through peaks and valleys, growth periods and plateaus. If you are feeling stuck in your recovery, ask yourself these three questions. What are your values? When we aren’t living according to our values, it can really bring us down. Suppose you really value fairness, honesty, and transparency but you work for a company…
We have to gain emotional intelligence in order to stay sober. Many treatment centers start their group therapy sessions with a chart. This chart is full of “emojis” faces that are expressing different emotions. Underneath the face is the emotion. The chart is passed around the group of people so everyone can “check in” and…
Time management is an essential skill for any working man. Creating a balance between personal needs and work needs while maintaining accountability and responsibility to work and relationships takes discipline and smart time management. Addiction and alcoholism are full-time jobs. Prioritizing the brain in such a way that nothing else matters, men who are living…
Self-sabotage is part of the experience of addiction. Every time an addict earnestly attempts to recover, then makes up a story of why they couldn’t recover, shouldn’t recover, or why using is better than recovering, they are sabotaging their opportunity to recover. Once they pick up a drug or a drink again, the sabotage is…
We set a daily goal in recovery: stay sober until midnight. Once that clock strikes, we set a new goal: stay sober until midnight. Thus the cycle of “One day at a time” begins. We take things as they come so that we aren’t overwhelmed by the prospect of the future. Yet, we are…
Sleep is popular. People like to sleep. People like to get good sleep. Articles list dozens of ways to sleep deeper, longer, and more efficiently. In the productive age, we want our sleep to be as productive as our working hours. We need sleep to give us energy, leave us well-rested, and prepare us…
Vulnerability is a triggering and challenging word for men. The expectation of the male identity is to be strong, solid, unwavering, rational, unemotional, and adaptable. In a group of men who are recovering from their individual pasts full of shame, guilt, remorse, addiction, and mistakes, it is critical to be vulnerable. By embracing vulnerability…
Hiking is a great exercise for recovery. Spending time exercising in nature is proven to improve feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, body image, wellness, and actual health. Summertime is a great time to take advantage of hiking and a great way to bond with recovery peers. Part of learning to live sober is being prepared…
Addiction takes over all life skills. Many people don’t realize how intimately addiction weaves its way into their lives until they start living life and doing things sober. Budgeting, grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking- health, wellness, and nutrition is not often a focus for people who are completely overwhelmed by their chemical addiction to drugs…