Over the past several years, I’ve noticed a pattern with some of my clients in recovery. It cuts across political parties, belief systems, and personal backgrounds. When people become deeply immersed in politics—especially through social media—something often begins to shift. Emotional regulation weakens. Anxiety increases. Anger becomes more accessible. And for some, sobriety quietly startsContinue reading “Politically Right or Sober”
Author Archives: RWCOACHING
Redefining Toughness in Recovery
In my family, toughness had a very specific meaning. It meant not taking anything off anybody. It meant not showing emotion. It meant never admitting weakness or failure. You stood your ground, handled your business, and kept moving. And in many ways, that kind of toughness helped me survive. It taught me how to endure, how to pushContinue reading “Redefining Toughness in Recovery”
Forgiving Yourself Without Excusing the Past
For a lot of people in recovery, the phrase “self-forgiveness” can feel confusing or even uncomfortable. Many of us hear that term and immediately think, “I don’t deserve that,” or “If I forgive myself, am I just letting myself off the hook?” But when you look a little deeper, most people who say they can’t forgive themselves aren’t really wrestling withContinue reading “Forgiving Yourself Without Excusing the Past”
Recovery on Christmas Eve: You’re Allowed to Be Honest Tonight
Christmas Eve carries a lot of weight. For some people, it’s candlelight, family traditions, and a sense of peace. For others, it’s loneliness, regret, and the quiet awareness of who isn’t here. Recovery doesn’t magically remove that weight. In many ways, it makes us more aware of it. One of the unspoken expectations of ChristmasContinue reading “Recovery on Christmas Eve: You’re Allowed to Be Honest Tonight”
Anger vs Rage
Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions we carry. Many of us grew up in homes where anger was either explosive or forbidden, so we learned to fear it, ignore it, or shut it down. But anger itself isn’t the problem. In fact, anger is one of the most important signals in the emotionalContinue reading “Anger vs Rage”
Suffering Has a Place at the Table
Suffering Has a Place at the Table: Recovering an Old Christian Practice for the Holiday Season The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas carry a strange tension. We’re surrounded by images of joy, abundance, and celebration — full tables, warm lights, smiling families, and the promise of peace on earth. But for many people, this seasonContinue reading “Suffering Has a Place at the Table”
The Role of Grief in Recovery
When most people think about recovery—whether from addiction, trauma, betrayal, or unhealthy patterns—they imagine hope, rebuilding, new habits, and a better future. All of that is true. But there is a part of recovery that often surprises people: you cannot heal without grief. Grief is not just about losing a loved one. It’s about acknowledging anyContinue reading “The Role of Grief in Recovery”
Listening: One of the Strongest Tools in Recovery
Listening is one of the most powerful yet underestimated tools in recovery. We tend to think of recovery as action—meetings, steps, boundaries, new habits—but the skill of listening is woven into all of it. It shapes how we relate to others, how we understand ourselves, and how we move through moments of stress, temptation, andContinue reading “Listening: One of the Strongest Tools in Recovery”
How Argument Connects to Recovery
We often think of arguments as something negative—something to avoid, something that means we’ve messed up, or something that proves we’re not doing recovery “right.” But arguments aren’t failures. In fact, they may be one of the clearest invitations we ever receive to grow, understand ourselves more deeply, and heal old wounds that still surfaceContinue reading “How Argument Connects to Recovery”
Brotherhood in the Desert
Brotherhood in the Desert: Reflections from the Samson Summit This past Friday afternoon, I flew into Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet a few friends. I’ve been in the mountains of Tennessee and Colorado, but this was my first time seeing the desert mountains. The beauty of the area took my breath away. After meeting aContinue reading “Brotherhood in the Desert”