HammeredRecovery Podcast Justin Hammerback

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com







Listen Notes







The Fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink.  Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent.  We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago.  We are without defense against the first drink.Pg. 24 of The Big Book







This tragic situation has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected!Pg. 24 of The Big Book







Why are choices so important







Alcohol, this disease, it took our choices away.  You can choose to take them back.







* You choose to stop digging.* You choose to check into rehab.* You choose to go to meetings.* You choose to get a sponsor.* You choose to work the steps.* You chose to continue to work the steps.* No one else can make this choice for you.  You have to.  That’s why it’s so hard, and at the same time that is why it works.







The tale of two meetings







* The first was my Friday Night Men's Beltline, St. Louis Park, MN.* The 2nd was Hosanna! Shakopee, MN.*   If you looking for a church I cannot recommend Hosanna! enough, I go to the one in Shakopee, but they are all great and there are 1000 other great churches out there as well.







WHy attending meetings is so powerful







I also tell you this: if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  For where two or more gather together as my followers, I am there among them.Matthew 18: 19-20







We can look to the pandemic to show how important social interaction is.  For people with mental illness and personally I’ll say for alcoholics the pandemic was a huge tipping point.







What did I learn at these two meetings?







Friday Beltline:







Opening reading - 6th step – were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character







If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six.  We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.  Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?  Can He now take them all – every one?  If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.Pg. 76 of The Big Book







discussion topics







* The importance of doing the steps in order.* Two participants talked about not wanting to go but being so glad they did.* It’s easy to pass over the steps that don’t have an action.* That’s not how it works.* You have to choose that YOU don’t want to drink anymore.* You have to truly believe that a Power great than you can restore us to sanity.* You have to make a choice to turn your will and lives over to the care of God.* For 6 you have to be entirely ready to ask God to remove your defects of character.* The reoccurring theme to me was willingness.  This is where a lot of people made the choice that they were willing to do this.  Which of course is the spiritual principle of step 6.* Crazy that willingness comes halfway through the steps.* Fake it until you make it stops at step 6.







Hosanna!







3 Ways to get Stuck:







* Comfort Zone* The end of your comfort zone is the beginning of living.* The tendency to go back to our comfort zone.* Emotional Health* Fear, anxiety,

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com







Show Notes







* What is Rock Bottom and why do we feel we have to hit it?* You don't have to hit rock bottom. You just have to stop digging!* Pink Cloud* What is the pink cloud?* Pay off* Things happen for a reason. If you stick with this program everything is going to be okay!

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com







SHow Notes







* At the start of the show I discuss ways listeners can help support the podcast* visit HammeredRecovery.com - Click the Donate tab - Use the Donate button at the bottom of the page* Rate the podcast 5 stars and leave a review* Buy apparel from the Merch shop on the website* I then continued on with the How It Works series and really concentrated on Step 3* Step 3 is more than turning our will and lives over to God* It's about Self-Centeredness and Selfishness* Our lives had become unmanageable and our best thinking got us here, so why would we think we alone can get us out.

For more information visit HammeredRecovery.com  or e-mail me at justin@hammeredrecovery.com







Show Notes







* In today's podcast I continue walking through How It Works from the Big Book* I discuss how my life is going a year after checking into Hazelden* How quickly time goes by once you have made the decision to stop drinking* The importance of being picky and putting in the work before you:* Pick a sponsor* Pick a meeting(s)* Pick a treatment center* Pick and IOP group* Pick a church* Your life is about to get a whole lot better. Enjoy it!!