Recovery Enthusiast/ Recovery for Women

  The ups and downs of life are what make it worthwhile and fulfilling. Where I am now shows me that each obstacle presented before me to date is now a faint image in my past.   Goals and dreams fill my mind and heart. I see myself with more in the future, but I avoid complaining about where I am.   I am proud of my accomplishments. They show that hard work and dedication pay off in the end. They also prove that I am stronger than I think at times. My decision to keep pushing is all it takes to release added strength and drive.   Although I am limited in my spending ability, I still feel blessed by what I have. It is much more than others who are suffering as I enjoy a home-cooked meal.   Thinking of the plight of others reminds me to be grateful. It teaches me to put aside selfish and material ambitions in favor of opportunities to lend a helping hand. Being in a position to provide outreach offers real fulfillment.   I know that ther...

 No matter how hard we may try, there’s just no way to avoid some difficult conversations. However, there are positive things you can say and do to help you handle them better.   Your first response may be to change the subject when faced with a difficult discussion. This won’t solve the problem or heal the hurt that caused the situation in the first place. It’s better to take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and face the difficulty now rather than later.   Remember it’s not your job to fix the situation unless you were directly involved. People sometimes just need a friend to listen to when they’re going through tough circumstances. They really don’t want you to fix things for them.   Being available to listen is sometimes the best way to show your friend that you care.   If the situation requires you to talk with someone going through difficulties, try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. What would you want a friend to say to you ...

 Grieving the end of a relationship can be painful for both parties.  When we mourn the end of a relationship, it’s normal to miss your ex and the way you felt in that relationship. In healing from the pain that comes after a breakup, we need to accept, let go, and move forward. One way of accomplishing that is by journaling.   Journaling helps get your thoughts and feelings onto paper. You uncover what you’re going through and feeling, then work through solutions while writing. Physically writing down your thoughts and feelings can also help you learn more about what you want.   Understand How Journaling Can Change Your Life   Journaling about what is most meaningful to you can change your daily mood and your life. When you journal, you can write down positive thoughts, clarify personal goals, and keep track of your success.   Sometimes it can be difficult to start journaling. Journal prompts help you explore a stream of consciousness and guid...

Would you like to have a stronger, happier relationship? Happiness in a relationship is the result of several small things done on a daily basis. These small tasks are within your capabilities. A little time and attention can grow your relationship into a great source of happiness for both of you.   Strengthen your relationship each day by following these strategies of happy couples:   1.      Confront each other effectively. No relationship is free from disagreements. The most important issue is how those disagreements are handled. Handle your disagreements quickly and fairly. Address behaviors and forget about personal insults. Seek to find a resolution rather than proving who is right or wrong. 2.      Have compatible goals. Is your dream to travel the world, never staying in one place for more than a few months? Is your partner's dream to have five kids and live in her hometown, having dinner with her parents every ni...

I don't know about you, but I didn't get sober to be miserable. I had spent years trying to figure out this sobriety thing I was in and out of the halls of AA and treatment centers. And I had had various lengths of sobriety. But there seemed to be something missing, something I wasn't getting. There were times that I had felt peace and serenity but true contentment? What was that? Over the past few years, I have realized or recognized some of the key elements in the various programs that I had attended AA, refuge recovery, the different programs I was researching NLP, DBT, CBT, and I started listening to motivational speakers such as Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, Mel Robbins, and Jens Sicero. All of them had similar approaches, although their techniques might have been a little different. I also was trying to find motivational speakers, particularly women in recovery, and I didn't see many actually; I didn't find any that I could identify with. So as I started learni...

You could be in a controlling relationship without even realizing it. Manipulative and dominating behavior is very often subtle. It like they say about cooking a frog. If you put the frog in a pot with lukewarm water and slowly bring it to a boil, the frog will just stay in the pot and not even realize he's being cooked. As opposed to putting a frog in an already boing pot of water, the frog will surely jump out. So controlling relationships happen slowly, and of course, no one wants to admit that they've fallen for someone who is manipulative. after all, we're smarter than that. Love can not only be blind but deaf and dumb. Please don't think it can't happen to you. That is a belief that has been disproven time a d time again. Instead, educate yourself on the warning signs. Once you learn to recognize these signs, you will see them as glaring and in your face. Please don't beat yourself up for not seeing them before. Common warning signs include a partner who...