In today's episode, I discuss the sixth step from Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Fear not. If you’re not interested in doing this step and stay far away from any concept of God, there’s still a lot you can get from this step.

Self-reflection, seeing yourself from a different perspective, and be willing to change.

Does “defects of character” mean that you’re “broken” or that something’s “not right” with you?

How to embrace who we are, the fullness of our existence, and not just the parts that we want people to see.

Incorporating our hurt, the pain, along with all of our experiences by owning our past allows us to step onto a new path instead of running from who we truly are.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In today's episode, I discuss the fifth step from Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

What is the purpose of this step?

Do you need to believe in God to do this and the rest of the steps?

Why are we doing these steps anyway?

Can I just zip through the steps quickly and get this over with?

Why self-reflection is necessary and the power of being able to see our faults, but also not to then to peseverate on them.

In this episode, I answer these questions along with sharing why I believe the 12 Steps are a great framework on how to learn new skills and break the cycle of dysfunction.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

Do you worry that something bad is going to happen when things are good?

Do you worry about the future and all the things that could happen?

When you take a step back and see that your need to worry is based around control your whole world view will change. 

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In today's episode, I discuss the fourth step from Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

This step does not mean being hard on yourself. Internalizing all our faults and feeling trapped in how to change those behaviors that we know are dysfunctional is not helpful. What is helpful is to set the stage for growth by becoming aware of our faults.

It's important to reflect on mistakes we have made or are still making.

The purpose of this step is to identify unhealthy/dysfunctional behaviors, and then learn how to grow beyond them so that we're not stuck in the past.

When we reflect daily on our behaviors, we create a natural check in with ourselves.

The Platinum rule:  "Treat others the way they want to be treated."

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In today's episode, I kick off a review of the Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 3: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand God."

Many people, understandably, do not wish to work on this step because they don't believe in God. If you do believe in God, then this step might be easier for you. But in this episode, I want to look at this step from a different perspective.

What exactly is this step about?

It's about power.

There are many times in life when we don't have power.

How do we feel when someone (or something) has power over us?

Do we struggle against it? Do we overreact? Do we try to control everyone and everything around us?

I delve deep into this step and talk about power and how our parents abused it against us and then reflect on how to look at this step from a different perspective: It's really about power and boundaries. What do we have power and accountability over and what we don't.

And when we have power ourselves, do we abuse it and make the same mistakes our parents did?

I invite you to listen and come on the journey with me.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In today's episode, I kick off a review of the Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 2: "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

The second steps is a hard stop for many people. As soon as there is mention of a "power greater than ourselves," people think of God.

But is there another way to look at this step?

And why is this step necessary?

I share my thoughts about step 2, how I've struggled with it, and share with you a different perspective on this challenging step.

Remember, just because I choose to follow the 12 Steps, doesn't mean that the steps will work for you. Your mileage will vary depending on your own personal beliefs. However, I do believe there are some key concepts worth reflecting on that will help you on your journey.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In today's episode, I kick off a review of the Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization's 12 Steps.

Step 1: "We admitted we were powerless over the effects of alcoholism or other family dysfunction, that our lives had become unmanageable."

I break down the step, talk about what it means to me, and share several questions so that you can reflect on what this step means to you:

• Why would we want to do this?
• What does this even mean?
• Do you struggle with admitting that you were powerless?
• How does this make us feel? 

Remember, just because I choose to follow the 12 Steps, doesn't mean that the steps will work for you. Your mileage will vary depending on your own personal beliefs. However, I do believe there are some key concepts worth reflecting on that will help you on your journey.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In this episode, I review the first four steps to living a healthier life and then round out the last two.

Step 1

Embrace all of who you are.

Step 2

Keep a growth mindset.

Step 3

Ground yourself. Build small habits into your daily routine that act as the checks and balances to help you grow.

Step 4

Get out of your own head. Go out and help others. Volunteer and interact with others. By giving of your time, it helps you see the world as a larger place and how we're all connected.

Step 5

Be creative and have fun. Garden, paint, write, find what your creativity is and embrace it. 

Step 6

What is your life’s mission? Why were you out here? What are you meant to do? Maybe you don’t feel that you have a purpose, but what drives you? 

When we put all these steps together, we have the skills to start our journey on living a healthier life.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

In the last episode, I spoke about the first two steps for living a healthier life:

Step 1

Love all of who you are.

Step 2

Have a growth mindset and start asking yourself as you go about your day: Is this healthy for me? Is it true?

This week I review the next two steps:

Step 3

Ground yourself. Build small habits into your daily routine that act as the checks and balances to help you grow.

• Examples: Daily affirmations, prayer, 12 steps, and journal writing. Or talk with someone: A therapist or a trusted friend, go to an ACOA or Al-Anon meeting.

Step 4

Get out of your own head. Go out and help others. Volunteer and interact with others. By giving of your time, it helps you see the world as a larger place and how we're all connected.

• De-demphasize the importance of material possessions.
• Distance yourself from social media and the trap of Dopamine (when you post something on social media, it makes you "feel good" when you get likes.)

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.

Do you want to live a healthy life?

Where to start?

In this episode, I talk about the challenges of living a healthy life and talk about the first two steps:

• Step 1: Embrace all of who you are.
• Step 2: Keep a growth mindset.

More Information about Let Go and Be Free:

Want to learn more about Let Go and Be Free? Check out the Let Go and Be Free book series.

I’m not a medical expert. If you need help, please reach out to a medical professional.