Thank you for joining us Saturday night on ORS radio. I especially appreciate the comments and questions that listeners wrote in about. It’s nice to know that people are listening and care about the work we are doing.

We only got through the first six steps so in case you missed it, download it from iTunes and catch us next Saturday (July 4th) at 7:00pm Pacific for the remainder and a summary. Or, if you have questions we didn’t address or something else that came up for you, shoot us an email at radioshow@onlinerecoverysupport.com.
- Kurt

Host Kurt Swensen discusses the first six of the 12 steps.

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Join me, Kurt Swensen, tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM Pacific for another episode of Online Recovery Support Radio. I will be discussing the 12 steps and have a special offer for those who join us live.

In the meantime, be well.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a promising treatment for a wide range of addictions. While the therapy itself is not a treatment for any addiction, it can be used as part of a larger therapeutic program, and will allow someone to recover more quickly. Many people do not understand the basics of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. The main theory of the therapy is that a person has his or her feelings and behaviors based on their thoughts, and not by anything that they do. While many people may think this is crazy, there is some logical basis to it.

I was reflecting on last Saturdays show with Rob and thought about what a difficult position medical people find themselves in when they are faced with addiction or relapse. The Addictions Professional who finds him or herself with an addiction issue after many years of recovery is also another very difficult issue to deal with. Clients I have worked with over the years have great shame associated with be in the helping profession and being somehow unable to find help themselves.

Host Kurt Swensen welcomes special guest Rob, a nurse in recovery.

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I hope you are doing well and getting ready for a great summer. I love this time of the year. It’s amazing what a little warm weather and sunshine can do for our spirit and mood. I always have more energy when the sun is out. With this renewed energy I am focusing on the next women’s retreat I will be hosting in Hawaii. I’m devoting this newsletter to tell you about the retreat and hopefully spark your interest to join us there in October. I know October sounds a long way off, but I know many of you will need time to plan for time off work, child care, etc. So, I hope you will read on………I am really excited about this retreat!!!!

Empowerment gives birth to responsibility; this responsibility is to serve. We need to serve where we find ourselves; wherever we are. You don’t need to identify with service, or speak of it. Better just to guide, love and care. Silence is a great aid in service; the more you are able to listen, the greater help you can be-energy escapes when you talk. And when you have achieved serenity, you will benefit others by your presence. When your inner noise is silenced, you will have a quick, clear perspective on all human situations; you will be able to reach out effectively in generosity and compassion.-Andrew DaPassano

Occasionally I am asked, “what are the most important things I should focus on in my recovery?” After staying clean and sober one of the first things that comes to me is the concept of gratitude. No matter how bad things get, look at what you have to be grateful for. Look out your window and be thankful for what you see. Be thankful that you have senses that can perceive all that there is in life. Think about the things that you don’t normally don’t take any thought for and express gratitude. The rain, the tides, gravity, food, shelter, love, warmth, kindness.

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend…when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present-love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure-the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.-Sarah Ban Breathnach