Are you a good listener?

This week I talk about three different situations of listening:

1. No crosstalking at Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings. Why?
2. Listen to others. Really listen. Become an active listener.
3. Listen to yourself. Turn off the distractions and make time to be alone with your thoughts. (No TV, music, podcasts, or social media.)

With so much to distract us in life, making time to listen to others (and ourselves) helps us become better attuned with our thoughts and feelings.

With practice, better listening can strengthen our relationships and helps us process our feelings rather than repressing them.

Want to learn more? 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.

Learn about the importance of taking care of ourselves and how to overcome unhealthy dysfunctional relationship behaviors.

I share how I learned about the "parent, child, and adult" voices and how we need to develop our adult voice within ourselves.

As we develop that voice, we can act rather than react in any circumstance by asking: "Is it true? Is this healthy for me?"

By focusing on the basics, no matter our age, we can move forward and live a healthier life.

Eat when hungry, sleep when tired, rest, exercise, and be good to ourselves.

Want to learn more? 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 episode 4, I share what I’ve learned about how to have a healthy romantic relationship by recognizing repeating unhealthy dysfunctional behaviors and learning how to come to terms with our past.

Welcome to the Let Go and Be Free podcast:

A podcast for those who grew up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional family.

I’m your host, Ron Vitale, author of the Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics series.

On this podcast, we’ll talk about everything from dealing with ruminating thoughts to stopping dysfunctional behaviors that you learned as a child in an alcoholic home. Together we’ll shine a light to dispel the shame you might have secretly been living with about your upbringing, and practical tips that will help you center yourself and live a healthier life.

Today’s topic:

What happens at an Adult Children of Alcoholics Meeting?

I share my experience of the first few times I attended an ACOA meeting and talk a bit about the first two 12 Steps.

New to ACOA? Be sure to check the official Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families website out.

If you’d like to learn more about the show and sign up for the newsletter, feel free to visit: letgoandbefree.com

In today's episode, we discuss the rise of alcohol-related deaths due to the pandemic and the importance of taking care of yourself.

Articles mentioned in the show:

• U.S. alcohol-related deaths hit highest rate in decades during coronavirus pandemic, study shows (Washington Post).
• Loving-Kindness and Compassion Meditation: Potential for Psychological Intervention (National Library of Medicine)

To learn more, be sure to check out Letgoandbefree.com.

Welcome to the first episode. I share my background, talk through the reason behind making the podcast, and share a tip about how to set healthy boundaries and leave codependency behind.

To learn more, be sure to check out Letgoandbefree.com.