The Recovery Guy Podcast

Episode #183 -Tuesday The Fix: Step Ten - Time to Clean House

Step Ten is the first step of what is considered the maintenance steps. The most exciting thing about Step Ten is that it involves an introspective look into ourselves as we would consider our day. Built into the step itself is the spot-check, the end of day checkup and periodic checkup. It will also include a semiannual and annual house cleaning. It is within this personal look that we reconcile our present, so it does not become a problem of our past.

A few things to examine may include

1. How did I start my day
2. What was my attitude toward others
3. Was there any disagreements where difficulty arose
4. How was I received by others
5. Did I feel balanced throughout my day
6. How did my day end

By examining these basic questions, I can address my day during and after the fact to determine my next step.

By doing this daily and making the proper adjustments along the way, I am likely to live a balanced life.

Episode #182 - Friday The Checkup: Chosen Ones

One of the most common aspects of any person who has suffered from addiction is that we have lost the ability to choose. Our compulsion became so deep that whether we could start was no longer up to us and most always not being able to stop was a part of that equation as well. Years ago, I heard a Japanese phrase that said “First a man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.“ We could extrapolate this phrase to most every addiction, whether it be behavioral and or substance or both. When we first enter recovery, for most of us, we are not choosing Recovery. We are choosing the path that is forced upon us. That is why I believe, the life we choose first chose us. Throughout our life we are given many chances to be something and we chose to be nothing. I used to be a wandering generality, but now I’m a meaningful specific. After all these years, I have come to believe that the life that continually try to choose me, I finally chose back.

Today I choose
Light over dark
Good over evil
Kindness or uncaring
Hope over despair
Joy over sorrow

What do you choose? What commitment are you making for yourself
that will result in a better version of you. Remember, the better version
I am of me will increase my ability to be a better help to others.

Episode #181 - Tuesday The Fix: Step 9 - Direct Amends is More Than Sorry

Like every step we take in recovery, understanding the goal, practical guidance, challenges, and realistic outcome is essential to the completion of the step. On page 84 of the 12 and 12 of alcoholics anonymous it states, “we cannot buy our own peace of mind at the expense of others.” This is one of the most important reasons that we need to hold off on doing the step. How many times has our past been characterized by remorse and the apologies that come on its heels? That would be plenty of work to do before we need to take the step. Like any ladder, we need to climb it one rung at a time.

1. 1. The degree of the amends will vary with the who, what and where of the offense. What is our motive for making it
2. Many of the amends we need to make are already being made by staying clean and sober and making better choices.
3. We will feel a relief and acceleration, and this will encourage us to move forward to the completion of the step.

Completing Step Nine will be a most rewarding experience. This step will further help us crossover from a person of words to one of action.

Episode #180 - Friday The Checkup: Personal Responsibility

If there is anything that I want to help you understand is how we must take responsibility for our addiction, the things we did behind it and our personal recovery over it. Lacking personal responsibility kept me from becoming well when it was sorely indicated. I must now take full responsibility for my addiction and other related behaviors and then make a commitment to myself to become well. Unless I take personalresponsibility, it is always going to be up to someone else or something else to do for me what I should be doing for myself. That is why step one is so necessary. Every succeeding step in recovery offers me the opportunity to take further personal responsibility. As I take each step in recovery, I am getting closer to the type of daily responsibility I must take to sustain the recovery I have been given, to grow in that recovery and have a lifelong opportunity to be in recovery ODAAT for the rest of my life. This is what personal responsibility affords me. I hope you join me on this journey.

Remember, it does not matter where we start it matters where we end up. Since this is about the journey not the destination where I desire to end up is on the successful end of another day. Now, success is a relative term usually defined by the person experiencing their day. Where I end up today will set the stage for where I start tomorrow. Where I start tomorrow will help determine where I end up tomorrow and so on and so on and so on. Never lose sight of where we are at.

Episode #179 - Tuesday The Fix: Step Eight - Repairing the Damage

This step can be so challenging for so many of us. Like step one and step four, step eight calls us to be objectively introspective. We must see things that we did in a light that is not clouded by pride or fear. One of the most important things to remember is that this is merely a list. The second most important thing is the word “willing“ that is found in the wording of the step. As we previously discussed Willy Nash is a key, that when inserted, the door opens up even of itself. Do not be discouraged by the personal inventory that this step requires, but rather What does step has the potential to do. Step eight is an avenue to forgiveness. It is part of every plan of recovery. Forgiveness will always play a vital role.

Please learn more about my approach to the Steps from our podcast episode from December of last year titled Steps of Life.

Episode #178 – Friday The Checkup: Prayer Power

Prayer is a devout petition to God or an object of worship. It is a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession. It has been referred to as a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying. It is further defined as a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer. Prayer is something that most everyone at some time relies on in some way. Prayer is one of the universal actions that exists. St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and environment could be viewed as the original Earth Day advocate. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation.

When we consider what St. Francis is saying, we are encouraged to set self aside we will then grow in ways that we always hoped. May God bless you on your journey.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!
That where there is hatred, I may bring love.
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony.
That where there is error, I may bring truth.
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.
That where there is despair, I may bring hope.
That where there are shadows, I may bring light.
That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted.
To understand, than to be understood.
To love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Episode #177 – Tuesday The Fix: Step Seven - Humility is Key

As all the previous steps, this step covers a specific area of need. Step Seven relies on Step Six as do all the Steps rely on the previous one.

Humility; the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank:
Him; Used as a direct or indirect object:
Remove; to go away; depart; disappear, to take away:
Shortcoming a failure, defect, or deficiency in conduct, condition, thought, ability.

We must use our increased humility as a stepping-stone to further enrich our recovery. Step Seven does just that.

Episode #176 – Friday The Checkup: Just Keep Swimming

Redirecting our thinking is critical to our recovered life and should be a constant. If not, negative thoughts will hijack our moments which can steal our day.

The post Episode #176 – Friday The Checkup: Just Keep Swimming appeared first on Recovery Guy.

Episode #175 – Tuesday The Fix: Step Six – Ready or Not It Must Be Done

The defects are the target of this Step and entirely is the degree by which we are ready to remove them. I invite you to look at the definitions of these words to see how they resonate with you.

The post Episode #175 – Tuesday The Fix: Step Six – Ready or Not It Must Be Done appeared first on Recovery Guy.

Episode #174 – Friday The Checkup: How do I Identify

I must view myself as one deserving recovery and healthy relationships. Until I see myself in this light, I will not do the things necessary to transform into this person.

The post Episode #174 – Friday The Checkup: How do I Identify appeared first on Recovery Guy.