Raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal—this episode takes you straight into the trenches of emotional sobriety work as we continue exploring Step Four of recovery. When was the last time you truly examined your feelings, or questioned why you react the way you do?

The journey begins with a jarring confession: losing my cool completely with a stranger on the streets of Park Slope . This humbling incident sets the stage for an honest conversation about how our emotions can hijack our behavior when left unexamined. Despite years in recovery, I'm still learning to pause between feeling and reacting—a skill that requires constant practice.

At the heart of this episode is a vulnerable exploration of my desperate need for validation and acceptance. I share the paradoxical struggle of running through life with an "unquenchable thirst" to feel loved and included, while simultaneously finding it difficult to accept love when it's earnestly given. When my wife shows affection, why does it feel like the first time every time? This insatiable need for reassurance points to deeper issues many in recovery face.

We also tackle the complicated territory of guilt and shame, distinguishing between authentic remorse for our actions and the imagined guilt we carry for things beyond our control. Through personal examples of treating loved ones poorly and collecting people who were dependent on me, I reveal patterns driven by insecurity that continue to require vigilance and awareness.

The episode concludes with a touching reminder that recovery isn't a solitary journey. A message from someone celebrating two years sober thanks to early support shows the ripple effect of connection and how differently recovery can look for each person.

Ready to examine your own emotional landscape? Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe and share with someone who might need these insights on their recovery path.

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See you on the flipside !!