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Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery
Thom checks back in after a long period of freezing weather and system crash in Tennessee, Allen gets honest after recent familial struggles. What makes it difficult for us to own our bad behavior? This week is emotional sobriety through fear and wreckage, demanding cleanup. Thom's Nutshell: Can you describe how you think as well as you can describe what you think?" "In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday offers a question that is simple and profound: "Am I in control of this or is this anxiety?" - anxiety being the tell-tale sign that we feel the need to control what we cannot. When I am experiencing anxiety, then I am wasting valuable energy focusing on what I do not and cannot control. Once I recognize that I am doing this, I shift all of my focus on levitating that chair h with my mind. This is a good example of focusing on PROCESS rather than CONTENT. Focusing on HOW I am thinking rather than WHAT I am thinking. These kinds of changes must be radical in order to be effective. You know, simple but far from easy. (And if you move the chair, please let me know.) Follow us on social media. Instagram: thomrutledge2 Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events Allen’s book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/ Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below): https://zoom.us/j/330149513 Password: 375986 For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519 We’d love to stay in touch in between meetings. We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at pndirective4@gmail.com for any questions or comments.
35:11•9 Feb 2026
Confronting Emotional Sobriety: A Journey Through Fear and Growth
Episode Overview
- Recognising emotional imbalance is key to recovery.
- Understanding how we think is crucial for growth.
- Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Fear and anxiety often indicate attempts to control the uncontrollable.
- Personal growth comes from learning from our experiences.
“"Can you describe how you think as well as you can describe what you think?"”
How do you navigate the murky waters of emotional sobriety amidst life's chaos? In this engaging episode of "Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery," hosts Thom Rutledge and Dr. Allen Berger delve into the challenges of maintaining emotional balance during turbulent times. Thom shares his recent experience of surviving a freezing storm in Tennessee, where the extreme conditions forced him to reassess his own emotional resilience.
Meanwhile, Allen opens up about familial struggles, shedding light on the difficulty of owning up to one's bad behaviour. The conversation takes a deep dive into the concept of emotional sobriety, as the hosts discuss how fear and anxiety can derail our best intentions. They explore the idea that recognising when we're not emotionally sober is a crucial step in the recovery process.
With a touch of humour, they ponder over how anxiety often signals our futile attempts to control the uncontrollable. Listeners will find valuable insights as Thom and Allen discuss the importance of acknowledging our shortcomings and the liberating power of asking for help. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, they reveal how emotional sobriety is about understanding how we think, rather than just what we think. It's about recognising when we're off course and having the courage to make necessary corrections.
This episode is a reminder that even seasoned professionals in recovery face challenges, but it's their ability to learn from these experiences that fosters growth. Are you ready to confront your own emotional sobriety journey?
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