Today's episode is part 1 of two parts on the topic of closure. I believe it is crucial to make peace with our past or memories will continue to draw us back into relapse. In this podcast we look at aspects of closure and how to prepare ourself to move forward in life and recovery.

A client working on making amends said to me "I made a promise I couldn't keep no matter how hard I tried! I left them hurt and me with guilt and shame." Are you tired of the broken trust, damaged relationships, shredded hope and shattered dreams? In todays' episode we look at the impact of promises we've broken and how we can become someone who under promises and over delivers.

Today's episode looks at three quotes from the book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. This is not a book review but I'll discuss the quotes from the standpoint of achieving success in recovery. We'll look at the critical aspects of the journey of recovery and how to choose the hard right thing over the easy wrong one.

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from the United States, South Africa and Australia. I'm sure you'll enjoy their openness and insight as they share their reactions to: "There's an anonymous quote that says 'We didn't come this far to just come this far.' How has your achieving recovery become a stepping stone for you to a lifestyle of perseverance and continuous improvement?"

Today's episode looks at the question, "Are you feeding the squatter?". This question was asked by Lynda Holt in her blog "Manage Your Mind" on www.bravescene.com.

We'll look at the negative self-talk that has become a squatter in our brain, how it has affected our recovery and how to stop feeding that squatter. What steps can you take to evict the squatter in your brain?

Today's episode takes a look at the question "Do I have a sugar addiction?" Many people admit t o having a sweet tooth, but when they see the consequences of physical health or appearance, they try to "break free from the bondage to food!" Even if you don't have a sweet tooth , I'm sure you'll find things you relate to in this episode. Enjoy.

Dictionaries say being lonely is the same thing as feeling lonesome. But I have found that lonesome is a much deeper feeling of sadness, isolation and melancholy. I hope you enjoy our walkabout through Lonesome Park as we read the signs with quotes about being lonesome and the comments others have written in the journal. I encourage you to journal you're comments as you begin to walk past and away from that lonesome feeling.

In today's episode we look at mirroring, also called mimicry. This behavior often start in our infancy and can become an unconscious aspect of our behavior. But, too often in recovery a pattern of conscious imitation becomes a tool of manipulation used to maintain control of people, conversations and situations. American psychologist Joyce Brothers once said "Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery."