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COVID-19 Richard Jones Recovery Cartel

I WAS A COVID-19 DENIER – DON’T BE LIKE ME!

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MY SON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ECONOMY
– KEEP IT CLOSED!!!

In the spirit of full transparency: I was a COVID-19 denier at the beginning of the COVID news cycle.

I said stupid things about “over-reaction”. I made dumb comments about toilet paper hoarders.

Now I know what it’s like to be a grade A 100% “coronavirus clown”.

However, it quickly became apparent to me how wrong I was. I apologize for being one of the useful idiots.

I’m glad I was able to get back on track in a relatively short period of time. I would like to thank the lovely Mrs. Jones for her help in “waking me up”!

ONE OTHER THING BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

If you disagree with me, you can’t write me off as a “socialistic” loser who is just trying to live off the government.

I’m as free-market, capitalistic, meritocratic as it gets.

I own businesses that will suffer as a result of the shut-down.

The social justice warriors do not like me. I’m one of the evil capitalists. And I say: KEEP IT CLOSED.

MY SON AIDEN

In the fall of 2018 my son Aiden, was hospitalized due to a respiratory issue.

I won’t get into the details. The bottom line was 4 days in ICU in a “drug induced coma” with a “breathing tube”.

I thank God every day that he got through that.

However, he was hospitalized again in December of 2018 for the same issue. This is called a “pre-existing condition”.

COVID-19 has me losing my shit.

  • I’m not sleeping well.
  • I become preoccupied with my family’s health nearly every night.
  • I’m not in a great frame of mind throughout the day.

COME ON RICH

If you say “Come on Rich, you are making a big deal out nothing”, it will engender a strong desire within me to react in an aggressive manner.

However, I will not do that, because I am gentleman. I don’t believe in violence.

One thing I know for sure though. If you make those “just chill out” type comments, you are the one who is mentally unstable; not me

One thing I know for sure. If you make those “just chill out” type comments, you are the one who is mentally unstable; not me.

MENTAL HEALTH EXAM

Mental Health Status Exam and Affect Appropriate to Situation. It is common practice in mental health settings to conduct a mental health status exam.

During the exam, the practitioner will assess multiple dimensions of mental and emotional health.

Including a category labeled “mood and affect”.

“Affect” is the patient’s immediate expression of emotion; mood refers to the more sustained emotional makeup of the patient’s personality.

Patients display a range of affect that may be described as broad, restricted, labile, or flat.

Affect is inappropriate when there is no consonance between what the patient is experiencing or describing and the emotion he is showing at the same time (e.g., laughing when relating the recent death of a loved one).

Both affect and mood can be described as dysphoric (depression, anxiety, guilt), euthymic (normal), or euphoric). (David Martin, Clinical Methods, the History, Physical and Laboratory Examinations, 3rd Edition).

Therefore, you can complete a mental health status exam on a person who is visibly upset, worried, angry etc… and conclude that they are “normal”.

NORMAL

There are multiple ways to describe these “normal” results of the mental status exam:

Affect appropriate to situation (something bad happened and you should be upset).

Mood and affect within normal range (your affect/mood is similar to most other people dealing with this type of issue).

The inverse is true as well.

NOT NORMAL

If you are NOT upset or worried or angry etc…when most people would be upset or worried or angry… you may be experiencing a “pathological state”.

Let’s just talk straight: If you think COVID-19 is no big deal.

If you think people are over-reacting.

If you think people are “just afraid and worried for no reason”.

YOU MIGHT BE THE ONE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM. Not the other way around.

Anxiety, worry and fear ARE NOT DISORDERS.

BREAKING COVID-19 WORRY

There was little scientific “evidence” included in Pastor James Gordon Gilkey’s classic book: How to Master Life.

The book was basically a compilation of Gilkey’s personal philosophy, self-help advice, and anecdotes.

He wrote about his take on the world. He also gathered compelling observations from other people.

It was the 1930’s and the “self help industry“ was just getting started.

In the chapter entitled “Breaking the Grip of Worry” he writes about a “table” that someone developed.

This “table” has been attributed to Mark Twain-although no one is 100% sure if that is where it originated.

WORRIES & FEARS

The purpose of the table is to categorize worries.

Interestingly, this taxonomy of worry was widely endorsed and validated by readers at that time.

Picture a collective, head nodding, “I can relate”, type response.

To summarize what Gilkey wrote:

This man (presumably Mark Twain) had monitored his worries and fears.

He had written them down and after a period of time he came up with the following distribution of worry and fear:

  • Worry about disasters, which never actually happened. About 40% of the anxieties.
  • Worries about past decisions/mistakes. Things that you cannot control. About 30% of anxieties.
  • Worries about possible sickness or “possible nervous breakdown”. But they never happened. About 12% of worries.
  • Worries about family (especially children), friends. About 10% of my worries.
  • Worries that have a real foundation. Possibly 8% of the total. (Legitimate concerns; real threats).
  • Worries that have a “real foundation” are not worries.

YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED

They are fears, and they are legitimate fears.

Anxiety, worry, and fear serve a purpose.

They are not pathological, “diagnosable” or disordered.

They are not “clinically significant” unless they reach a very specific level. See DSM-V criteria for generalized anxiety disorder as an example.

If you are worried about COVID-19, and all the associated issues, it’s because YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED.

HAVE A COVID-19 PLAN

However, you do not have to act on the worry.

You do not have to be controlled by the worry. Also, you can move forward with confidence and still be worried.

You should develop a personal plan of action to deal with these challenging times AND you should work that plan.

But go ahead and worry. Go ahead and feel fear.

Courage equals performing your day to day duties in the face of fear.

You are courageous.

tragic optimism Recovery Cartel blog

Tragic Optimism & COVID-19

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Tragic Optimism

Reality can sometimes be extremely uncomfortable. For example, I have witnessed institutional and community denial and mismanagement of Substance Use Disorders for decades.

Resulting horrific outcomes. Yet change is aggressively resisted.

People are pretty good at putting a positive spin on a pretty shitty situation.

When you take a more realistic stance you are a trouble-maker. A pessimist. A buzz-kill.

Victor Frankl talked about “tragic optimism”.

Not the pie in the sky “everything is going to be okay” optimism.

Rather, reality based assessment of the situation followed by an operating system that says:

  • Yes, things CAN get better and we CAN get through this.
  • It is possible.
  • There is hope.
  • But it’s going to take monumental effort.
  • And it’s going to require some really difficult decisions and crucial conversations.

Social psychology tells us these situations progress along a pretty predictable timeline.

A Sentinel Event occurs (911, 2008 financial crisis, COVID19, OR a more localized tragedy/event).

Sentinel Event

Things UNFOLD:

1) Initially, people are stunned and in shock.

2) People may even be energized by the adrenaline rush associated with such a dramatic and threatening situation.

3) Some people may even be excited. Everything is closed. Like a “snow day” from school. That is naive and it wears off quick. People say things like “time to catch up on some reading and complete some projects around the house…” I do not understand such thinking. I can not accept that position. However, it is relatively common.

Fear & Anxiety

4) In terms of work and the economy, the fear and anxiety may set in quickly. Depends on your circumstances. If you have a family you probably start spinning up pretty quick. The uncertainty is hard to reconcile. You are worried. At the same time, some people will be apathetic and indifferent until they are forced to take notice.

5) People double down on their “preferred interpretation” of the situation AND begin to vigorously defend said interpretation. In this particular case of COVID-19 it goes like this

  • If you hate Trump. This is more of a reason to hate Trump.
  • You need to make sure you take every conversation about the virus and turn it into an indictment of Trump.
  • If you love Trump then you want to make sure you repeatedly state “things are not that bad. We should not even have this lock-down. More people die from the flu” etc…

6) In the meantime, some people know that they do not know. Some prefer to not make statements without a relatively high level of confidence in the accuracy and truth of the position. In this case, there are limited sources of objective information. There are preferred sources. Remove the middleman as much as possible.

7) As time goes by the tensions and concerns mentioned above will become more pronounced.

Calm Waters

An intervention or external circumstance can sometimes calm the waters.

8) In this case, the stimulus will help calm these waters. The stimulus, especially support for small business and support to bridge payroll and unemployment insurance. That will help ease the pain.

9) The recovery community will experience a similar progression of emotions and reactions. Online meetings will continue but enthusiasm is likely to wane. Again, the early “adrenaline rush” will be replaced by the mundane day to day reality of “cyber life”.

10) There will be ongoing decision points. On an individual level, a family level and an organizational level. There will be roller coaster of emotions. There will be difficult decisions along the way.

11) On an individual level, a family level, a community level, an organizational level, a business level and a societal level. We will need to make some bold move and there will be some unpopular decisions made.

We Will Get Through This

There is no question, we will get through this.

But if you think its going to be easy you need to think again.

Time to focus. Time to get to work. Keep moving forward and keep pushing.

Do all you can with all you have to help keep your tragic optimism in control. And…

Some Hints

1) Take time in the morning to calm your mind. Don’t jump on your phone right away to check the headlines. All bad.
2) Go outside for a walk.
3) Listen to music. Late 80’s / early 90’s east coast rap. Or whatever you are into.
4) Laugh: YouTube videos of cute kittens and shit like that.
5) Start a journal. Get your thoughts out of your head.
6) PHYSICALLY take care of yourself. I’ve stopped eating Zingers….
7) If so inclined, pray… Pray.

That’s all for today. Love each other, Rich Jones | Recovery Cartel

Philosophy of Recovery

The “One Way Only” Philosophy of Recovery

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Philosophy of Recovery

For those who want to think… There are many reasons people promote the “one way only” philosophy of recovery.

1) DOGMA:

All human groups tend toward dogmatism. Dogma certainly contributes to our stubborn commitment to one size fits all models.

Bill Wilson warned us of this possibility in 1965:

“It is an historical fact that practically all groupings of men and women tend to become more dogmatic; their beliefs and practices harden and sometimes freeze. This is a natural and almost inevitable process…. But dogma also has its liabilities. Simply because we have convictions that work well for us, it becomes very easy to assume that we have all the truth….This isn’t good dogma; it’s very bad dogma. It could be especially destructive for us of AA to indulge in this sort of thing”. (Wilson, 1965/1988)

2) INSTITUTIONALISATION:

Institutionalisation of “one way only” recovery (this is particularly tragic part of the story):

The fact that a group of people, focused on mutual support, becomes tied into “the one true way” is natural.

Recovery dogma is a less intense version of religious denominations.

Tens of thousands of different religious denominations and sects.

Each one claiming the true pathway to salvation.

In recovery, we proclaim our great knowledge of the “one true pathway to recovery”.

The recovery version of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE:

Things get much more complicated and problematic when state authority figures, de-facto treatment experts, and perceived “addiction medicine” experts proclaim the one way only dogma.

Once the 12 step only dogma became institutionalized it was a done deal.

This model was cemented into the American psyche as the only way to recover. The underlying dogmatic principles have been systematically reinforced over the decades.

This one way only thinking underlies most substance use disorder policy and procedures.

For example: we have professional monitoring programs embedded within agencies that claim to embrace “multiple pathways to recovery”.

However, the monitoring program will only approve 12 step recovery.

We also have court systems and child welfare programs that will reject medication assisted treatment as a viable option for parents trying to get their kids back.

There is very inconsistent and variable levels of institutional support for multiple pathways to recovery.

Less obvious, but just as problematic, 95% of government funding is funneled into clinic based, compliance models.

Acute care “come and get it when you are ready” is part of the solution.

But it is not 95% of the solution.

3) THE OBVIOUS ABOUT PHILOSOPHY OF RECOVERY:

All of this is reinforced by the private industry business model (rehab especially).

A business that always wins with the “you must be willing” ideology.

In this “hit bottom and surrender“ model there is no such thing as bad treatment.

There is only a bad patient. An unwilling patient.

Furthermore, the answer is to send him back for more treatment.

Over and over. Until he gets it right or dies.

This is a pretty sweet deal for the treatment provider. – No so much for the patient!

4) PERSONAL:

This One is More Personal . On the individual level.

We may be afraid to open up to multiple pathways because we were conditioned to believe “this is the only way”.

If we believe the research (for example 46% of people resolve SUD issues on their own) what does that say about us?

And, does this make us vulnerable to getting off track in our own recovery.

If I believe there is another way….am I going to make a mistake in my recovery. A latent, shadowy fear that any “crack in the foundation” will lead to relapse and death.

Because we were told that early on. And it saved our lives during our most vulnerable periods.

We were told: Do not think for yourself. And it worked…..

This scared straight type psychology works early on. At least it did for me.

CONSIDER THIS:

However, as time goes by you can open your mind.

If you are years into recovery you can probably explore multiple pathways without abandoning your chosen pathway.

If you can’t, I would argue that you have a bigger problem on your hands.

Can a devout Christian explore the tenets of Islam?

Can a staunch progressive Democrat explore the merits of conservatism?

Can a “died in the wool” 12 step veteran explore the necessity of life saving addiction medicine?

And if you can not do so….can you still call yourself “open-minded”???

Sages Army Carmen Capozzi

RECOVERY BENEFITS EVERYONE with Sages Army

Sages Army

I’ve been at the witness protection cabin all weekend. Spent time with by good friend Carmen Capozzi and the team, board, volunteers etc.. at Sages Army.
(Forgot to grab a picture this weekend. This one below is from the witness protection historical archives).

I understand the Pennsylvania drug and alcohol system pretty well.

I worked deeply in that system in Allegheny County and later in Westmoreland. Did a tour of duty in Northeastern PA, Was a pretty active PCB trainer 10 years ago.

I have nothing but respect for all the people I have met along the way there.

I thought I would live happily ever after in the commonwealth. I’m very committed to this community and even more to Carmen and Cindy and that squad.

I have a vested interest in my hometown.

Proven Game Changer

The Pennsylvania state drug and alcohol commission (DDAP) has stepped up and funded the launch of service delivery within this organization.

The organization has incredible political supporters and champions who also stepped up.

However, the community of Westmoreland County should be prepared to sustain this organization. This first funding cycle will be over in a blink of an eye.

7+ Years of Service

This organization has already proven itself a game changer with 7 plus years of advocacy and awareness.

With the addition of services, Sages Army is going to explode in numbers, reach and impact over the next year.

You do not understand the impact of an effectively run Recovery Community Organization until you see it happen over time.

The Ripple Effect

It’s very hard to explain the ripple effect and unseen work. Substance use disorder is a community public health issue.

It impacts everyone in one way or another. Whether you are dealing with SUD yourself, a family member with a loved one in crisis or just your average everyday citizen.

Everyone is impacted. AND…RECOVERY BENEFITS EVERYONE!

Everyone in this community is better off if SAGES ARMY becomes a permanent fixture!

Check Out Sages Army Here – http://www.sagesarmy.com/our-mission/

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Recovery Goals

Big Hairy Audacious Recovery Goals

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Controversial and Unrealistic

Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs), are commonplace in the business world.

These are stretch goals, which may seem impossible, but nonetheless push organizations to the next level. People in the recovery movement shy away from BHAGs.

BHAGs are too controversial and very unrealistic.

Our Big Hairy Audacious Goals:

We believe that:

  • every single person impacted by this health issue (substance use disorder),
  • in every single place across America,
  • should get help for substance use related issues every single time it’s needed.

Mythical labels like “he’s in denial”, “she’s an unwilling and non-compliant patient”, and “she needs to hit bottom” have no place in the debate surrounding the delivery of any healthcare service.

These labels serve as excuses to justify the systematic mistreatment of 90% of people with substance use disorders. And, by extension, the 150 million family members standing by in stunned disbelief.

It is the professional provider’s responsibility to figure out a way to connect to the disconnected and engage the disengaged.

Healthcare Disciplines

The person suffering from substance use disorder is, by definition, impaired by a brain disorder. They are acting irrationally, as you would expect someone with a brain disorder to act.

Therefore, we need to figure out a way to connect.

We need to borrow from other healthcare disciplines and utilize evidence-based community outreach protocols to engage or re-engage people in need.

Rather than wait for the person to “have enough pain” and come back for another round. Another round of the same process that “didn’t take” the previous time.

Assertive Community Engagement

FAVOR Greenville calls this “ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT” and we are the world’s leader in the delivery of this person centered, participant first model.

How do we define recovery?

Simple, you are in recovery if you say you’re are in recovery. There is no application for membership. No right or wrong way to “do recovery”.

There is no superior recovery, equally, there is no preferred recovery. There is no “full recovery”, and most important there is no “do it this way or die” recovery. ,

Engaging Recovery Goals

Multiple pathways exist and we just want to see your life improve.

We want to see families restored and people come back to health.

We want to see people become productive and, n addition, live life to their fullest potential.

Our focus is on the upside of recovery rather than the downside of addiction.

Change Your World

We believe that if you sign on for this new lifestyle, the sky is the limit.

Life can be amazing. Uniquely amazing when you are no longer under the control of a substance.

I’m NOT saying life is easy in recovery. But it is amazing.

Recovery is NOT some life-long burden. It’s an opportunity to chase your dreams. To change your world and by extension change the WORLD.

3 Great Recovery Goals

  1. DON’T quit.
  2. DON’T write off recovery based on a bad experience or “failed” past attempts.
  3. And finally, DON’T let anyone tell you what your destiny is….

Once again remember, no one owns recovery. No one gets to define the “right way”. There is no failure.

Get up… try again. Try a different way. Move forward.

Substance Use Disorders & The "Crisis"

Treatment For ALL Substance Use Disorders

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Substance Use Disorders & The “Crisis”

Some of my favorite people in the world pictured above. This crew is part of our first cohort of medical students trained as recovery coaches with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville – in June of 2017. Here they learn about addiction and come to understand that Substance Use Disorders have different variations or severity indicators. They are classed as mild, moderate, or severe.

But before we sign off on the “more access to treatment” narrative, we should think this “addiction crisis” through a little bit.

When we say 10% of people in America need help with a substance use disorder this does NOT mean 10% of people in America are “addicted”.

Not A Medical Term

The word “addicted” is not even a medical term. The terminology is “substance use disorder”, and as mentioned above, it ranges in severity from mild to moderate to severe.

The closest terminology to “addiction” would be “SUD severe”.

Clearly, substance use is a disorder that should be treated across the spectrum, from mild to severe.

However, we tend to focus only on the severe part of the spectrum.

The mild and moderate folks are essentially ignored until they become severe; and even then only a fraction of the severe group ever seek help.

Treatment Mismatch

This creates a treatment mismatch. Over time we have developed practices to serve this exceedingly small slice of the substance use disorder pie. Those with “severe” disorders who actually show up for treatment.

Nearly every traditional service is inappropriate for those in the “mild” category.

Moderate conditions may be a better fit but many times this is also a treatment mismatch.

People are placed into the existing stream of care regardless of their particular needs.

SUD support services are not client centered because they can’t make the business work; and you can’t help people if you are out of business.

REALTALK:

The business model drives client placement and the provider has no choice but to “fit” the patient into the model that is reimbursed.

Putting someone who meets criteria for “mild” into rehab or intensive outpatient groups will cause more harm than good.

The same could probably be said for those in the “moderate” range. They can’t relate. They are less likely to follow through on recommendations.

The label “treatment resistant” will be placed on the person as they struggle to make sense of this bizarre situation.

The Resistant Label

I have seen this first hand with the college athletes in my practice.

They make a mistake or use bad judgement and they are hit with a positive urine drug screen.

Then they go for an assessment at a local “drug and alcohol clinic”.

They are then pigeonholed into programming that makes the situation much worse.

For example, they are place into intensive outpatient groups.

The groups take them away from the most positive group in their life: the team.

They will be labeled resistant if they don’t come to group and held accountable. That is totally Ridiculous!

A New Programming Model

Fortunately, the schools I work with are amenable to innovative thinking.

This is primarily a payer issue to fix. They could make this different overnight.

If there was willingness to make some bold moves.

No treatment provider is going to make a move until we have a business model that supports a new programming model.

Excessive Juuling – ???

I saw an article the other day where a teenager was sent to “rehab” for excessive use of his “Juul”.

I’m sure that excessive “juuling” can be dangerous but it is not appropriate to roll this kid through inpatient.

Maybe the article was fake news. I never know. Things are so outrageous.

The Medical Process

If we nest addiction treatment in healthcare it is much more likely the mild and moderate issues will be addressed.

If we can make it a routine part of the medical process.

The healthcare system will still need to send people with “SUD severe” for specialty care.

100% & 5%

There will always be a need for rehab. Just not so many destination rehabs (that’s a secondary gain from the shift). More community based services and more local treatment.

We can not rely on the paradigm and practices that come out of working with the most severe to guide our work with the entire SUD population.

We are basing 100% of our model on 5% (at best) of the problem.

Recovery Cartel Blog Richard Jones

Get In The Game

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The “Experts”

I have a major personality defect. I just can not stand to listen to ”experts” who have never worked in this field describe solutions to the problems within this field.

I’m working on this particular defect; because I can probably learn from some of those people.

But it’s very difficult for me.

Some Random Thoughts

10 plus years of unprecedented attention on the “opioid epidemic” (relatively speaking).

I’ve done behavioral health work a long, long time and never thought I would see this amount of attention focused on any addiction-related issue.

It seems, we are working hard to figure out ways to manage the “opioid epidemic”.

And it seems these efforts may be paying off. Overdose deaths dropping significantly in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio.

But….Public health experts caution us:

Dr. Donald Burke, dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, has his doubts that the region has turned any corners. –

“At this point, I’m not confident it is a permanent change for the good or if we’re just returning to the expected curve,” Burke said. “In our paper in Science a few months ago, we showed overdoses from all drugs, not just opioids, have been growing exponentially for 40 years. Occasionally it speed ups and slows down, but the growth curve always snapped back.”

Take note of what he says about overdoses:

“…we showed overdoses from all drugs, not just opioids, have been growing exponentially for 40 years”.

I’m no fan of Purdue Pharma and I think the Food and Drug Administration.

Mini – Rant

I believe most government bureaucracies are inherently ineffective.

My worst nightmare is an academic bureaucrat with zero experience in the world telling me how to live my life and what is “safe”.

The FDA is just exceptionally ineffective and probably corrupt).

But is the opioid crisis really the issue?

And does this evil corporate villain narrative (even though its true) move the needle on improved outcomes?

More Significant Issues

In South Carolina (and other states) there are more significant issues than opioids.

More people die from cocaine than heroin in SC. The chronic misuse of alcohol kills more people than opioids.

For decades alcohol has topped the list.

We may emerge from the other end of this “opioid crisis” with a plan for better opioid overdose management.

It appears we are making progress in that area.

But we are making zero progress in terms of addressing addiction.

It’s Traditional

We are recycling traditional methods and lamenting the need for more funding for these traditional methods.

I say we focus on inventing new methods or, better yet, rethink the whole approach to addiction and recovery.

Rethink the underlying paradigm of “addiction and recovery”.

Rethink and execute on new ideas.

Stop Focusing

On services for “willing” clients and focus on the real problem: the “unwilling” and ambivalent client.

Stop focusing on “parity” for insurance reimbursement and focus on paving an entirely new business model/reimbursement highway.

Stop focusing on theory and start focusing on practice.

An example of a new method:

Since we know that addiction involves “irrational thinking” and an “unwillingness to get help” (especially if it involves showing up at the local “drug clinic”) let’s game plan for that reality.

Rather than requiring the “willing” client to enroll in services and demonstrate their compliance and adherence to the almighty treatment dictates .

The Engagement Specialist

Allow a 3rd party to enroll them.

Parents for example could call and sign their child up. This could be paid for by insurance.

The parents sign the kid up with a vendor who is an “engagement specialist”.

It becomes the vendor’s job to figure out a way to establish the connection and figure it out.

The company gets reimbursed based on results (engagement rates; linkage rates etc..).

We could work out the metrics for reimbursement. And we could work out the barriers around “confidentiality or regulations”.

We could work out the workforce issues, training and supervision.

Health Coaching

We lean heavy of health coaching models and community outreach workers and avoid traditional “treatment providers”.

Here we don’t call it recovery coaching.

We call it health coaching and integrate the service with outreach for other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart health.

I could go on and on and on with other similar ideas.

The Status Quo

Many people will read that example and roll their eyes.

Many will begin to spout off a list of reasons “that can’t happen”. There are a bunch of reasons to not do it.

If you have that type of standard reaction just keep doing what you are doing:

You can ride out the status quo. Continue to wait for the client to “hit bottom” and come see your magnificent program.

Keep telling the parent the kid just “has to want it”.

Keep recommending to congress we roll out more money for more programs for more people who won’t show up.

Get ‘er Done

Have at it. Get ‘er done!

But if the example above resonates with you in any way.

If it leaves thinking and pondering better ways to do this work.

Then get in the game and overcome the barriers.

The Herd

Ignore those that are afraid to try anything new. Ignore those that tell you its impossible.

Take some risks and do something different.

No one will “reimburse” you for your new ideas.

No one will pay you for the services. In some cases, they may tell you that you are not allowed to try something new.

Go back to the lab and try again. Find allies and find private funding.

Find people outside the “recovery bubble” who want to help.

Get in the game. The more different the better.

The more non-traditional the better. Be a doer/thinker.

Recovery Cartel Blog - Decisions

Who And What Do You Want To Be?

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Atomic Habits

The little decisions you make today add up and determine who you are tomorrow. Who do you want to be?

Just decide who you want to be and how, and become that person.

Not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Remember, it all comes down to the little decisions.

Figure out how to do the everyday hard things and it will add up to transformational impact.

The things that aren’t sexy and don’t get noticed. They add up. Atomic habits.

Snack Cakes

As the day wears on our ability to make good decisions becomes a laborious process.

Early in the day we are more likely to breeze through decision points.

We walk past the candy bowl at FAVOR Greenville.

We walk past the stacks and stacks of powdered donuts and Oreos and other “snack cakes”.

In addition to these constant temptations, you are also fully engaged in your work day or personal responsibilities.

Making decisions, negotiating situations, exploring options etc depletes our discipline reserves.

Willpower

Our “willpower” is like a muscle that tires and becomes fatigued as the day goes on.

With each decision and temptation our willpower is eroded.

We are less like to pause before acting and we are unlikely to “think things through”.

Structure the environment to account for this reality.

Structure your day to account for this reality. Set yourself up for success.

Need individualised plan to conquer these situations as the details are different for each person. But remember, deciding to do the right thing requires work.

Not Easy

There is nothing easy about getting up early to complete the project or make yourself write the business plan. There is also nothing easy about the everyday “little” decisions.

But they add up, so they need the same level of attention as the high profs situations. Showing up and grinding through is the key.

I’m always struggling through and I fall off the change wagon over and over.

The only thing I get right is I refuse to quit trying to better myself and I will always show up and try again.

confidence

Work For It & Don’t Sell Yourself Short

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Prepare With Confidence

The anticipation of the event is usually more anxiety producing than the event itself. Prepare the best you can and do it with confidence.

Then show up and do the best you can. If things go badly adjust and regroup.

Shake it off. And show up again…

You are the person most critical of you.

You are the person most likely to hold you back from reaching your potential.

Just Noise

The haters are just noise. Chirping in the background.

Recovering people have to be very vigilant in this area.

We are told that we are different from other people.

As if we are fundamentally flawed at our core. We even talk down on ourselves.

You are not liar, cheater and a thief.

Humility

Humility is not putting yourself down. Humility is not self-deprication.

We don’t have “addictive” thinking.

We have human thinking and we should pursue our dreams… we are as entitled as anyone to a spectacular life not just survival.

Work for it. Don’t sell yourself short.

Dealing with Anxiety & Chronic Worry

Dealing with Anxiety & Chronic Worry

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This is a 1948 version of Dale Carnegie’s book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

I found this book hidden away at the #witnessprotection cabin.

The previous owner was a self improvement junkie just like me…. she passed away suddenly and left behind all these self-improvement books.

I have the new version of the book (printed in 2004).

This old school version isn’t worth more money or anything like that it’s just kinda cool to find this here. I think this book is one of the most effective tools for dealing with anxiety and chronic worry.

The previous owner most certainly got some mileage from these techniques and now I will do the same.

Rule #1: If you want to avoid worry, do what Sir William Osler did. Live in “day-tight compartments”.

a) Don’t stew about the future.
b) Just live each day until bedtime.

Rule # 2: Next time you are faced with TROUBLE try the magic formula of Willis H. Carrier:

a) Ask yourself: what is the worst that can happen?
b) Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst
c) But calmly try to improve upon the “worst”–which you have already accepted.

Rule # 3: Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you can pay for worry in terms of your health.

“Businessmen who do not know how to fight worry die young”.

Another good piece of advice:

When faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem:

1) Get the facts
2) Analyze the facts
3) Arrive at a decision and act on that decision.

Boom… there you have it…

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