On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re joined by Jen, who inquires: Why is meditation so important for people in recovery, and am I doing the practice correctly?

I used to believe I could never meditate; my mind was too busy, my body too restless. For more than 30 years, I explained to people why it was impossible for me. Everything shifted when I learned about kriya practices: sets of breathwork, movement, and mudras designed to move energy. Different kriyas serve different purposes; some calm the mind, others activate or energize, but all of them create the conditions for meditation.

My biggest breakthrough was realizing that meditation isn’t about stopping thoughts. Meditation is about witnessing, watching, and acknowledging that you are not those thoughts. That separation is powerful; it restores choice. Instead of being dragged around by the mind, I can return to presence: breath, body, awareness. 

So, how do you know if you are meditating properly? Every time you sit and witness, you are. Progress isn’t measured by fewer thoughts but by more love, clarity, and freedom in your life.

Tommy discusses

• Meditation isn’t about stopping thoughts
• Stillness is possible through challenge
• Meditation transforms life
• We’re not defined by thoughts and emotions

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Free beginner’s yoga class - Spinal Tune-Up: https://r20.com/tuneup/
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, Nicole is here with us, bringing an inquiry about what I call the real gateway drug. Of course, I'm speaking about sugar. Nicole asks: Am I addicted to sugar? Should I abstain completely, or is there a place for moderation?

Now, I believe that addressing one's relationship with food and sugar in particular is a central part of recovery for everyone. In Nicole's case, she let go of alcohol several years ago and wants to take her recovery journey to the next level by addressing her relationship with food. 

I've seen countless people stuck in the frequency of addiction because they stay in old addictive patterns when it comes to food. This is one of the most important inquiries when it comes to true recovery, as we need to be present in our minds and bodies to address the underlying reasons for our food cravings. 

Tommy discusses

• Changing your relationship with food
• What is the root cause of your cravings?
• Does our microbiome affect the foods we crave?
• Learning to be conscious of our food choices
• Why the food we eat can make a huge impact on recovery

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, I address a deep and personal question from Annesa: Can I recover from a lifelong struggle with food and body dysmorphia resulting from sexual abuse?

This inquiry sheds light on the intricate relationship between trauma, self-view, and the longing for healing in a society where many women undergo sexual assault. 

For us to discover true healing, we need to confront and question our deep-seated identities and beliefs and reconnect with our emotional and spiritual essence. Practicing techniques like Kundalini Yoga and mindfulness can play a huge part in helping us achieve our ultimate goal of peace and freedom. 

We need to be striving daily to discover our truths, discard detrimental self-beliefs, and embrace self-love and acceptance, especially when confronted with societal challenges and personal traumas. Not only does this guide us to experience true healing and recovery, it extends a beacon of hope to those on a similar healing journey.

Tommy discusses

• The importance of discovering one's true self beyond trauma and stories
• Why recovery is about realizing the divinity within and coming to the truth of who you are
• How trauma keeps you in a story that distances you from your true self
• The multiple benefits of practicing yoga and mindfulness
• How to create an identity filled with love, compassion, and presence.

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, we're diving into an intriguing discussion about the integration of psychedelic therapies with holistic healing in recovery.

Aaron’s inquiry holds great significance, as many people seek answers about the role of psychedelics in the healing process. However, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this complex issue. 

It's not a matter of simply categorizing psychedelics as good or bad. Rather, we need to delve into our own personal truths and understand when and if psychedelic therapy is suitable for us. It's crucial to grasp the potential benefits and risks and, most importantly, to ensure that any transformative insights gained through such experiences are effectively integrated into our lives.

I believe in the potential for transformation, happiness, and peace without relying on substances. My view is that integration of such peak experiences matters more than the experiences themselves. The search for these experiences can lead to neglecting the importance of mastering the day-to-day aspects of life, where true growth and healing occur.

Tommy discusses:

• Why we need to delve into our own personal truths when considering psychedelic therapies
• The dangers of seeking constant peak experiences 
• Factors to consider when deciding whether to explore psychedelic therapies
• Reasons to explore the benefits of Yoga, Meditation, and breathwork
• The value of living from the inside out and aligning the outside with your inner needs
• The potential benefits and risks of various psychedelic therapies (psilocybin, ketamine, ayahuasca)

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, we get a unique inquiry from Rebecca, who says, "Alcohol is not ruining my life, but I can't stop drinking."

This is especially important for those in recovery, and yet relevant for everyone, too.

This inquiry is for the person who does not identify as an alcoholic. This is for the person who isn’t going to necessarily end up at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. This is for the person who can stop drinking for a week or two, but finds themselves going back to it again, and again, and again.

The severe alcoholic in one single respect has it easier than anybody else, because there's no question that they have an addiction, and there's no question that they need to change. But we do not agree with the premise that people need to be utterly broken in their lives to try something new.

What if we didn't judge drinking as good or bad? What if we just reflected upon our own experience, our feelings, and decided for ourselves from that place? Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Tommy discusses

• The concept of a “high bottom”
• The definition of a “teaching” and how it applies universally
• The importance of practice in recovery, and not looking for a specific “end date”
• Misunderstandings around alcohol
• Light, medium, and heavy drinking

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, we have a question from Arlena about a hot topic: how to stop using cannabis.

Arlena explains she's trying to quit using cannabis, that she lives amongst smokers, and feels entangled in it. She refers to her relationship with cannabis as a love affair.

I have heard that from so many people, and this inquiry is becoming more and more relevant as cannabis is being legalized across North America. Many people are finding that there are some challenges with this particular plant that they might not have been aware of before. 

If this conversation feels relevant for you, I want to let you know about a new program we created called Life Beyond Cannabis. This is a six-week online program – transformational, powerful, truly an incredible opportunity for somebody to let go of cannabis. Please come check it out at r20.com\lifebeyondcannabis.

Tommy discusses

• 3 ways cannabis can be relevant for humans
• Medical and spiritual uses of cannabis
• This plant’s role in Tommy’s journey
• How cannabis can suppress emotion

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we dive into what it truly means to be “stuck” in the frequency of addiction.

Pause for a moment on that phrase—the frequency of addiction. What does it bring to mind?

Today, Sarah asks a powerful question: “How do I know when I’m in—or out of—the frequency of addiction?” To illustrate this, she brings up the analogy of the Russian nesting dolls. Each time you open one, you think you’ve reached the end—only to find another, and another, and another.

Addiction can feel exactly like this—layer after layer, with no clear end in sight.

Before sobriety, recognizing this frequency and its destructive patterns can feel nearly impossible. You can’t simply think your way into a new awareness; it requires practice, patience, and a willingness to see differently. But once you commit to this lifelong practice, the shift begins. You’ll find yourself attracting new kinds of people, new opportunities, and new ways of living—because you’ve changed your frequency.

Tommy discusses

• Why people struggling with addiction continue to find themselves in the same unhealthy patterns
• Why the quality of your sobriety is not a guarantee; you must maintain the practice
• Why you need to change the frequency around you first, in order to put your body & mind into a state where you can start to identify patterns and make changes
• Everyone has the power to change their frequency

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this episode of In The Circle, we hear from Recovery 2.0 member, Luis, who asks… Are you ever truly free from addiction? 

His question takes us down an interesting path, where we must dissect the perspective of people struggling with addiction and those struggling in recovery. This inquiry challenges the oft-heard phrase: “once an addict, always an addict.”

In this episode, we unpack what I refer to as “The Big 6” (main categories of addiction) and the 4 Aggravations (more insidious mental addictions), providing a more hopeful context for healing.

We also uncover powerful truths… That you'll be healed from addiction when you no longer seek to be healed from it, when you're no longer looking for a cure; and that a real medicine makes itself obsolete.

• Are you ever really "cured" from addiction?
• Dispelling the adage "once an addict, always an addict"
• If you could use again with no side effects and no one knowing, would you?
• The 6 main categories of addiction
• The 4 aggravations (mental addictions)

Looking for a way to deepen your recovery journey and meet others in the Recovery 2.0 community? You’ve felt the call — a quiet knowing that your practice, your presence, your path, are meant to serve something greater. Train to become a Recovery 2.0 Yoga-Informed Recovery Coach - R20.com/coachtraining2025

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re taking a look at something that impacts us all - Procrastination.

In this episode, Galen brings to light the addictive nature of procrastination. When we actively avoid things we need to do - and even things we may want to do - it erodes our confidence. We may even take other actions that cause us harm.  

I look at procrastination as one of the four aggravations: Negative thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, and resentment. These are all patterns of belief and behavior that get in the way of a person's happiness. So, while nobody ‘craves’ these four aggravations, they do fit my definition of addiction: Any behavior someone continues to do despite it bringing negative consequences into their life.

This brings the concept of addiction to everyone's doorstep. Most of us have experienced any or all of these four aggravations at some point… so why do we continue to do these things when they are getting in the way of our progress and desires?

Any pattern of behavior that stops us from living the life we want to live should be addressed. So let’s dive into the roots of procrastination and discuss ways to break free of this habit for good.

Tommy discusses

• The 4 Aggravations: Negative thinking, self-doubt, procrastination, and resentment
• How to overcome procrastination
• The impact that one small step can make
• Why you don’t need labels
• Everyone's recovery journey is different

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Uplift
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.

On this week’s episode of In The Circle, we’re revisiting a critical aspect of recovery from Episode 64 - Forgiveness. 

In this episode, Mark brings us a topic that touches the core of many recovery journeys: self-forgiveness and building genuine self-confidence. Mark inquires: How can I learn to forgive myself and be confident in my self-worth?

For those of us in recovery, particularly during the early stages, the act of forgiving ourselves can seem monumental. This inability to forgive often leaves us trapped in a cycle of persistent low self-esteem. Understanding and resolving these feelings is an important step on the path to recovery.

It's an essential conversation for anyone struggling with guilt or shame and for those seeking insight into their journey towards healing. 

Tommy Discusses:

• How can I forgive myself?
• Finding connection and love within yourself
• “Borrowing” confidence from those who love you
• The frequency of gambling addiction
• Living life from the inside, out

Would you like to be a guest on the In The Circle Podcast? Submit Your Question Here: R20.com/inthecircle

Further Links & Resources

• Catch a Meeting. We offer 40+ Live Online Recovery meetings every week. Come and find your community here. Meetings are always free.
• Want ongoing recovery insights and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to the Weekly UPLIFT
• Join our Recovery 2.0 Community: access your authentic power, connect with others on a similar path, and thrive in life beyond addiction
• Subscribe to The Recovery Channel on YouTube
• Visit our website
• Come and experience an in-person event or retreat: r20.com/events

Addiction is part of everyone’s journey, but recovery is not. The Recovery 2.0 Membership is a place where you can explore the topics that interest you, find community, and connect with Tommy Rosen on a personal level. It’s here that we’ll dig into spirituality and union of the mind, body, and spirit, and transform from the inside out. You will learn and grow alongside a community of supportive, conscious, compassionate, and vibrant individuals, like you!

• Join us at r20.com/welcome to explore how to move beyond addiction and thrive in your life.

Connect with Tommy

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Recovery 2.0

• @Recovery2Point0 on Instagram
• Recovery 2.0 Facebook Group

In The Circle is produced by Lovemore Media.