What could radical recovery look like in our lives?

Recovery looks like (re)connection.

This week we watched domestic terrorists overrun security at the Capital building in the US. Our nervous systems are alarmed and we are not sure what is going to happen — both in the next two weeks and longer term in a country so divided and polarized. We try to understand the origins and motivations and fear and rage and we also are afraid, angry and despairing. How can we recover from this vast divide?

“The effect of trauma is that it disconnects us from ourselves, our sense of value and the present moment.” Gabor Maté, MD

Recovery looks like (re)connection. We begin to build a personal kind relationship with ourselves based on understanding trauma and that what happened to us as a child was not our fault. We begin to see through core deficiency beliefs of unworthiness. We recognize our mean inner critic or how we numb ourselves, and slowly we heal the wounds of disconnection through safe connection with ourselves. With this foundation, we tentatively step forward and experience safety and authenticity in relationship, perhaps for the first time.

This is my fourth year of interviewing innovators in the field of recovery from addiction and trauma. We soak in the wisdom and richness they bring to us. Something clicks and we stop shaming ourselves for our nervous system responses. During these interviews, we laughed and I was often moved to tears. I am so excited to bring these…