For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected]

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] Listen Notes The Fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink.  Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent.  We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago.  We are without defense against the first drink.Pg. 24 of The Big Book This tragic situation has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected!Pg. 24 of The Big Book Why are choices so important Alcohol, this disease, it took our choices away.  You can choose to take them back. * You choose to stop digging.* You choose to check into rehab.* You choose to go to meetings.* You choose to get a sponsor.* You choose to work the steps.* You chose to continue to work the steps.* No one else can make this choice for you.  You have to.  That’s why it’s so hard, and at the same time that is why it works. The tale of two meetings * The first was my Friday Night Men's Beltline, St. Louis Park, MN.* The 2nd was Hosanna! Shakopee, MN.*   If you looking for a church I cannot recommend Hosanna! enough, I go to the one in Shakopee, but they are all great and there are 1000 other great churches out there as well. WHy attending meetings is so powerful I also tell you this: if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  For where two or more gather together as my followers, I am there among them.Matthew 18: 19-20 We can look to the pandemic to show how important social interaction is.  For people with mental illness and personally I’ll say for alcoholics the pandemic was a huge tipping point. What did I learn at these two meetings? Friday Beltline: Opening reading - 6th step – were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six.  We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.  Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?  Can He now take them all – every one?  If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.Pg. 76 of The Big Book discussion topics * The importance of doing the steps in order.* Two participants talked about not wanting to go but being so glad they did.* It’s easy to pass over the steps that don’t have an action.* That’s not how it works.* You have to choose that YOU don’t want to drink anymore.* You have to truly believe that a Power great than you can restore us to sanity.* You have to make a choice to turn your will and lives over to the care of God.* For 6 you have to be entirely ready to ask God to remove your defects of character.* The reoccurring theme to me was willingness.  This is where a lot of people made the choice that they were willing to do this.  Which of course is the spiritual principle of step 6.* Crazy that willingness comes halfway through the steps.* Fake it until you make it stops at step 6. Hosanna! 3 Ways to get Stuck: * Comfort Zone* The end of your comfort zone is the beginning of living.* The tendency to go back to our comfort zone.* Emotional Health* Fear, anxiety,

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] Show Notes * What is Rock Bottom and why do we feel we have to hit it?* You don't have to hit rock bottom. You just have to stop digging!* Pink Cloud* What is the pink cloud?* Pay off* Things happen for a reason. If you stick with this program everything is going to be okay!

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected]

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] SHow Notes * At the start of the show I discuss ways listeners can help support the podcast* visit HammeredRecovery.com - Click the Donate tab - Use the Donate button at the bottom of the page* Rate the podcast 5 stars and leave a review* Buy apparel from the Merch shop on the website* I then continued on with the How It Works series and really concentrated on Step 3* Step 3 is more than turning our will and lives over to God* It's about Self-Centeredness and Selfishness* Our lives had become unmanageable and our best thinking got us here, so why would we think we alone can get us out.

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] Show Notes * In today's podcast I continue walking through How It Works from the Big Book* I discuss how my life is going a year after checking into Hazelden* How quickly time goes by once you have made the decision to stop drinking* The importance of being picky and putting in the work before you:* Pick a sponsor* Pick a meeting(s)* Pick a treatment center* Pick and IOP group* Pick a church* Your life is about to get a whole lot better. Enjoy it!!

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] SHow Notes Super bowl * I start off the show talking about the upcoming Super bowl and the fact that I was in Hazelden for the Super bowl a year ago* I've always made a big deal out of big sports events for my family, so this was a big change for me, but I knew it was what I had to do and it was worth it.; * I discussed a line from the walking dead that I thought was relevant to sobriety: Rick, your world is about to get a whole lot bigger! HOw it works * This is part one of a series of podcasts I am going to do on chapter 5, How it Works from the Big Book* I discussed varies lines form pages 58-59* Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path* People who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program... are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves* They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty* What we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like know* At some of these we baulked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way* We beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start* We let go absolutely* We deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful* There is One who has all power - that One is God. May you find Him now* Half measures availed us nothing If you follow this simple program... Rick, your world is about to get a whole lot bigger!

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] Show Notes: Dealing with unforeseen circumstances * I start off this weeks podcast talking about getting COVID and how dealing with being sick can be different for alcoholics* How will you deal with isolation?* Going back to the basics* One day at a time The Walking Dead * Like many, one of the things I did to help pass the time was binge watch TV. My show of choice happened to be Th Walking Dead and I found many parallels to alcoholism:* Wandering around with no purpose* Not using our thinking brain, just acting on instinct* I found three reoccurring themes around how people were able to persevere:* Always have a positive attitude* Find a team* Rely on your Higher Power No matter how bleak things may seem at the time, with these three things we can always find the power to move forward!

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] SHow Notes The Genisis * Today I start out the podcast recounting that it was one year ago today I checked my self into Hazelden* I recount the days leading up to checking in and the process of checking into Hazelden* I discuss that Hazelden was my Genesis and where my story begins* I briefly recapped everything I have learned in the first year and the podcasts I have done A message from my higher power * I discussed the message from my church last Sunday and how the message was from Genesis* I went over the message and now it so perfectly fits with sobriety* Stop the Hiding* Stop the Blaming* Stop the Controlling Once you do this you can start living your best life. Healthy. Happy. Sober.

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at [email protected] Show Notes In todays episode I read from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol*. I wanted to do an episode that resonates with the Christmas Spirit, and this story fit the bill. If you have heard this story a hundred times, or if this is the first, listening to it from a place of recovery gave it new meaning to me and I hope it does the same for you. Merry Christmas!! *this condensed version of the story was read from Sparknotes.