How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinJanuary 12, 2016Imagine constantly being afraid you’ll be discovered as a fraud even though others see you as a success. That’s the root of a condition called imposter syndrome. It affects men and women from all walks of life. In fact, if you experience it, you’re in famous company. Award-winning actor Michelle Pfeiffer has been quoted as…
The Link Between Substance Abuse and a Bad Diet Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinDecember 31, 2015An unhealthy diet or substance abuse problem can quickly derail one’s well-being. But few people understand the relationship between the two. To gain some insight into how a bad diet and substance abuse relate to each other, I spoke with Keith Kantor, PhD, and expert in nutritional science and naturopathic medicine. Dr. Kantor, who frequently…
How to Strengthen Your Resiliency Muscles Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinDecember 9, 2015What is it that makes one person who has experienced abuse and trauma sink into despair while others rise above seemingly unfathomable depths to triumph? Samantha Pellicciotti is just such a resilient thriver. Her story could’ve turned out entirely differently. Born to parents whose addictions led them to neglect her needs, endangering her life and…
How to Find a Solution for Almost Any Problem Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2015Try as we might, some problems are so vexing and difficult that it seems impossible to arrive at any sort of workable solution. This is not an unusual situation for anyone in today’s stress-filled society, but it can be even more frustrating for those who are in recovery. When faced with simultaneous, and often conflicting,…
How to Drop the Curtain on Drama in Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2015“When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.” — Eckhart Tolle Chaos and drama: Some people thrive on them, seemingly on a mission to find ways to stir them up lest life become boring. Drama shows up in many situations. It can appear as a couple…
Do You Suffer From Terminal Uniqueness? Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 29, 2015Recovery support groups typically contain people from all walks of life. At AA or NA meetings, you may come across people from different social classes as well as different races and religions. You’ll meet people who are young and old, rich and poor or somewhere in-between. From criminals to judges and from street people to…
Mindfulness Is Everywhere Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 23, 2015There are many types of mindfulness practice. Some are meditative and draw on traditional practices such as transcendental meditation, Zen Buddhist meditation, yogic meditation, and the walking meditation popularized by the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Some types of mindfulness practices are task-oriented and rooted in daily life. Mindfulness teachers urge their students to instill…
Taking Inventory of the Relationships in Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 21, 2015You may be familiar with a Boy Scout rule that encourages cleaning up after yourself: “Leave the campground better than you found it.” This isn’t always easy in practice, especially for those whose behaviors in the throes of addiction left chaos and damage in their wake. To begin anew, taking inventory can be an enlightening…
Control vs. Surrender in the Face of Life Change Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 13, 2015“Change is inevitable, change is constant.” — Benjamin Disraeli Humans never stop changing — which means we never stop coping with change. From the moment we’re born, we must learn to adapt to our environment in order to live and thrive, often without even being conscious of this instinct. By the time we’re old enough…
What to Do While Your Spouse Is in Rehab Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction, Family Resources, Mental Health, Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 12, 2015While your spouse is in rehab for addiction, you may feel helpless and lost, unsure of what to do to help him or yourself. Instead of stewing in sorrow, self-pity or guilt, take action and take steps to heal and to be prepared for his return after rehab. Addiction doesn’t just affect the addict. It…
