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-Summary

Carl shares his personal journey of addiction and recovery, emphasizing the philosophy of 'stay active, stay sober.' He talks about the challenges he faced in his sobriety journey and how he found support in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The episode highlights the role of AA in the host's recovery and the importance of taking action, making commitments, and seeking help. The host encourages listeners to reflect on their own recovery journey and the actions they are taking to stay sober.

Takeaways

- Staying active and sober is crucial in recovery from addiction.

- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can provide valuable support and guidance in the recovery process.

- Taking action, making commitments, and seeking help are essential for maintaining sobriety.

- Reflecting on one's recovery journey and the actions taken can help in staying sober.

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Takeaways

June 30

Soberversaries! Happy Birthday! Congratulations! Here is some cake, and if you’re lucky, we will gift you a chip, keychain, or medallion. “That’s it?” my younger self would ask. When I was fifteen, I was introduced to the rooms of recovery, and I simply thought that was all I got for not drinking and drugging. I didn’t see the benefits because I was simply not looking for them and was living like I was still drinking and using. Nothing changed for me on the inside or the outside. The only thing that changed was that I grew more resentful with every chip or keychain. I could not stand being propped up at a podium and told to speak. I had nothing to say. I was still bitter, hurt, and confused. None of the things anyone talked about when they took their chips/keychains were happening to me.

Reflections

The 12 Steps of recovery outlined in your preferred program will take you as far as you allow them to take you. Are you allowing them to take you somewhere, or are you growing more obstinate and defiant?

Daily Challenge

Look at your life up until this moment. What has changed for the better?

June 29

Only the addict and alcoholic think so much about what they think about. This mental masturbation leads us down some fucked-up pathways. We craft, plan, and connive about making more money, winning the hearts and minds of our friends, bosses, coworkers, and lovers. We live entire lifetimes in our minds. This can lead to a lot of fantasy, denial, distortion, misalignments, and poor judgments. That is why, in recovery, we talk a lot about taking action. Action is where we measure our lives, not the results. The results are not our concern, but the willingness to take action is our focus. Just that simple decision means the difference between dreaming on the sidelines and being in the big game.

Reflections

Am I doing what I need to do to take action today? What is the next indicated step?

Daily Challenge

Determine your next course of action and do it.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” – Yogi Berra

June 28

You are not who you think you are but what you think you will become. Over time, we look for evidence to prove what we think about ourselves. Some of this can be greatly distorted for the addict and alcoholic. And with any length of time, we can find any number of things to prove that our thoughts are real and factual. We can say that we are not a well-liked person and that people don’t like us because of this and that, etc. And we can look for evidence in a lack of phone calls, lack of emails, no likes for our posts on Facebook, etc. But are those really measures of whether we are likable or not? Living authentically relies on what you think about yourself. Living an examined life, taking a daily inventory, and rethinking your beliefs about yourself can help you live a happier life with a more defined sense of self.

Reflections

Are you taking a daily inventory? Why not?

Daily Challenge

Start taking a daily inventory. Help yourself see yourself for who you really are.

June 27

“Who do you think you are? You can’t you do that? You don’t have enough intelligence, background, knowledge, or ability to do that. You’re a nobody doing things other nobodies won’t even look twice at. You were born to lose. Haha!” Do you have this voice, too? It’s not easy to go through life with such a negative, nagging, persistent voice in your head. It’s enough to make anyone drink! Haha! Seriously, how do you fight the enemy within? You don’t. You either make friends with it or enlist outside help. It may take years to get a handle on the negative, critical, inside voice. You may need therapy or even medication, but don’t let that voice rule your mind.

Reflections

What kind of voices are in your head today? Do you know who is talking to you? Where does that voice come from?

Daily Challenge

Write down five absolutely true affirmations about yourself that counter your negative internal voice (i.e., “I am a generous person, I am considerate of others...” etc.)

June 26

Had a good friend die, and at the same time, I lost my job. Then, a month later, I got a job offer, and things were looking up. And fifteen minutes later, before I could tell anyone the good news, my dog was hit by a car. Sounds like a bad country song, I know. One day things are dark and gloomy, and the next, hopeful and inspiriting. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy! How are you supposed to go from feeling like absolute shit to absolute delight and not have it short-circuit your emotional register? There is one saying that reminds me of how to deal with it: “This too shall pass.” All things, good or bad, will pass. It doesn’t matter what you care about or what you put emphasis on. Life will continue to move on with or without you. It, too, shall pass.

Reflections

What you are going through, good or bad, will pass.

Daily Challenge

Take a walk. Sit on a bench for an hour. Watch it all pass.