Addiction and Recovery

Renounce All Addicting

During early recovery, the primary focus is on renunciation, though people also begin the integration and repair process and at least think about their personal growth and spirituality. For some, renunciation […]

Intentional Healing Through the Practice of Love

Healing from addiction, trauma and the suffering of life entails coming into the fullness of love. While it is in our truest nature to love, realizing our true nature requires […]

Silence, Solitude, and Stillness

Healing from trauma, addiction and other psychiatric illnesses is largely about healing the experience of Bare Reality. This is an experience before thought. It is the experience of existence, Pure […]

Managing Stress

One of the largest threats to our well-being is stress. Stress is part of life. You promote your well-being by learning to manage stress. “Optimal” stress helps stimulate and activate […]

Principle vs. Pleasure

Thomas Jackson said, “I like liquor—its taste and its effects–and that is just the reason why I never drink it.” For Jackson, the pleasure of drinking felt dangerous, so to […]

Service

A friend of mine shared the following story with me: A plump Indian businessman, dripping with gold and diamonds, came one day to visit Mother Teresa, fell at her feet, […]

Honest Recovery

Gary King once said, “There is no such thing as an inconsequential lie.” Honesty is so important to a successful life of recovery it deserves special emphasis. It is a […]

The Next Right Thing

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” A fundamental human challenge is to do what is right […]

Spiritual Intelligence

Think of wise, kind, courageous people in your life. Perhaps they include a family member. Perhaps great spiritual leaders like Jesus or the Buddha. Perhaps other great leaders like Gandhi, […]