Recovery In The Pines

11/24/2025

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

C.G. Jung
Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.

The Basics
1. Most things you can't control.

2. Realize how you're wired.

3. Push the PAUSE button before you act.

4. Make progress towards your destiny of who you could become. Don't surrender to fate.

The Lesson
Realize that things in life will fall into the categories of:
- Control
- Responsibility
- Influence
- None of Your Business

The only thing that goes into the Control category is you ... your thoughts, feelings, and actions. You have control over your effort in the Responsibility and Influence categories, but you don't control the outcome. Waste no time on those things that fall into the None of Your Business category. Work on the Control category first. Calm your mind and emotions. Choose your choices.

P + B = E = A
Our (P)erceptions + (B)eliefs result in (E)motions and often trigger (A)ction. It's how we're wired, and it's a closed loop system. As you act, it rewires the brain. (** formula credit Jeanne Sanner )

Between emotion (stimulus) and action (response), PAUSE. Give yourself the opportunity to be mindful of what is in the moment and choose your choices instead of being fueled by emotion or mood as a result of limiting, warped beliefs and perceptions. Use PAUSE to become aware of what is, get into acceptance of things as they are, and seek the healthiest path of progress.

Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially). These values are your destiny. Fate may create a path, but you can dictate who you become on your journey based upon your decisions and actions.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/23/2025

Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Medium.com
Opinions may be strongly held, and they may be based on facts, but ultimately they are still representative of what we think, and not of what we know.

The Basics
1. Know how you're wired.
P + B = E = A

2. Inventory your opinions.

3. Weigh them against facts.

4. Do your opinions align with the best version of you?

The Lesson
P + B = E = A
Our (P)erceptions + (B)eliefs result in (E)motions and often trigger (A)ction. Your opinions are statements based upon what you experienced in life filtered through this formula. And as you got into action, it influenced your perceptions, beliefs, and opinions. (** formula credit Jeanne Sanner)

Take a couple of minutes to inventory your opinions. Have you been addicted to a "story" because you're hoping for a particular outcome or because you feel it will keep you safe? Do you look for the "facts" that fit your feelings? Inventory your opinions to get a sense of what they reveal about your character.

What if these are warped by trauma, negative bias, attraction to an unhealthy goal, or some other mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, or social ailments? Have the courage to honestly look at the truth about your opinions. Seek wise counsel if you struggle with inventorying and assessing your opinions and what they say about you.

Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially). Do your opinions align with who you say you want to become? If not, start acting as your best version and see how it transforms your opinions.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/22/2025

1 Corinthians 11:28
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Beth Bridges
"No matter what you believe, you will ALWAYS find evidence in this world to support your beliefs.

For example, if you believe that you are unsafe, unloved, forgotten, and in lack … you will continually have synchronistic events and people and situations showing up in your life that support these beliefs.

Because the external world is a reflection of our inner state."

The Basics
1. Know how we're wired.

2. Self-reflection is a requirement for a "successful" life.

3. Schedule "me" time.

4. Be willing to inventory all of it.

The Lesson
P + B = E = A
Our (P)erceptions + (B)eliefs result in (E)motions and often trigger (A)ction. Consider your beliefs and perceptions. This is the lens you see the world and yourself through. (** formula credit Jeanne Sanner)

A truly content life of any kind requires knowing deeply who you are, your "whys" for doing things, your perceptions and beliefs, and maintaining integrity with your values, emotions, and actions. This requires moments of self-reflection.

Invest 5+ minutes daily for self-reflection. If you haven’t been a practitioner of this, you may need to start out with only 5 minutes, working your way up to 30 - 60 minutes as you grow more comfortable with be alone with your thoughts and feelings. Caution: you want to face and acknowledge negative thoughts and feelings, but don't obsess on them.

Create a list of things to explore ... the best version of you, values, emotions, relationships, work performance. Anything you're avoiding looking at requires attention. Don't avoid it. If you are troubled by unresolved trauma, seek professional help to guide you in the self-reflection. You will notice as you create clarity internally, you will see the world in a different way.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/21/2025

2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Medium.com
"Excessive mind-wandering has consistently been shown to correlate with mental conditions such as anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, and general unhappiness. To put it simply, the more time we are spending in our heads, the greater the likelihood that we will suffer."

The Basics
1. Know how you're wired.

2. Inventory your thoughts.

3. Give your thoughts something positive to focus on.

4. Act your way into right thinking.

The Lesson
P + B = E = A
Our (P)erceptions + (B)eliefs result in (E)motions and often trigger (A)ction. What if your beliefs and perceptions are left to wander? (** formula credit Jeanne Sanner)

Invest 5+ minutes daily to inventory your thoughts. This works best through meditation in a low-/no-distraction place. Allow your thoughts to come forward, uninterrupted. By giving them time to be heard, you now have the opportunity to choose what you're going to do about them. Don't let them linger. Don't ruminate on unhealthy thoughts.

In addition to cleaning up your mind clutter, give yourself a positive focus. Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially).

Add action to your focus. The formula above is a closed loop system. As you get into right Action in line with your best version, it starts to alter your Perceptions and Beliefs, inspiring improved Emotions, furthering healthy Actions. This will help you gain greater control and focus on your thoughts so they don't wander to dark places.

If you're struggling with a mental health issue, please reach out for help.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepine.com

11/20/2025

Luke 8:15
As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Mike Robbins
"However, this is actually what patience is all about – allowing things to be as they are and trusting that things will unfold as they are meant to.

It’s hard to do this in the best of circumstances, but over the last few years, it’s been even more challenging. One thing that can make patience specifically tricky is the fear that things won’t work out."

The Basics
1. Pause.

2. Know what you're aiming at.

3. Assess the situation.

4. Create the plan of action. Start small.

5. Strengthen your endurance in your downtime.

The Lesson
Before your impatience gets you into quick action, pause. Direction is more important than speed.

Set your direction by creating a target. If personal development, focus on creating your definition of the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially) followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally.

Once you know what you're aiming at, you can better assess the situation ... what helps or hinders you from achieving your goals, appropriate expectations on when you can achieve them.

Massive right action is required. Create a plan of actionable, small steps. You will have greater patience and perseverance getting into a rapid succession of small steps than trying to take big leaps. Get into a habit of a massive amount of consistent, small steps. Then, focus on your effort and the journey, not just the destination.

Don't wait for the critical moment to occur before you drill the character qualities of your best version. This will build confidence, patience, and perseverance. The key is consistent effort every day. Layer up the intensity and complexity as you go, improving your self-confidence and endurance.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepine.com

11/19/2025

1 Timothy 6:18
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

John Henry Jowett
“The real measure of our wealth is how much we’d be worth if we lost all our money.”

The Basics
1. Cash isn't the only currency.

2. Create / review your definition of the best version of you.

3. Your character assets can't be taken from you, but you can squander them.

4. Invest in you daily

The Lesson
Meditate on the fact that cash isn't the only currency. Character assets are a currency. Your healthy relationships are a currency. Your time is a currency.

Start by aiming at a goal. In your personal life, create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially). These are character assets that are 100% in your control.

Create a plan of healthy activities (30 - 60 minute events) and micro habits (2 - 5+ minute actions) that are investments into your character.

Invest time daily to work on your best version. Focus on at least one activity and 3 - 5 micro habits that strengthen your best version in doses. The more activities and micro habits you practice, the more you will enrich your life. This will help you be successful in bringing a wealth of character that enhances your external endeavors ... work, school, relationships, and the like. And should you lose everything, you still have the strength of your character to fall back on as a foundation to rebuild from.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/18/2025

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Harvard Business Review
"Effective time investment begins with accepting the reality that time is a finite resource. This acknowledgment frees you to make choices about what you will and won’t do so you can invest more in what’s most important, feel good about what you do and don’t get done, and still have disposable time left to relax and enjoy yourself. As one of my time coaching clients put it, 'I’ve realized there’s only X amount of time, so I need to invest in my priorities and understand that when I choose one activity, I’m not choosing another.'"

The Basics
1. Identify your priorities.

2. Do you waste, spend, or invest your time?

3. You don't waste your time. You waste your life.

4. Learn how to invest wisely.

The Lesson
Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually) followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally, and hobbies. These are your top priorities to help you choose what you commit your time to.

Inventory your time from the previous week.

How much time did you WASTE on meaningless activities ... watching TV, etc?

How much time did you SPEND on practical matters ... paying bills, etc?

How much time did you INVEST ... into your personal development, closest relationships, and in service of others?

Free yourself from commitments that don't invest your time into a goal or higher purpose.

Commit time daily to complete, at minimum, one healthy activity (30 - 60 minute events) and 3 - 5 micro habits (2 - 5+ minute actions) that move you towards your goals for your best life. Ordinary lives settle in doing whatever is comfortable. Extraordinary lives have a balance of purpose and play. A healthy purpose : play ratio is different for each person, but what's optimal is an 85 / 15 split.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/17/2025

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Rethink Care
"To be clear, resilience is not simply about bouncing back from adversity; it’s about dealing with disruptive forces while adapting with integrity in response to changing circumstances, eventually leading to the experience of thriving. Adaptive resilience is a skill that can be deliberately cultivated and developed in the face of chronic negative stress and constantly increasing demands, complexity and change."

The Basics
1. Know what you're aiming at.

2. Develop deeply personal "whys".

3. Create the plan.

4. Get into action to strengthen your resiliency.

The Lesson
Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially) followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally, and healthy hobbies. These collectively are your purpose.

Then, caft powerful "whys" with at least one "why" to the negative that would disgust you if you quit on life. Your "whys" should bring an immense increase in energy and / or tears to your eyes when you think about them. Go deep!

Commit time daily to complete, at minimum, 1 activity (1+ hour action) and 3 - 5 micro habits (2 - 5 minute micro actions) that move you towards your goals.

It is by getting into action that you strengthen your best version, your will to live, and your "whys". Purpose and "whys" can't just be a thought. They require action. Action increases hope. Action increases your capability to handle complex things with maximum efficiency and effectiveness, ultimately increasing your resiliency.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/17/2025

11/16/2025

Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

LinkedIn
"The first step to becoming that new you is rejecting the deeply ingrained limitations in your mind saying you aren’t that person. This is what it means to kill off the old you. You shed your past identity and embrace a new version of yourself that reflects who you want to be.

Once you internally kill off the old you, you must begin to show up as the new you in the external world, aligning your thoughts and behaviors so that your new you becomes reality."

The Basics
1. Aim high. Know what you're aiming at and why.

2. Choose your sacrifice.

3. Cut loose the things holding you back.

4. Build your BEST version.

The Lesson
Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially), followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally, and healthy hobbies. When we have a clear definition of what we're aiming at, and we have deeply personal "whys" for achieving these goals, we increase our success for transformation.

Meditate on the fact that for you to become the BEST version of you, you have to sacrifice. Without living each day with purpose, you will stay stuck with the same life.

Assess all the things that are holding you back from achieving your best life. Create the plan to remove them decisively from your life. Pay attention to where you've become comfortable with the things that have been holding you back. Cut them loose quickly.

Invest time daily to push yourself to work on your best version. Break up the actions into healthy activities (30 - 60 minute events) and micro habits (2 - 5+ minute actions) that grow you towards your goals. You can increase the complexity, frequency, and intensity of these actions as you gain a mastery of them.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepine.com

11/15/2025

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Medium.com
"Comfort, while soothing and familiar, can often be a gilded cage. It provides a sanctuary from discomfort and uncertainty, but at the same time, it limits our potential. If there’s a goal that has been eluding you, it’s likely that it lies outside your current comfort zone. To achieve it, you’ll need to push your boundaries, challenge yourself, and step into the unfamiliar."

The Basics
1. Get off the Hedonic treadmill.

2. Focus on purpose over the pursuit of pleasure.

3. Know what you're aiming at.

4. Your "whys" matter.

5. Put in the effort.

The Lesson
Be cautious of collecting things in pursuit of comfort. This produces a false sense of security, but ultimately just makes you soft and your life stagnant.

Focus on your personal development and purposeful goals as a priority over your pursuit of comfort. When you give up comfort for change, the path will start to become clear.

Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially), followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally, and healthy hobbies.

Craft powerful "whys" to achieve your goals. Your "whys" for your goal must be more powerful than your "whys" for comfort. You will pursue the greater "why".

Invest time daily to work on your best version and other goals. Break up the actions into activities (30 - 60 minute+ actions) and micro habits (2 - 5+ minute actions). You can increase in frequency and complexity as you gain competency. It is easier to get into massive, right action when you break it up into consistent, small steps. The path to change will continue to unfold as you get into action.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com

11/14/2025

Matthew 5:37
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Psychology Today
"I have found it helpful in my work with myself and with my psychotherapy patients to view saying 'No' to one thing as a way to say 'Yes' to something else. When we are able to preside over our lives with this kind of wise judgment, then we can feel better about our decision to decline something good because we know we are choosing to accept something that we deem better for us at that given moment. Such an approach takes the sting out of the inevitable guilt, regret, and disappointment that we all feel when we say, 'No.'”

The Basics
1. Know what to measure your "yes"s and "no"s against.

2. "Yes" isn't always helpful and "no" isn't always selfish.

3. Honor your commitments. It shapes who you are.

4. Know what your "yes" is saying "no" to, and vice versa.

The Lesson
Create / review the best version of you (your top 5 - 10 character assets you wish to master mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially), followed by SMART goals, personally and professionally, with healthy hobbies. Measure your "yes"s and "no"s against this definition of your best life.

When you say "yes", is it integrated with your best version and do you intend to honor it? If not, your "yes" isn't helpful. If you say "no" and it is integrated with the best version of you and what is the healthiest for someone else even though they may want a "yes".

Make sure whether you give a "yes" or "no", you will honor it. Choose wisely. These little word responses have a major impact on the actions you take and your relationships. They set up your actions and impact your integrity.

Whatever you say "yes" to, realize that is saying "no" to anything you could do with that time or what may be in opposition to it in other ways, and vice versa.

Questions? Need help with this? Reach out to us at: info@recoveryinthepines.com