Tools

As the leaves begin to change colors and the season grows colder, many of us are experiencing problems that feel big: The relationship continues to deteriorate with arguments and distrust. The alcohol drinking or cannabis [...]

Our brains are quite good at assuming the worst outcomes. In fact, it’s an ancient evolutionary instinct directly tied to our survival as a species. If we prepare for the worst, we’re less likely to [...]

When I was younger, I was often told I should be weary of “seeing the world with rose-colored glasses.” I’ll admit, I’ve been an optimist all my life. I like to assume things will go [...]

There’s a fine line between worrying about what may happen next and planning for what may happen next. Worrying rarely achieves more than making us feel anxious or depressed. Planning, on the other hand, often [...]

According to author, activist, and entrepreneur, Bryant McGill: "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." So often, we listen only to respond, instead of listening to truly [...]

With election day finally behind us, we now have a choice before us as individuals: to respect each other, or to not respect each other. Most decent folks would likely be quick to say we choose [...]

I have a tendency to get lost in self-reflection when I consider what my purpose is in life. I am a father, a partner, a son, a brother, a friend, an employee and colleague, an [...]

My favorite “Step” of the well-known 12-Steps used by multiple colloquial recovery programs that exist today is Step number 12. The key phrase that summarizes the step is “carrying this message [of recovery] to others,” [...]

One of the most misunderstood concepts in our society is that “sobriety” and “recovery” are often used interchangeably. They are absolutely not the same thing. “Sobriety” is defined simply as total abstinence from ingesting mind-altering [...]

One of the concerns (and myths!) we hear most often from those who are just a few days into their early recovery journey is, “I won’t be able to have any fun anymore! What will [...]

In some cultures and traditions, we are taught to trust our gut instincts. In others, we are taught that our instincts can’t always be trusted. Personally, I’ve always found it challenging to tell the difference [...]

Impulses, compulsions, urges – we all have them. Many of them are purely biological, such as the impulse to eat when you’re hungry or drink water when you’re thirsty. Some of them are more mental-emotional, [...]

As the 2024 Summer Olympics kick off in Paris this week, you will witness an incredible display of athleticism, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and sometimes ugly ego. Most athletes stand, clap for, or offer handshakes to [...]

I’ve recently been reading some of Ernest Hemingway’s classic novels this summer. Other than triggering some flashbacks of high-school English class, it’s been great. He is poetic, honest, and cathartic in his writings. One thing [...]

The character value of integrity is most often associated with “doing the right thing” – especially when nobody is witnessing it. But what is “right”? Is “right” something we each define for ourselves (subjective), or [...]